Veterinary medicine in Buenos Aires

Product Details

Our Veterinary Placement is located in the heart of Buenos Aires and is perfect for an animal lover looking to to gain experience working with all types of animals.

Our volunteers work with Centro Pet, which is one of the largest pet shops and vet clinics in Buenos Aires. It is located downtown, a few blocks away from 9 de Julio Avenue. Along its 150 square meters, Centro Pet is a leading specialty retailer of pets, premium pet food, supplies and services.

Depending on the season, the pets’ shop and vet clinic has a lot of animals (some for sale, some under vet care since they are ill and some using the pets shop as a vacation stay).

Centro Pet provides clients with veterinary assistance and has the necessary equipment for special studies such as electrocardiograms, ecographies and X-rays.

VETERINARY WORK EXPERIENCE

It also offers a wide variety of animals for sale, ranging from cats and dogs to all types of birds (canaries, cockatiels, lovebirds, parrots of all sizes, parakeets, etc.), reptiles (iguanas, anoles, geckos, ball python, varanus, turtles, etc.), cold and tropical water fishes, titi monkeys and small animals (chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rabbits, rats, etc.).

Centro Pet has 15 people working between the Pet Shop and the Clinic, including two vets. Working hours are from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. There are also people on Sundays doing the cleaning and feeding the animals. An intermediate Spanish level is required to work in the clinic (vet consultations and surgeries). You will need a strong passion for animals to be able to become part of Centro Pet in three different areas; depending on your likes, experience and level of Spanish.

These areas are:

Helping take care of the boarding pets as well as those for sale and under medical care (e.g. cleaning the cages, feeding the animals, checking their health, administering their medicine, etc.)

Helping with the pets’ grooming

Providing assistance to the local vet during consultations and surgeries.
These activities will give you the unique opportunity to work hands-on and to observe the reality of day-to-day care of pets while you improve your level of Spanish mingling with local employees and dealing with clients.

Additionally, Centro Pet organizes special talks and short courses for anyone interested in learning about the pets’ world and the basics on veterinary nursing. You will be welcome to both attend these talks as well as, under certain circumstances, to give them.

"I definitely think that this has been a worthwhile experience for me because I have learnt a lot about reptiles which I have not had much previous contact with before. Also I have been able to see a country which is totally different to anything that I have experienced before. Overall, I feel that Buenos Aires is an exciting an exuberant city, with many European influences. As I have been going on weekend trips, it has made me appreciate the city more". Kathryn Adams on her placement at Centro Pet, Argentina.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The owner of Centro Pet is extremely generous in the sense that if you show passion for the animals he gives you the chance to get really involved. Any volunteer who can show a love for animals and a willingness to help will be welcome on this placement. Vet doctors or vet students are most welcome and will be able to help with the clinic (if they have a high level of Spanish). Applicants should be able to meet the following criteria

Have a strong passion for animals (You do not need to have a degree or any experience).

Be over 17 years of age

Be able to speak some Spanish (intermediate level) to work in the clinic. Your involvement and learning possibilities will depend on your level of Spanish and willingness to participate. If you are a vet student or vet doctor, it is highly recommended that you have a good command of the language.

Be able to stay for a minimum of 1 month in order to really get into the business.

Be able to work on your own initiative – this is crucial to your success on the placement.

Accommodation

There are two choices for accommodation in Buenos Aires. Depending on your preferences you can either be accommodated in a hostel with other volunteers or, if you would prefer a more cultural experience, you can be placed with a host family.

HOSTEL:

You will be accommodated in a small, modern hostel situated in Palermo Viejo (old Palermo), a very nice area located near to the heart of the city. Palermo is a traditional Buenos Aires neighbourhood with wide streets and old houses. Many of these are tree lined avenues and in the centre of Palermo you will find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and boutique style shops. Your accommodation is ideally situated and close to the main subway, trains and buses, thus making it possible to tour the city on foot and visit its greatest attractions: the Obelisco, the Casa Rosada, the Congreso, La Boca neighbourhood and San Telmo district.

You will be required to share a room with 2 or 3 other people, who will more than likely be other Travellers volunteers. Breakfast will be provided within the hostel and an allowance will be provided for your evening meal. As there is a wide variety of choice of eateries in Buenos Aires this arrangement will give you the opportunity to choose where you would like to eat each day. Buenos Aires is famous for its many restaurants and different types of cuisine, all at a very reasonable price. At the time of writing, facilities at the hostel include; A recreation room with TV; A computer with internet access; A dining and kitchen area where food can be stored; Access to telephones and a call out emergency medical service.

Buenos Aires has a lively nightlife. Near to your accommodation you will find a wide variety of cinemas, restaurants, pubs, bars and discotheques as well as night transportation in case you want to go even further. There is a lot going on and you won’t be short of things to do – this is a 24 hour city with plenty to do! There are plenty of opportunities to socialise with other volunteers, and there will more than likely be a group of you out there at any one time.

HOST FAMILY: 

If you would prefer a more cultural experience, we can arrange for you to stay with a local Argentinean Family. Host family accommodation gives you the opportunity to become more integrated with the local community and is ideal if you want to practise your Spanish. You will be provided with a comfortable and clean private room and will have use of the kitchen. You will be provided breakfast and for dinner, you will usually share a typical Argentinean meal with your family. Facilities in host families do vary, but you will have the opportunity to express your preferences regarding the type of family that you stay with (for example, a family with/without children, pets etc). If you stay in a host family you will be provided with the contact details of other volunteers living in Buenos Aires at the same time as you so that you won't miss out on any socialising!

Prices:

Prices include all your food and accommodation (excluding lunch), as well as meeting you at the nearest airport, but exclude international travel. Flight cost guide: £650 (slightly more in peak seasons) 

Travellers’ placements are very flexible and can be combined with any other Travellers placement and tailor made to your requirements!