Posts by: Katie

We are Accepting New Project Requests for 2016

We are Accepting New Project Requests for 2016

Each year World Vets sends out countless veterinary teams throughout the world to provide free veterinary care for animals in need. These endeavors are made possible through a shared dedication to improve the lives of animals, and in turn the partnerships that are created to realize this common goal.

We are looking to expand our reach and send teams to regions of the world where we’re currently not working. In particular, we are interested in receiving requests for assistance from countries located in South East Asia and the Asia – Pacific area, though we welcome requests, and opportunities, to provide assistance worldwide.

At this time we will not be considering requests for assistance from the following:

  • Countries where we already have an established program, project and/or presence. For instance, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic etc.
  • Countries where it is illegal, or would not be welcomed, for foreign veterinarians to provide their services as a volunteer.
  • Countries that have major safety concerns and/or travel advisories, especially per the U.S State Department. For instance, specific regions of the world  we are unable to consider at this time include the Middle East, Central Asia and various parts of Africa.
  • Requests that solicit assistance in the form of one individual/volunteer (as we do not recruit individual volunteers for placements with other organizations)

We strive to work in partnership with foreign animal welfare groups, veterinary professionals, other nongovernmental organizations (NGO`s), as well as local and national governments and their respective agencies responsible for animal welfare, agriculture and public health. If you represent one (or more) of these categories, and would like to work with World Vets, see here for more information about requesting assistance.

We are accepting new project requests, to be considered for a visit in 2016, until August 3rd, 2015. All requests received following this date will be considered for 2017.

World Vets Now Deployed on “Continuing Promise” Mission

World Vets Now Deployed on “Continuing Promise” Mission

World Vets is the veterinary non-governmental organization (NGO) currently represented on the U.S. Navy led humanitarian aid mission “Continuing Promise”. World Vets veterinarians on board are working alongside a US Army veterinary team, and in collaboration with host nation partners. This past week our team led seminars in Jamaica at the Department of Veterinary Services on topics such as dairy cattle medicine, small ruminants and swine, in addition to performing other activities with the Ministry of Agriculture. Read about the veterinary services our team, among others, are providing in Nicaragua here (Spanish)

World Vets will be providing similar training and capacity building, as well as direct veterinary services, in many Latin American and Caribbean countries as part of this mission.

Continuing Promise is a humanitarian and civic assistance deployment program composed of U.S. military personnel, partner nations’ forces and civilian relief volunteers that provide medical, dental and veterinary care, in addition to training for military personnel and valuable services to communities in need.  Missions deliver assistance with a focus on veterinary training and teaching.

 

Marley’s Miracle: World Vets gives an old boy a new lease on life

Marley’s Miracle: World Vets gives an old boy a new lease on life

By: Jane Ebbitt, CARE Nevis Animal Society

For the second year in a row a World Vets team arrived on the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis to assist the local rescue group CARE Nevis Animal Society with pet wellness and a mass free spay-neuter clinic. For four days the team led by World Vets field service veterinarian,  Dr. Winnie Neunzig, worked alongside the CARE volunteers from early morning till well after dusk, their immense efforts yielding amazing results of 283 spay-neuters, 92 vet consults, 400 vaccinations and 4 elective surgeries for other serious health problems.

For one dog in particular, the World Vets visit became a life-saving mission. That dog is ‘MARLEY’.

The old and the young, Marley puppy sits Sweetie

The old and the young, Marley comforts a puppy

Marley is very dear to our heart, he is the ‘Grandpa Patriarch’ of the CARE Rescue Shelter, our first rescue found on a local beach in November 2009. The victim of a dog fighting ring, he had been abandoned and was starving, near death, when we picked him up. The indomitable spirit of this dog, who was given 6 months to live back in January 2010, has been our motivation that every stray animal deserves a second chance at life and love. Marley is so gentle his self-imposed mission in life is to welcome every puppy to the CARE Rescue Shelter. He nuzzles, protects and tells them all that their days of running scared are over.

Marley's tumors

Marley’s tumors

Last year Marley developed a testicular tumor and other large tumors on his underside. We watched in dismay as the tumors doubled in size within a year. Due to his age of approximately 11 years, and risk factors, no vets would tackle surgery to remove them. We asked World Vets field service veterinarian,  Dr Winnie, and World Vets volunteer, Dr Mike Henes, if they believed he would survive surgery to remove the massive tumors, which were weighing Marley down. They gave Marley 75-25 odds of making it,and, although it was a difficult decision to make, there really was no other choice.

