My name is Gracie Gourn, I am an aspiring livestock veterinarian. I have always had a love for animals and wanted to provide care for them. I specifically want to go into livestock to deal with larger animals rather than smaller ones. I understand there is a lack of livestock and exotic animal veterinarians. I had the opportunity to be placed at Riverside Animal Hospital for my summer internship. While interning at Riverside Animal Hospital, I was able to gain a great amount of knowledge. The staff was very welcoming and supported me through my learning.
Seeing all of what happened behind the scenes overwhelmed me at first, but after a day I got the hang of it. On my first day in the hospital there was an emergency, and I helped by ensuring the patient stayed still so that the Vet Techs could administer medication. After they did that, I was able to observe an x-ray of the patient. This allowed me to see the technology that the veterinarians use to help the patients they treat. I also got to learn how to run a fecal test to see if there are any parasites in the patient, if the machine comes back with a positive result, then the patient is given a dewormer to kill the parasites. I was taught on how to properly hold animals so that I can ensure the safety of me and the veterinarian. For instance, with dogs, you are to hug the head tight to your body and then support the dog underneath with your arm. I was able to see so many different types of animals that I wouldn’t be able to see in my normal day-to-day life. Dr. Rossi was very welcoming and open to the questions that I had and allowed me to be involved in any case that I wanted to be in.
The AnnieRuth Foundation has provided me with an amazing opportunity to be a part of the veterinary community. This opportunity has provided me with a base for my future in the veterinary world. Since veterinary school is so competitive to get into, having this experience on my resume will allow me to stand out. I am grateful to the AnnieRuth Foundation for providing me with this opportunity. I want to thank the employees of the AnnieRuth Foundation for all of the hard work they have done. I want to give a special thank you to Riverside Animal Hospital for welcoming me in and treating me like family!