VolunteeringforWECareWorldwideRole:RegisteredVeterinaryNurseWhoarewe?WECareWorldwidewassetupbyUKvetsandnurses in2014with theaimofprovidingveterinarycaretoanimalsaroundtheworldwithnooneelsetohelpthem.WedecidedtostartinSriLankaandfocusmainlyondogs,wherethereisonestreetdogforeveryeightpeople,andanimalwelfarelawsareprettymuchnon-existent.Veterinarystandardsand facilitiesarepoorand injuriesand illnessesareextremelyadvanced.Here at WECare, we believe in providing the highest possible standards in often challenging andlimitingconditions,whilstdemonstratingahighlevelofcompassionatalltimes.MostofthedogsinSriLankahaveneverexperiencedaffectionorloveandwefeelthatprovidingthisisanimportantpartofourrole.Weareapassionate,driventeamwhoaimtogotheextramileatalltimesandprovidesustainablesolutionsfortheissuesfacingtheanimalsofSriLanka.The SL-basedWECare consists of oneUK vet, one local vet, anRVN, anoperationsmanager andalocalveterinaryassistant.Weusuallyhavevolunteersontopofthiscoreteamandtrytoprovideafunandrewardingexperienceforallinvolved.Whatdowedo?WECarefocuson3mainareas-

1. CNVR(massneuteringandvaccinationprogrammes)2. Individualtreatments3. Education

We aim to carry out CNVR programmes once every 2months, lasting between 5 and 8 days. Theprogrammes take place within the communities, under tents and we average 60 neuters, 90vaccinationsand20individualtreatments.Theyarebusy12hourdaysbutextremelyrewardingandgoodfun!Whenwe are not doing CNVR programmes, we are based at theWECare Hospital (very flatteringterm!)wherewe carryout inpatient treatments anddaily visit rounds.Mostof the cases seen areextremely advanced and,with only very basic equipment and facilities, you should be prepared tothinkoutsideoftheboxanduseinitiative.Our education programmes are delivered in primary schools, community centres and governmentveterinary facilities. They focus heavily on responsible animal ownership, community dog care andimprovingbasicveterinarystandards.ThesessionsarecurrentlydeliveredbyDrJaneyandaSinghala-speakingvolunteer,butwewouldloveincomingvolunteerstotakeoverthisroleaswefeelyouhavealottogiveintermsofvariationofknowledgeandenthusiasmforanimalwelfare.Whatwouldyourrolebe?Asavolunteernurse,yourrolewillbeveryvariedandfulfilling.IfyouareattendingduringCNVRthenyou will be monitoring the anaesthetic of around 30 dogs per day, as well as assisting with theprovisionoftreatmentsforallsickandinjuredanimals.KetamineandxylazineTIVAisadministeredinthefield,whichissomethingyouwillgetusedtoveryquickly.Asalways,monitoringiskeyandourpermanentnursewillbetheretoguideyoueverystepoftheway.We see a huge number ofmaggot wounds, RTA’s, TVT’s, skin disease and burn injuries.We haveSOP’sinplaceforallscenariosandguidancewillbeprovided,butalevelofinitiativeandaproactiveattitudewillneedtobedemonstrated.Youwillbeexpectedtoapplydressings,placeIVcathetersandbeanexperttick-picker!As hospital nurse, outside of CNVR programmes, youwill be expected towork alongside the coreteam tomanageall aspectsof thedaily runningof the clinic. Thiswill include administeringmeds,

assistingwith visits, cleaning, socializing and training puppies and adult dogs, triage of emergencypatientsandassistingwith surgeries.Educating local vetsonbasic concepts, suchas scrubbingandgloving,mayalsoberequired.Whatdoweneedfromyou?Weneedacan-doattitudeatalltimes,andavolunteerwhoisabletogowiththeflow.Thecharityisrelativelynewandsothevolunteerprogrammeisnotfullystructuredasitisinothercharities.Whatthismeansisthatyoucanbetrailblazersandhaveahugeinputintobuildingsomethinggreat.Withus, you are not just a number- you are part of our founding story and, together, we can makesomethingreallyunique.Weneedteamplayersthatarewillingtochip inwithanytaskrequiredtoachievesuccessfuloutcomes.WedoinsistthatallvolunteershaveafullcourseofrabiesvaccinationspriortovisitingSriLankaandarewillingtoembracethecultureandpotentiallyhavingto‘roughit’attimes.Wealsoaskallvolunteerstofundraiseforthecharitypriortoarrivalandwerecommendatargetof£350, although more would also be great! Examples of ways to raise money include bake sales,marathons,dogshowsandquiznights.FundraisingpacksareavailableonceyouhaveconfirmedyourvolunteerstintwithWECare.Wealsoaskthatallvolunteersreserve10kgofluggagespaceformedicalproductsandapproachallreps in their area to request freebies, aswell as beggingbosses/practicemanagers to throw someOODproductsourway!Allvolunteersonshort-termstints(minimumstay2weeks)willberequiredtofundtheirownflights,accommodationandmeals.Accommodationwillbeprovidedforthosestayingforaperiodof6weeksorlonger.Ifalloftheabovesoundsgoodtoyou,thendogettheballrollingwiththeapplicationprocess.Wewillrespondtoyourinitialenquirywithin5workingdays.