VETERINARY SHELTER MEDICINE AND PATIENT CARE
VET3VSM
2021
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject, students will learn how to plan and manage the behavioural, husbandry and health care needs of animals living within an animal welfare shelter, to achieve positive animal welfare outcomes and compliance with the Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds. Topics covered in relation to the animal shelter include: animal welfare and ethics, relevant legislation, animal behaviour and husbandry, and shelter-specific medicine. Using an evidence-based approach, students will review the design and management practices of a shelter they have visited or undertaken placement at, in order to recommend changes and/or improvements. Students will also learn how to present an evidence-based argument regarding a contentious area in animal welfare and ethics. Through their shelter visits and placements, students will be exposed to the emotional and physical challenges faced by staff that work within animal welfare shelters, and will come to learn how to maximise staff well-being within these environments.
SchoolLife Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorDimuthu Wijesinghe
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Available as ElectiveNo
Learning ActivitiesN/A
Capstone subjectNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Must be admitted into SBVN and have passed VET2IAN and VET2PVN.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Quota Management StrategyN/A
Quota-conditions or rulesN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Minimum credit point requirementN/A
Assumed knowledgeN/A
Learning resources
Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice
Resource TypeBook
Resource RequirementPrescribed
AuthorYeates, J.
Year2013
Edition/VolumeN/A
PublisherWiley-Blackwell.
ISBNN/A
Chapter/article titleN/A
Chapter/issueN/A
URLN/A
Other descriptionN/A
Source locationN/A
Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff
Resource TypeBook
Resource RequirementPrescribed
AuthorMiller, L. & Zawistowski, S.
Year2013
Edition/Volume2nd Edition
PublisherWiley-Blackwell.
ISBNN/A
Chapter/article titleN/A
Chapter/issueN/A
URLN/A
Other descriptionN/A
Source locationN/A
Career Ready
Career-focusedYes
Work-based learningYes
Self sourced or Uni sourcedSelf Sourced
Entire subject or partial subjectPartial subject
Total hours/days required45 hours
Location of WBL activity (region)Flexible
WBL addtional requirementsWIL Placement. Roster-dependent. During COVID - virtual WBL placements are being used to assist students to achieve ILOs safely.
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Subject options
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Epping (Melbourne Polytechnic), 2021, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorDilhani Premaratna
Class requirements
Placement - Off SiteWeek: 30 - 42
Six 7.50 hours placement - off site per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 30 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
WIL Placement. Roster-dependent.
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 30 - 42
One 1.00 hour unscheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 30 to week 42 and delivered via online.
Delivered as reading material, quizzes, video clips.
WorkShopWeek: 30 - 42
One 5.00 hours workshop every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 30 to week 42 and delivered via blended.
Fortnightly workshops on campus
Assessments
| Assessment element | Category | Contribution | Hurdle | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 x 10 min pre-workshop online quizzes (850 words equivalent) 4% each Fortnightly | Quizzes | Individual | No | 20 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5 |
15 minute team oral animal shelter debate (500 words/ student)Teams of 3 studentsStudent teams to argue an ethical and/or welfare issue related to shelter medicine in a debate style (5 minutes per student, equivalent to 500 essay words per student) | Oral presentation | Group | No | 10 | SILO1, SILO2 |
1600 word animal shelter evaluation report. Students visit a number of animal welfare shelters, and select one to critically evaluate. Individual confidential report - critical evaluation of a welfare shelter, including recommendations for future improvements (1600 words).Students visit a number of animal welfare shelters, and select one to critically evaluate. | Report | Individual | No | 40 | SILO2, SILO3, SILO4 |
1200 word written wellbeing plan. Students to develop a plan to manage the wellbeing of the shelter team in a clinical shelter environment (1200 words) | Other | Individual | No | 30 | SILO5 |