Here is what some of our interns wrote about their experience:

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“Working with the vets here in Greece has been great, they certainly helped me improve my surgical skills which was one of my goals for the internship. I specifically loved working with Lazaros as he and his team had great advice that I will carry with m efor the rest of my career. Another of my goals was to learn more about shelter managment which I certainly had plenty of opportunitites to learn about veternary care for strays which has been fun to learn about. I did also get to work with some wildlife which was very interesting. I absolutely would recommend this internship to my fellow vet students. I know the the surgical experience I have gained will prove to be invaluable. Additionally working in Greece with the strays has been a interesting experience and I have learned so much about shelter medicine”.

Jake Little (USA), Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2024

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“The internship experience was definitely the best abroad internship that I have had so far. I thought that it was very well organized, and that I had a very good range of practice and experience provided. My mentors specifically at Lazaros and George’s clinics were especially kind, patient, and phenomenal teachers. This program actually exceeded my expectations. I went into the program thinking that the experience I would get would be more limited. Having the opportunity to improve my technical skills and surgery skills was very meaningful. The mentors that I had were so patient and clear with walking me through what was confusing to me, or that I was practicing. Having the opportunity to shadow many surgeries was also such an exciting opportunity.

Divya Ghosh (USA), University of  Minnesota College of  Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2024

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“This internship provided me an opportunity to help the underserved animals around the world. By having a stay in the shelter, I understood more about daily shelter operations. Moreover, by training under the supervision of the cooperating experts in different fields, I was able to gain a lot of hands-on experience in a clinical setting. It was great to be able to work at both vet clinics and foster home as I gained hands-on work experience not only in veterinary clinical setting but also in shelter animal care. Shadowing different vet experts (e.g. veterinary chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon etc.) broadened my knowledge and skills in different aspects. The communication with the organization was always very tight. During my internship application proccess, the program coordinator was very helpful and responded very promptly. During my stay, the shelter managers were supportive all the time. They always updated my in case of any changes of the schedule and offered help with the accomodation. The activity days also provided my chances to explore around Greece”.

Mimi Ip Pui Yan (Hong Kong), City University of Hong Kong College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2024

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“With 5 years of experience as the president of the Animal Protection Association at my previous university in China, and 1 year of volunteering experience in a local animal shelter after starting veterinary school in the United States, I am passionate about shelter medicine and the current state of animal welfare globally. So, when I saw the internship program at Let's Be S.M.A.R.T. (LBS) shelter, I applied without hesitation. It turns out that I made a correct decision. I greatly appreciate the unique operation model of the LBS shelter team, where humans and cats live together, allowing the cats to receive the best care and maximum socialization. The international internship program and adoption service also provided me with the opportunity to share cultures and insights on animal welfare with volunteers from all over the world. In addition, I had the chance to intern at cooperative clinics and other animal rescue organizations, gaining a lot of hands-on experience with both companion animals and wildlife. The local veterinarians were enthusiastic and patiently translated everything in English for me, which also allowed me to learn about the current situation of animal welfare and veterinary medicine in Greece. I am grateful to the LBS team for their forward thinking and the internship opportunities they provided, and for everything they have done for homeless animals in Greece. This is an amazing opportunity, especially for students who are passionate about shelter medicine and want to experience the management of shelters from an international perspective.

Yi Wen (China), Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2023

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“Before this program, I had never traveled internationally outside of the U.S. Before this program, I had never been exposed to a shelter setting so attentive, fully involved, and caring for its animal residents. And, before this program, I had never had the hands-on experiences that I was able to encounter while working with the organization. As a third-year veterinary student with career aspirations in shelter medicine, I found Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. to be the most influential and motivating experience I could have ever participated in. It provided a diverse perspective on shelter medicine by allowing me to be involved with the hourly/daily care of the shelter cats, and observe other animals, such as donkeys, dogs, and sea turtles, in local rescue centers. I was able to meet and cooperate with students from all over the world, learning about their different cultures, languages, and delicious foods. Furthermore, they allowed free time to explore the beautiful beaches, architecture, and historical landmarks that Athens has to offer. This program offered an invaluable learning experience and showed next-level care for animals within the shelter setting. Not only has it influenced my career aspirations, but it showed how maximal care can be provided with minimal resources. I couldn’t have found a better way to spend my summer, and I am grateful for the experience the organization provided to me!”

Angelica Thompson (USA), Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2022

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“My name is McKenna Busateri, and I am a second-year veterinary student from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine that recently spent one week doing the Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. DVM Student Internship. My overall experience with LBS was very positive; the staff and fellow interns were very welcoming, making the internship feel like home. The environment was conducive to learning, as well as providing a proper work-life balance with scheduled activities to see the beauty that Greece has to offer. It is evident that the shelter managers and all the volunteers have immense passion for these animals and care deeply for every four-legged resident of the LBS household. This internship is perfect for veterinary students that want to experience the field of veterinary medicine from a global lens, as well as have the opportunity to sightsee and relax. I would also recommend the volunteer program to pre-veterinary students that want to build their resume for applications. For these reasons and beyond, I am confident that LBS is making huge strides towards tackling the feline overpopulation issue in Greece and doing everything in their ability to provide quality care to animals with the intention of finding their forever homes, while providing reciprocal learning opportunities for veterinary students like myself.”

McKenna Lee Busateri (USA), University of  Minnesota College of  Veterinary Medicine,

Vet Intern 2022

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“When I first decided to sign up for the internship I felt crazy for wanting to travel all the way to Greece for veterinary experience, but I told myself if I didn’t take this opportunity now I would regret it later. How I was so right about that. As a vet student, I greatly expanded my understanding of veterinary medicine. I was able to improve my clinical skills in surgery, learn the differences in veterinary medicine between Greece and my home country, and learn about the unique challenges to animal welfare in Greece. I was extremely impressed about the depth and attention to detail Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. put into planning the internship, alongside working day and night caring for their shelter cats. However, this organization definitely lives by the motto “work hard, play hard.” After internship activities and shelter duties were finished, each day we still had plenty of time to explore Greece or simply hang out with the other volunteers. There were also organized group outings with the volunteers to the beach, tavernas, and we even went sea kayaking. Everyone was so incredibly kind and they all have such enormous hearts for their animals. It really is inspiring to work with so many people passionate towards improving animal welfare in Greece”

 

Abby Bamberger (USA), The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Intern 2021

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I’m at the end of the 3rd year of my veterinary studies and this year I participated for the first time in the Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. program. It was an amazing experience! Every day I took care of the cats and participated in the life of the cat residents of the shelter, which actually looks more like a cat’s paradise. As a veterinary student I was visiting vet clinics and also took part in the sterilization of stray cats. During my internship I had the opportunity to learn many new things, both closely related to the veterinary medicine and the daily care for animals. In my free time I visited beach, went on trips and explored Greece. I met many wonderful people from all over the world and also learned a lot about Greek culture, flora and fauna which was extremely interesting. It seems to me that it is very important to exchange experiences. It is also important to see how the real veterinarian work looks like in different places around the world. I encourage everyone to come here.”

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Majka Duda (Poland), University of Agriculture in Krakow, University Center of Veterinary Medicine,

Vet Intern 2021

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