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Attention Students! IVM Program: Winter 2013 Sessions Finalized

Jul 29

ATTENTION STUDENTS!

IVM Program sessions have been scheduled for Winter 2013. Dates have now been posted on the Upcoming Projects page. World Vets members will have the opportunity to register early for student positions. Following this, registration will open on World Vets website for general sign up. Please note that the full program fee amount will be due at the time of registration.

World Vets International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is World Vets student program. Operating out of our Latin American Veterinary Training Center in Granada, Nicaragua, it provides international students with an opportunity to gain practical veterinary experience. Students read more here

DVM & LVT/RVT Instructors are also needed for this program. To qualify for an instructor position, you must either be a licensed veterinarian and/or technician and have a minimum of one year clinical experience. Previous teaching experience is not a prerequisite. This is a volunteer opportunity with limited expenses for you.

World Vets in the Marshall Islands as part of Pacific Partnership 2013

Jul 24

U.S. Army Spc. Martin Gonzalez and World Vets volunteer Dr. Amanda Hedman give two puppies a physical exam at a Pacific Partnership 2013 veterinary civic action project.

U.S. Army Spc. Martin Gonzalez and World Vets volunteer Amanda Hedman, LVT/RVT, give two puppies a physical exam.

Dr. Kristin Camp, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, gives a cat named “Coffee” a pre-operation physical exam before being neutered at the free spay and neuter clinic held at the College of the Marshall Islands.

As part of Pacific Partnership 2013, a World Vets veterinary team provided a variety of services in the Marshall Islands alongside US Army personnel as well as host nation partners. Together we operated a free spay/neuter campaign, provided health consultations for small animals in addition to educational lectures on various veterinary topics such as basic animal first aid.

Pacific Partnership is a multinational mission of host nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that include Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United States that join together to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen disaster response preparedness throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

World Vets volunteers travel on board a US Navy ship as part of this mission. World Vets team has currently traveled to Samoa, Tonga, Marshall Islands and Kiribati. See photos here from World Vets activities on this mission so far.

Photos and captions: Amanda Saavedra

Fostering Animal Wellness in Rural Nicaragua

Jul 19

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Katie Horn/WorldVets

As World Vets team pulled up to the local school, which was to be our clinic site, piglets and chickens were busy foraging on the school grounds. Unafraid of our presence they continued about their daily routine. As we proceeded to set up our work stations we were greeted by a donkey that happened to preside over a family’s small agricultural plot next door. He provided constant reminders of his presence, “hee – haw”, that enticed many of us to go see him throughout the work day.

As veterinary services got underway, children and grown men dressed in their Sunday’s best began to form a line around the registration desk. Dogs were brought to us in handbags, on carts and wheelbarrows and cats surprisingly enough were carried in on string leashes or in cardboard boxes. Half came to us to receive spay/neuter surgery and the other half for health consultations

Until recently World Vets had not set up a direct veterinary service campaign in this particular community. Located 25 minutes or so outside of the main town of San Juan del Sur, the rural community of Escamequita is a world of its own. In contrast to town, houses are scattered over considerable distances and made from all kinds of materials; from wood to metal scrap and/or brick. All animals, including dogs, pigs, chickens and turkeys roam free, yet everyone knows which house they belong to. Furthermore, potable water may only be accessible from a well and during the rainy season the only road to and from Escamequita may be washed out, limiting contact with town and its subsequent products and services.

Even though World Vets had never visited the area before, the animals of Escamequita have quite a history with World Vets and the services we have provided in San Juan del Sur over the years. This has much to do with concerned and kind hearted expatriates who also live in the area. Without hesitation, they have rallied local households and loaded up their trucks with animals, accompanied by their owners, to receive our services, wherever they would be provided. The animals brought to us in their vehicles were always the ones that had the worse body conditions and needed the most TLC from our teams.

After years of their dedication and demand for veterinary care, it made perfect sense to bring our services directly to them. Our recent campaign in Escamequita has acted to harness this growing awareness of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, especially amongst the young population. Many animals from the original “truck loads” were first brought to us to receive spay/neuter surgery. Now we happily welcome them back for follow up medical treatments. And wouldn’t you know it; they were some of the healthiest looking bunch during our recent campaign!

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Our visit to Escamequita has also served to further promote the concept of animal wellness, specifically for new pet owners who had not previously sought out our services either due to distance and/or logistics. In consultations we saw one young boy who brought his puppy for a check up and to receive preventative health treatments. This is the first step we explained, to being a responsible pet owner, and his father proudly agreed.

More than anything our veterinary services in rural communities such as Escamequita provide the means for individuals to care for and be responsible pet owners. It is a huge misconception that people in foreign countries simply do not care for their animals. They do! This young boy is but one example.

All of World Vets veterinary services are provided free of charge

Story write up: Katie Horn, World Vets International Programs Manager

World Vets Working in Tonga; Farm Calls, Education & Spay/Neuter Services

Jul 15

As part of the 2013 Pacific Partnership mission, a World Vets veterinary team provided a variety of services in Tonga alongside US Army personnel as well as host nation partners. Below we provide a photo essay to highlight the work accomplished as part of the veterinary program provided during our recent visit to Tonga.

