The World Vets team in Laos recently completed 471 free sterilization surgeries for pets in the capital city Vientiane. World Vets also provided 250 rabies vaccinations, all of which were administered to patients free-of-charge. No-cost veterinary services such as these help low-income communities control animal overpopulation and help to reduce the spread of the deadly rabies virus in high-risk areas.
The three-day event from March 15 to 17 included veterinary volunteers from U.S.A, Canada, Australia, and Israel, led by field service vet Dr. Winnie Neunzig and head technician Christina Sloan. The World Vets team worked alongside volunteers from World Vets’ local partner and host group Vientiane Dog Paradise with its manager Analin Phoutsavath to spay and neuter hundreds of animals. Local veterinarian Dr. Melody Bomon and several Laos veterinary students and other local volunteers also joined in the campaign.
Photo credits to Vientiane Dog Paradise, Winnie Neunzig, and Donna Gingras.