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

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 during Pacific Partnership 2013.

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

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Katie Horn/WorldVets

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

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

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

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

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 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

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. 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

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

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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

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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

PP13 MI newsMAJURO, 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

LS1A7328World 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
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