Vocation and Dedication: Answering the Call to Animal Welfare
Get ready to meet someone pawsitively amazing—our wonderful veterinary student extern, Julianna!
For those who haven't heard the term 'extern,' externships, unlike internships, are designed to offer students a broader view of the industry they aspire to work in.
Julianna is a fourth-year veterinary student at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine completing a clinical rotation at BARCS. She studied Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland in College Park and is the first in her family to attend college. Julianna is on track to graduate and become a veterinarian in May.
Julianna has been rotating through different departments at BARCS to gain a better understanding of what goes into operating a shelter responsible for 11,000-12,000 animals annually, including our Philanthropy and Communications department. She kindly wrote about her experience and motivations for this post.
“I have always loved animals, but I didn't seriously consider the possibility of being a veterinarian until high school. I attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and was encouraged to volunteer at an animal shelter by my guidance counselor at the time. Volunteering at BARCS and seeing how many animals needed our help made me realize that I wanted to have a career that would make a difference. Veterinary school has not been easy or cheap, but I cannot imagine doing anything else.”
"Most veterinary rotations focus on teaching students medical and surgical skills. While I've seen some interesting medical cases at BARCS, I love learning how all the departments work together toward a common goal. The Community Cats and Keeping Pets with Families programs both aim to reduce the number of animals relinquished to the shelter. The Medical and Training and Enrichment teams evaluate animals to prevent suffering, improve chances of adoption, and protect the health and safety of volunteers, staff, and the public. The Adoptions, Animal Care, Rescue, Foster, Volunteer, and Philanthropy and Communications departments all have critical roles in allowing BARCS to save as many lives as they do."
"It's been a full-circle moment for me to return to BARCS. Though the building and several programs have changed since I volunteered, it's heartwarming to see some familiar faces still helping animals all these years later. There are so many dedicated staff and volunteers working together to make a difference. BARCS is invaluable to the community and animals in Baltimore."
We genuinely appreciate Julianna's dedication to the well-being of animals. Her sincere interest in animal welfare warms our hearts, and we look forward to more compassionate professionals like her contributing to the care of animals at shelters like BARCS. Every helping hand makes a significant impact on the lives of the animals who arrive here every day.
We wish her the best of luck!
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