Small Animal Veterinary Experience
Small Animal Veterinary Experience (SAVE) is co-facilitated in partnership with the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC), and local animal welfare organizations. At BWRC, students receive lectures, labs and clinical training in preparation for community health and spay & neuter clinics.
Note that we do charge a small registration fee of $50.00
Course Dates
Summer course I: June 5th – 16th, 2025
Summer Course II: July 8th – 19th, 2025
Private groups and custom itineraries available
Contact us for more information regarding our course dates.
Course Summary
At BWRC, students receive lectures, labs and clinical training in preparation for community health and spay & neuter clinics. Public health and outreach clinics are conducted in and around San Ignacio and Belize. Students travel to various locations in Belize to conduct Animal Health Clinics, Educational Outreach, and Community Spay & Neuter Clinics in partnership with animal welfare organizations and veterinary clinics around Belize.
Students who take both Wildlife Medicine & Conservation and SAVE courses over a month’s time engage with the veterinary staff at the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic; visit partner wildlife rescue and rehab organizations in Belize; have an opportunity to participate in international medicine; develop or strengthen clinical skills; work with a number of animal welfare and conservation organizations; and conduct community clinics. This within the context of beautiful Belize with its amazing array of natural beauty and cultural diversity.
Learning Objectives:
This program improves student’s knowledge and abilities in the following areas
Demonstrate an understanding of the key challenges and opportunities for small animal veterinarians in a developing country.
Safely handle, restrain and examine small animals.
Perform basic clinical laboratory diagnostic procedures.
Describe common zoonotic disease and their diagnosis, treatment and prevention, including those prevalent in the Neo-tropics.
Demonstrate an understanding of domestic animal anatomy and radiography
Correctly perform basic suturing
Demonstrate an understanding of cardiopulmonary physiology as related to the preoperative patient
Correctly calculate drug dosages
Safely and effectively administer and monitor anesthesia the perioperative patient
Communicate effectively with the local community about preventative healthcare for domestic animals
Accommodations
BWRC arranges housing at local hotels and guest houses for interns and students. Standard accommodations include multiple occupancy, shared bath and kitchenette. Upgrades and private accommodations are available upon request. Students and interns have free access to BWRC kayaks for wildlife spotting and recreation.
Program Fees
International Veterinary Experience $4,950 (24 days)
Wildlife Medicine & Conservation $3,000 (12 days); $2,100 (8 days)
Small Animal Veterinary Experience $3,000 (12days)
Wild-Spring-Break $2,100 (8 days)
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Continuing Education Course $2,100 (8 days)
Custom or private group pricing varies. – Contact us
What’s Included
See what all is included in this course. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.
Tuition
Lab Fees
Hotel Accommodations, Free Wifi, All Breakfast
Excursions, Field Trips, Entrance Fees
Daily Transportation
Airport Transfer
Payments & Donations to BWRC
Program T-shirt
Application Deadlines
Applications for courses, internships and continuing education are accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited, so if you’re interested, contact us now to confirm availability.
We recommend that you contact your study abroad advisor or department head about financial aid deadlines and receiving credit for BWRC programs. If your home institution doesn’t have an agreement with us, we can provide them with the necessary information.
Payment
Please click the button below to make a payment then enter the amount due. If you wish to make a payment using your credit card, but without having or creating a PayPal Account, use the bottom right option once you reach the PayPal window. Note for credit card payments, you must add 2.5% to your total.
Mail Check or Money Order
Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic c/o Isabelle Paquet-Durand
P.O. Box 226
San Ignacio, Cayo
Belize, Central America
For security reasons, please email us for wire-transfer instructions.
- Deposits are non-refundable.
- Program payments (apart from deposits) are refundable until 120 days prior to course commencement.
- After 120 days prior to program commencement, only 50% of the program fee (apart from registration fees) may be refunded.
- After 60 days prior to program commencement, no refund is available on any part of the payment.
- Refunds will be processed within 30 days of cancellation.
- Refunds will be returned minus processing and transfer fees.
FAQ’s
Base on frequently asked questions, we’ve created this section for you to read as it’s very important information for you to know before.
TRANSPORTATION
Transfers from the International Airport to your accommodations are arranged with local companies. Courses include daily transportation, and interns are generally housed within walking distance of their internship station. Under some circumstances, interns may be asked to use public transportation.
RECREATION
Belize is a beautiful eco-tourism destination bounding with outdoor recreational opportunities, Maya Archeological Parks, Caves, Rivers, Waterfalls and of course the largest reef in the Caribbean! We encourage our guests to visit local attractions during their stay with us and we can help plan your excursions.
KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY
Students enrolled in courses have breakfasts, most lunches and some dinners included. No kitchen is needed. Laundry service is available. Interns have access to a kitchen with cooking utensils, stove, and basic appliances (as available). Interns must supply their own food. Laundry services are available in San Ignacio/Santa Elena.
VIDEO AND PHOTOS PERMISSION
Interns and students are routinely filmed and photographed during BWRC wildlife rescue events. If you are not willing to be on film or in photographs, please inform the photographer on site.
Financial Planning
Study abroad has become a requisite part of University student life. Vet schools and residency programs seek applicants with clinical experience and students seek international experience to help them gain a competitive edge. Veterinary scholarships are scarce. At the BWRC, our study abroad programs are life-changing opportunities for students to cultivate their global perspective while participating in world-class veterinary study abroad programs. We at the BWRC do our best to design cost-competitive, one-fee programs that cover your tuition and most of your expenses during your trip. We encourage our students to be proactive in raising the necessary funds for their trip; seeking scholarships & grants, actively fund-raising and even taking out more student loans if necessary. We encourage students to plan 6-12 months ahead allowing ample time to secure funding and plan personal schedules around their study abroad trip.
Financial Planning Tips
- Ask yourself if you can afford this at this time. Give yourself plenty of time to financially prepare.
- Decide how much you and your family can contribute to your study abroad experience. Be sure to include a budget for your program tuition, flight, additional meals, supplemental insurance and some spending money.
- Ask yourself if you work more or save more, how much could you contribute to your study abroad trip.
- Set a personal fund raising goal and research methods that others have used to raise money for their study abroad. Ideas include work-sponsored events, an event you organize such as a yard sale, dinner or silent auction and judicious use of crowd-funding.
- Ask your University Financial Aid adviser for tips on securing scholarships, grants and whether loans may be applied to your study abroad and related expenses.
- Start 6-12 months ahead researching study abroad scholarships.
- Apply for financial aid. You may use the FAFSA to apply for student financial aid to fund your study abroad.
I was able to learn about veterinary medicine in domestic and wildlife animals while experiencing a different culture than my own. The BWRC opened my eyes to the human, animal and environmental interface, known as One Health, in a developing country.
Crystal Popish
I wanted to say how awesome is Belize Wildlife & Referral clinic and its partner non-profit organization Wildlife institute, based on my experience for 30 days of working as a volunteer veterinarian with them.
Dr. Paramesh Kurapati DVM,MS
BWRC attracts me not only because of the variety of the patients we treated everyday, which ranged from reptiles to mammals and even birds, but more importantly, the persistence and passion of Dr. Isabelle has for her work make me love this place even more.