Externship Baseline Survey

The ASPCA would like to learn about your experience, views and interests prior to starting your training program. Please help us understand your perspective by completing this voluntary, confidential survey. The survey should take less than 10 minutes. The results of the survey will be reported without any names or other identifying information. We plan to use this information to help us understand the impact of our programs, improve our training and to learn how to better support you.

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1. The ASPCA would like to know how much exposure you have had to the animal welfare field prior to starting your training with us. Exposures may include: volunteering, paid work, coursework, clinical rotations, externships, etc.

Individual or population care of animals in a shelter setting

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Outbreak management in a shelter setting

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Veterinary forensics or other work related to animal cruelty

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Deploying to assist w/natural disasters locally, regionally or nationally

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Assisting with emergency preparedness locally, regionally or nationally

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Animal welfare policy/legislation

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

High quality - high volume spay and neuter

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Community cat management (trap-neuter return-monitor; return-to-field)

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Animal behavior or behavioral medicine

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Community medicine or access to veterinary care for underserved pets/families

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

Offering a range of diagnostic and/or treatment options that align with the client's goals of care and available resources

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work , volunteering, etc.)

Equine welfare

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work , volunteering, etc.)

Farm animal welfare

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work , volunteering, etc.)

Other shelter/community medicine or animal welfare experience (please specify below):

If you have experience in this area, please tell us the source(s) of that experience (vet school coursework, clinical rotation, externship, school club, paid work, volunteering, etc.)

2. How many small animal spay/neuter surgeries have you performed in the past, either as the primary surgeon or as a member of a team of surgeons, either completely independently or under supervision?

3. Currently, how confident are you in your ability to independently perform a small animal spay/neuter?

Not at all confident
Slightly confident
Somewhat confident
Very confident
Extremely confident

4. How would you rate your current skill level in these specific aspects of spay/neuter surgeries?

Gentle Tissue Handling

Not skilled at all
Slightly skilled
Somewhat skilled
Very skilled
Extremely skilled

Instrument Handling

Not skilled at all
Slightly skilled
Somewhat skilled
Very skilled
Extremely skilled

Knots & Ligatures

Not skilled at all
Slightly skilled
Somewhat skilled
Very skilled
Extremely skilled

5. How would you rate your current ability to independently perform an ovarian pedicle tie in a female cat?

Not at all able
Slightly able
Somewhat able
Very able
Extremely able
Don't know - I'm not familiar with that technique

6. Based on what you know at this point, how likely are you to use high-volume techniques (e.g., cord tie, ovarian pedicle tie, strangle knot/modified Miller's knot) in your future practice (when you are allowed to make the decision about which techniques to use and/or are permitted by practice policy)?

Extremely unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely likely
Don't know-I'm not familiar with those techniques

7. How much do you agree with the following statements:

Note: your answers should be guided by your personal opinion and not by potential policies outside of your control, unless they are one in the same.

Based on my current knowledge base, I personally recommend spaying and neutering cats and dogs at an early age (less than 5 months) as a pre-adoption requirement.

Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree

Based on my current knowledge base, I personally recommend spaying and neutering community cats at an early age (less than 5 months) prior to being re-released.

Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree

It is appropriate to recommend a high-quality, high-volume spay/neut er (HQHVSN) clinic or other high quality, lo w cost provider to clients who cannot afford private or corporate practice surgery prices.

Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree

8. In the future, how likely are you to become more involved with any of these aspects of animal welfare, either through your job or through volunteer work?

Individual or population care of animals in a shelter setting

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Outbreak management in a shelter setting

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Veterinary forensics or other work related to animal cruelty

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Assisting with emergency preparedness locally, regionally or nationally

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Deploying to assist w/natural disasters locally, regionally or nationally

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Animal welfare policy/legislation

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

High quality-high volume spay and neuter

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Community cat management (trap-neuter- return-monitor; return-to-field)

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Animal behavior or behavioral medicine

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Community medicine or access to veterinary care for underserved pets/families

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Offering a range of diagnostic and/or treatment options that align with the client's goals of care and available resources

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Equine welfare

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Farm animal welfare

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Another aspect of animal welfare

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

Please specify:

9. How likely are you to pursue a career in the animal welfare field in the future?

Extremely Unlikely
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
Extremely Likely

10. Why did you choose this externship with the ASPCA?

11. What is the one thing you most hope to get out of your externship training with us?

12. Please share any additional comments you may have.