The Quezon City local government launched on Friday, Aug. 4, an internship program for veterinary medicine students from various universities and colleges in Luzon.
The Quezon City Veterinary Department (QCVD) offered the internship, which is an experience-based training program for students, focusing on services for animals, including care and adoption, rabies prevention and control, spaying and neutering, and other clinical activities.
“Part of the curriculum of Veterinary Medicine is exposure to off-campus learning experiences. Through our comprehensive internship program, we hope to provide valuable hands-on and actual experience to soon-to-be veterinarians. Our QCVD will serve as their training ground until they graduate and practice their profession," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
According to QCVD, they are reaching out to the other universities and colleges with veterinary medicine programs for possible collaboration that will be sealed through a memorandum of understanding.
City veterinarian Dr. Ana Mariel Cabel said activities such as joint academics, research, training, and seminars will also be conducted with the partnered universities.
“This will be the first time that an LGU is offering its services for the internship of soon-to-be veterinarians. Their school teaches them concepts, and the city will let them gain practical knowledge and skills that will complement their theoretical learning,” Cabel said.
The QCVD said that they are also collaborating with the Quezon City University for the learning modules that they can use for the training.
According to the city government, the Quezon City Animal Care and Adoption Center in Barangay Payatas was established in 2021 to provide temporary shelter to impounded and neglected animals.
It has a surgery room for cats and dogs that need to be castrated and for other animals that need medical attention