Known affectionately in our office as “dogs and dolphins”, this program is the best of both worlds!

Maximize your two weeks in Costa Rica by combining small animal medicine and marine research.

This two-week program puts you alongside veterinarians and researchers whose job is to teach you so you can learn and practice new skills while helping animals in need. Work in a dog shelter or a dog clinic and learn clinical skills including blood draws, suturing, skin scrapes, and assisting in spay and neuter surgeries. Spend one week living at a dolphin research facility doing boat-based research on dolphin health and behavior. Your program will also include fun activities, such as ziplining!

Who It’s For

This program is designed for university-aged students who are interested in becoming veterinarians or working professionally with animals. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Most are 18 to 25, but we also accept full-time undergraduates over 25. There are no pre-requisites for this program. You do not need to be in school currently to apply. Individuals of any nationality may apply.

Applicants should be comfortable working with animals and getting their hands, and everything else, dirty. This program can accommodate a maximum of 10 participants per session.

Highlights

•  Study and research wild dolphins 
•  Observe dog neuter surgeries
•  Learn and practice small animal clinical skills
•  Discover what it’s like to be a vet in the tropics

Dates open for applications

May 28- June 10, 2023
June 11- June 24, 2023

These program sessions are covered by Loop Abroad’s COVID-19 100% Tuition Refund Policy. If a program is canceled by Loop Abroad due to COVID-19, we will refund 100% of any program tuition you have paid (including the deposit).