Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine Careers offers job seekers essential information about a variety of careers in the field of veterinary medicine. The book includes training and education requirements, salary statistics, and professional and Internet resources.

C.1 ST. AID. B & T. 09-06-2007. $13.95.

There are many different types of careers for those interested in working with or around animals. Rewarding careers exist for animal lovers in grooming and training pets, walking dogs, running pet stores, or working in animal shelters, zoos, or aquariums. Other opportunities exist in veterinary care, monitoring and managing wildlife, working with farm animals, and advocating for humane treatment of animals. Career Opportunities Working with Animals describes more than 60 occupations, such as Animal treatment investigator Aquarist Dog trainer Jockey Pet photographer Shelter manager Small animal veterinarian Veterinary technician Wildlife rehabilitator Zoo director Throughout the book, the reader will find a quick reference Carrer Profile for each job summarizing its notable features, a Career Ladder illustrating frequent routes to and from the position described, and a comprehensive text pointing out special skills, education, training, and various associations relevant to each post. Appendixes list educational institutions, professional associations, and useful Web sites. Book jacket.

The U.S. veterinary medical profession contributes to society in diverse ways, from developing drugs and protecting the food supply to treating companion animals and investigating animal diseases in the wild. In a study of the issues related to the veterinary medical workforce, including demographics, workforce supply, trends affecting job availability, and capacity of the educational system to fill future demands, a National Research Council committee found that the profession faces important challenges in maintaining the economic sustainability of veterinary practice and education, building its scholarly foundations, and evolving veterinary service to meet changing societal needs. Many concerns about the profession came into focus following the outbreak of West Nile fever in 1999, and the subsequent outbreaks of SARS, monkeypox, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, highly pathogenic avian influenza, H1N1 influenza, and a variety of food safety and environmental issues heightened public concerns. They also raised further questions about the directions of veterinary medicine and the capacity of public health service the profession provides both in the United States and abroad. To address some of the problems facing the veterinary profession, greater public and private support for education and research in veterinary medicine is needed. The public, policymakers, and even medical professionals are frequently unaware of how veterinary medicine fundamentally supports both animal and human health and well-being. This report seeks to broaden the public's understanding and attempts to anticipate some of the needs and measures that are essential for the profession to fulfill given its changing roles in the 21st century.