From left to right, Jane Ebbitt, Dr. Winnie Neunzig, Dr. Mike Henes and LVT Corinne Anders

From left to right, Jane Ebbitt, Dr. Winnie Neunzig, Dr. Mike Henes and LVT Corinne Anders

And so, Winnie and Mike assisted by senior Vet Tech, Corinne Anders, got to work and operated on Marley. For 30 minutes scalpels flashed, clamps were placed and needles stitched up the wounds at lightning speed. With no complications at all during the procedure, Marley’s 3lbs of tumors were removed and a now ‘streamlined’ Marley emerged from the operating table to recover.

Within 24 hours our Patriarch of the CARE Shelter was rejuvenated, recovered and back amongst all the puppies that he loves so much. He now walks with a spring in his step, greeting the puppies with his usual snuffles and big licks.

We can’t thank the World Vets team enough for giving our Miracle Marley’ yet another lease on the life he loves living. We are so, so… grateful.

 

The Little Team that Could! Ecuador

The Little Team that Could! Ecuador

During the month of April World Vets had a team in Ecuador. We anticipated this to be a challenging project as this is a very high volume clinic and our team was just half the normal size.

However, despite our limited volunteer force, our team well exceeded expectations in relation to the number of animal patients that could receive services. Working in two municipalities in Northern Ecuador, our little team was able to perform hundreds of free sterilization surgeries in just a short period of time. Needless to say we are thrilled at the outcome of this project!

We’d like to thank our tireless volunteers and leaders, PAE-Ibarra, the municipalities of Atuntaqui and Otavalo, as well as Fondation Brigitte Bardot for making this great effort possible!

 

8 Week Student Internship Available this Summer with World Vets!

8 Week Student Internship Available this Summer with World Vets!

World Vets seeks an enthusiastic and hardworking student intern who is ready for an adventure! This summer (starting June 1st) we have an exciting internship opportunity based out of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center. This center is located in Granada, Nicaragua, and is also home to our International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program. The IVM Program is World Vets student program that provides international students with an opportunity to gain practical veterinary experience as well as hands on instruction in relation to performing clinical tasks.

As part of this opportunity, the student intern will work alongside World Vets staff and volunteers, out of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center, to aid and assist with the execution of this summers IVM Program. More details are provided below.

Tasks/Responsibilities

– Assist with local logistics and coordination as it pertains to the IVM Program, in addition to providing general animal care. Activities and tasks may consist of the following

  1. Taking part in animal collection and returning animals to their homes/communities following recovery
  2. Tending to surgical patients post op in recovery; monitoring, grooming, and administration of post op medicines
  3. Taking part in community outreach activities, which provide free veterinary services for dogs, cats and horses in outlying rural communities
  4. When appropriate, helping to prep animal patients for surgery
  5. Miscellaneous administrative/data collection duties

– Act as social coordinator for IVM Program participants while the program is underway. This will consist of the following

  1. Welcoming students/instructors to program housing upon arrival and showing them around the house and to their rooms (and, labeling rooms with the names of who will be sleeping where each session)
  2. Being the “go to” person should anyone have any “tourist related” questions in relation to where they can go to do this, where they can go buy that, best places to eat etc.
  3. Getting everyone signed up for an activity prior to the designated free day and getting these activities* lined up (and collecting money for this if needed)
  4. Take part in group activity that is scheduled the day after arrivals
  5. When there is free time or during evenings, organize activities or social get-togethers where people can get to know each other, have fun, and experience more of Granada. I.e. rally up people to go out to dinner, to go shopping etc.

*World Vets has 3 set activities that we offer to coordinate for IVM Program participants

Eligibility

  • This internship opportunity is open to pre-veterinary and/or veterinary technician students. Veterinary students may also be considered, however, getting surgical experience is not part of this opportunity.
  • Preference will be given to those who have participated on a past IVM Program session.
  • We seek a student that is able to commit to 8 consecutive weeks, from June 1 – July 29, 2015.
  • Spanish fluency or conversational Spanish is desired, though not a requirement.

