As a teenager, you are probably starting to think about what college or university you want to attend. In that same thought, you want to start volunteering because it would look great on an application form. If you love animals, here are a few ideas as to what you can do to volunteer with animals.
Local Animal Shelter
One of the best places you can volunteer your time at is the local animal shelter. On a daily basis, animals are dropped there without a care in the world. Imagine a Romanian orphanage for animals; some of them are absolutely horrible conditions. You could become the light they look forward to. Making a difference in the lives of animals will make a significant difference in yours. Walk the dogs, feed the cats and care for the animals that are sick. You will learn to love it.
At the Zoo
Another great place to volunteer is at a zoo, where there are many different kinds of animals. This is especially true if one of the careers you have considered is as a veterinarian. This not only gives you the opportunity to learn about the habits of wild animals, but it gives you the opportunity to really get a feel for working with animals. If you find that you really enjoy it, then you are most definitely making the right choice in working with animals. Many people tend not to like the messy parts, but this gives you a fair try.
Animal Clinic
You can also volunteer at an animal clinic. Animal clinics usually handle only animals that are pets, such as cats, dogs and birds. If you want to become a veterinarian or a vet assistant, there is no other place for you to volunteer that would be better at giving you a firsthand experience at the job. You will get to see all the aspects that a vet goes through on a daily basis and the types of medicine that are administered to animals, but sadly you may also see animals die. It's all a part of the experience.
Open a Little Business of Your Own
One thing you could try if none of these options suits you is to open up a little animal business of your own. You could be a puppy or kitty sitter or just volunteer to walk your neighbors' dogs for a half-hour each day. Not only will you gain some great references and volunteer experience, you will have a great time playing with the dogs. Just by taking them to a dog park, you help them exercise and have fun. This is especially true if the owners are working adults with no time for them -- a little is definitely a lot in their eyes.
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