Requesting World Vets Veterinary Assistance
World Vets receives requests for veterinary assistance year round from locations all over the world. While we are not able to help everyone, we welcome inquiries and the potential to establish new partnerships for the benefit of animal health and welfare. One of the main ways we are able to assist animals worldwide is by sending veterinary teams to provide free veterinary services. In this way we operate veterinary field service projects that are either classified as small animal, equine or livestock and animal husbandry. Learn more about requesting veterinary assistance here
If you volunteer with or represent an animal welfare organization and are interested in welcoming a World Vets veterinary team to your location, we ask that you first investigate the following things before requesting assistance;
- Are foreign veterinarians legally permitted to provide veterinary services in your location as a volunteer? For instance, are there any local laws banning veterinarians from other countries in performing surgery or practicing veterinary medicine.
- If foreign veterinarians are allowed to volunteer their services in your location, are there any requirements for them to provide veterinary services? (i.e. credentials, specific documentation or permissions)
If you are a traveller or tourist, the best way to obtain potential World Vets assistance for a location is to provide our information to a local animal welfare organization operating in the area. Have them reach out to us directly to inquire about potential veterinary assistance. As a standard policy, we do not seek out project partners or work where we are not wanted. As such, in order for us to consider assisting anywhere, we require that a request be generated from within the location in question from a locally based stakeholder.
Special notes
- Requests for veterinary assistance are only considered for locations outside of North America
- Requests for assistance that involve the recruitment of individual veterinarians and/or volunteers for placements with other organizations are not considered
- World Vets does not plan projects in areas that are at war or have a high threat of terrorist activity. For this reason, we are not able to consider project requests for areas that have major safety concerns and/or travel advisories per the U.S State Department. Specific regions of the world that we are unable to consider for assistance at this time (due to security concerns) include the Middle East, Central Asia and various parts of Africa.
This year World Vets is continuing its assistance to the Department of Agriculture in St. Eustatius; a small island located in the Netherland Antilles in the Caribbean. In 2012 World Vets sent a preliminary team to the island where they conducted a pilot project. The objective of their visit was to help the island contain its ever growing animal population. Our team provided castrations to both donkeys and small animals. They also visited the island`s livestock facilities to assess overall health and identify any prevalent ailments.
In 2013 World Vets will send two follow up teams. These teams will further contribute to the goal of having an animal population that is sustainable for the island. One team will address small animal health and population and another to address livestock and the roaming donkey population. Both projects have volunteer opportunities available:
Next month World Vets will send a team to work in a rural community outside of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Up until this point, our veterinary services have mainly been focused in and around the beach town to help control the small animal population. However, with this visit, we wish to extend our reach to the animals, both small and large, that have often been neglected due to their isolated condition.
opment of the town closest to them. Nevertheless, due to the vigilance of community leaders and special interest groups, plans have now been approved to give them electricity, hopefully sometime soon.
peared as well as a backyard full of pigs! Given the abundance of animals, including campesino dogs with many visible health concerns, we gave our word that we would be back.