Conditions

  • This is a non paid internship, but an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with an international non profit and with animals in need
  • There is a fee associated with this internship opportunity. In exchange for this fee, the following will be provided for the intern; housing for the duration of the internship, airport transfers (on assigned days), ground transportation related to clinic activities, breakfast, and lunches on clinic work days, program supplies and full participation in program activities, in addition to a World Vets scrub top and/or gear.
  • What is not provided (and what the intern will need to cover): International airfare, optional excursions/activities, dinner, Nicaraguan tourist visa ($10 USD), travel and/or health insurance, personal equipment necessary for the opportunity (i.e watch, stethoscope, water bottle), incidentals and anything not specifically outlined as included.

If interested, please send a copy of your current resume/CV to info@worldvets BEFORE APRIL 30th. Please list your full name, and include the past IVM Program session you participated on and whether you are able to commit for the full 8 weeks.

 

 

World Vets Carries out First-Ever Exotics Project

World Vets Carries out First-Ever Exotics Project

This past week World Vets carried out a pilot project that provided veterinary attention and care for wildlife. As part of this endeavor, we partnered with a wildlife rehabilitation center located in Roatan, Honduras, that takes in injured, orphaned or confiscated wildlife.

Our team was led by World Vets field service veterinarian Dr Mike Corcoran. Dr Corcoran is not only a wildlife / exotics vet but is also a certified aquatic veterinarian through the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.

Throughout the week, our volunteers attended a variety of animals including three distinct species of monkey, jaguars, ocelots, and an assortment of exotic birds. They provided general examinations, dental cleaning , sexing, alongside many other services.

Caribbean Sterilization Campaigns Completed

Caribbean Sterilization Campaigns Completed

Animal recipients in Roatan, Honduras and Nevis (located in the West Indies) are benefiting from World Vets free veterinary services this month. World Vets has two veterinary teams deployed in these Caribbean locations where they are operating free sterilization and animal health campaigns.

We’d like to thank our volunteers, local partners, and their supporters, for the great turn out and the success of these campaigns! We’re also grateful for the support of Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their continual support of our animal welfare efforts.

 

 

Volunteer Registration to Close for April Opportunities!

Volunteer Registration to Close for April Opportunities!

Volunteer positions are still open on our upcoming opportunities in April 2015! If you have been considering joining a team, volunteer registration will close in the next few weeks! Join us on an `island hopping` spay/neuter campaign in the Caribbean or in the Andes mountains of Ecuador!

Veterinary field service projects have volunteer opportunities for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students and those who do not have any veterinary or animal related experience (assistants). You can read more about what you would be doing on a small animal field service project here

April volunteer opportunities:

A standard veterinary field project is scheduled for 8 days/7 nights, with 3 veterinary service days. However, both April opportunities are for a 9-10 day duration and consist of five days dedicated to providing veterinary care and services for animals in need.

“Every Dollar Buys a Collar!” Campaign Update

“Every Dollar Buys a Collar!” Campaign Update

Last year World Vets initiated a dog collar drive to distribute new collars to animals in need in Nicaragua. As part of our program service activities in this particular country,  as well as throughout the world, we often come across countless collars made of chains, rope, wire and many other materials that cause harm and discomfort.
Since our initial fundraiser, and with many thanks to its supporters, we have distributed over 1000 adjustable nylon collars in communities around Nicaragua. However, we are still short of our goal! We wish to continue our “Every Dollar Buys a Collar” campaign to provide collars for more animals around the world.
 Keep the campaign going! Contribute here
World Vets Teams to Deploy on Civil-Military Missions

World Vets Teams to Deploy on Civil-Military Missions

For the past six years World Vets has been the veterinary non-governmental organization (NGO) represented on two U.S. Navy led humanitarian aid missions: Pacific Partnership and Continuing Promise. These missions provide medical, dental and veterinary coverage to host nations in South East Asia and the Pacific as well as the Caribbean and Central and South America, respectively.

World Vets helps accomplish mission objectives by contributing veterinary manpower and skills through its veterinary personnel deployed. This year we will have teams on board both Pacific Partnership and Continuing Promise. They will live on-board a hospital ship and provide veterinary services onshore in host nations. As part of these efforts, our volunteers not only provide direct veterinary care, but capacity building and training, which benefit local animal health care professionals, in addition to communities.

What’s more, World Vets is also sending donation pallets on board both ships! One is bound for the Philippines carrying veterinary textbooks to benefit a veterinary school in Cebu, and the other to Nicaragua.

See pictures from past missions

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