Any student will be better for having hands-on experience, and teaching hospitals are a wonderful way to acquire this. Having said that, it is just unbelievable to me that students (of any year of their studies) or residents should be permitted to treat animals without direct supervision of a practicing vet. The term "working closely with" should be defined as having a vet on the premises, able to be at the student/resident's side as quickly as possible in the event there's a medical emergency. And just as important is a requirement that the pet's owner should always be told if/when a student (or students) will be involved in a medical procedure and what his or her task will consist of, plus who will be supervising them. The pet's owner should have the right to discuss any misgivings or questions about this supervision BEFORE the procedure begins and should have a written record of this. I certainly would not automatically refuse to allow a qualified student or resident to work on my pet, but I reserve the right to know this will happen in advance. If the procedure is not successful, or, God forbid, my pet does not survive due to something unavoidable, at least I will know the decision as to who works on my pet was mine, not someone else's.