US Army Captain, Cherise Neu, and World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Camp, answer questions about proper care for both dairy cows and beef cows from local farmers, para-vets, and veterinarians

U.S. Army Captain, Cherise Neu, lectures local farmers, para-vets, and veterinarians about cow body scoring and proper nutrion and diet based on how the cow will ultimately be used

World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Camp, gives a calf a physical exam to ensure that the calf is healthy

World Vets volunteer, Dr. Kristin Camp, talks to the local veterinarian, para-vets, and farmers about the importance of testing for Mastitis in cows, which will help ensure that the milk they are producing is healthy for both human and calves to consume

Dr. Kristin Camp, volunteer veterinarian for World Vets, shows locals how to easily test for mastitis in cow’s milk.

Dr. Abbey O’Connor, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, and Lt. Hannah Castillo, prepare a young dog for desexing as part of the free clinic that was held for locals

World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Abi Collinson, and U.S. Army Veterinarian Technician , Sargent Lynn Marsh, clean Brown Senior’s ear after having been in a dog fight

Dr. Abbey O’Connor, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, and Lt. Hannah Castillo, prepare a young dog for desexing as part of the free clinic that was held for locals

Pacific Partnership is a multinational mission of host nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that include Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United States that join together to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen disaster response preparedness throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

World Vets volunteers travel on board a US Navy ship as part of this mission.

All photos and captions: Amanda Saavedra

World Vets Volunteer Makes Local News in the Marshall Islands

Jul 11

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (July 4, 2013) Tori Hall, a volunteer with the non-governmental organization World Vets, lets a Marshallese child listen to the heartbeat of a dog during a Pacific Partnership 2013 health fair.

Pacific Partnership is a mission that brings host nation governments, U.S. military, partner nation militaries and non-governmental organization volunteers together to conduct disaster-preparedness projects and build relationships in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to better respond during a crisis.World Vets has provided veterinary personnel for this mission since 2009.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Laurie Dexter/Released)

A Successful Pilot Project in Suriname, South America

Jul 11

World Vets recently operated a pilot project* in Paramaribo, Suriname. We sent a volunteer veterinary team that provided a very successful large scale sterilization campaign which resulted in 250 surgeries being performed. Our team worked with Henk Abrahams Foundation, a local animal welfare organization. We thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their support of this visit as well as all the volunteers for their efforts. See pictures of our Suriname campaign here

*A pilot project is a new project location where a World Vets team has not previously worked

World Vets aids Pacific Partnership response to Hit & Run

Jul 02

MALAPO, Tonga — Three Pacific Partnership members acted as first responders to a hit and run automobile accident on a local pedestrian during the Tongan portion of the 2013 mission.

U.S. Army Capt. James Dillon, U.S. Army Sgt. Evan Lund and Dr, Abi O’Connor, a volunteer veterinarian from nongovernmental organization (NGO) World Vets, were en route to the South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) clinic to pick up supplies when they saw a man walking down the street get hit by a passing truck.

“The truck was driving about 50 km/hr when he hit him,” said Dr. Abi O’Connor. “The driver of the truck paused, and then drove away after the man landed on the street side.”

Read full story here

Story and photo by World Vets photojournalist Ms. Amanda Saavedra

New Arrivals! World Vets Messenger Bag & More

Jun 28

World Vets official rucksack, messenger and hand bag now available online here. All proceeds help World Vets provide aid for animals around the globe!

World Vets Brings Veterinary Care to Remote Region in Guatemala

Jun 18

A World Vets team has just returned after a great adventure to the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala. Following 7 hours of travel, in a van and boat ride from the capital, they arrived in the Livingston/Rio Dulce region. During their visit they provided free veterinary services, a luxury for local cats and dogs, as local services for animals are hard to come by in such an isolated area. Many communities are only accessible by boat making veterinary care a great challenge.

Our team provided a large scale sterilization campaign where 164 surgeries were performed as well as an additional 200 plus health consultations and treatments provided to local animals. We also saw patients at the dock of our accommodations during the evening along the river. In these activities, we were joined by local volunteers and veterinary students from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

We would like to extend our many thanks and gratitude to our team members and local coordinator, Aska, of El Hotelito Perdido. We would also like to thank CATUR, the local Centro de Salud and municipality of Livingston for all their support in helping make this campaign possible. And finally we would like to thank local businesses and the community of Livingston for their warm welcome and hospitality.

See pictures of World Vets visit to Rio Dulce, Guatemala – coming soon!

1 Vet Spot Left for Otavalo, Ecuador Project! July 2013

Jun 13

There is just 1 VETERINARIAN spot left open for our July 2013 Otavalo, Ecuador Project. Join us on a trip to the Ecuadorian Andes July 17 – 24, 2013 and provide a three day large scale sterilization campaign in the town of Otavalo!

World Vets has been providing regular high volume spay/neuter services in Ecuador since 2009. We have also secured an agreement with the municipality of Otavalo stipulating that they will not carry out poisoning campaigns in exchange for our free spay/neuter services for community animals.

Aside from veterinary work, volunteers will have free time to explore the area, visit Otavalo’s famous markets and much more! What are you waiting for? Check out this volunteer opportunity here

See pictures of World Vets in Ecuador here

World Vets

Posts by: Katie