A World Vets team along with our great Nicaraguan veterinary crew have provided free equine health clinics in and around Granada. They vaccinated, de-wormed as well treated for external parasites, and cured wounds. They also floated teeth and fitted shoes for the city’s horses. A total of 465 horses were treated on this latest campaign.
We would like to thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their continual support of our equine welfare program.
We recently had a team in Guatemala working with AYUDA – for the health of dogs and cats in Guatemala. Our team provided free veterinary services, including spay/neuter and health treatments, for the small animals living in communities around Lake Atitlan.
They worked and provided their services in two communities; Santa Cruz and San Marcos. Each day they boarded water taxis to reach the clinic sites as most communities are best accessed via the lake.
This most recent vi
sit saw more animals treated than on previous World Vets/AYUDA campaigns in the area. We would like to thank AYUDA, as well as their local volunteers and community members for making this possible.
A World Vets team has just returned from San Andres Island.They operated our very first veterinary campaign on the Caribbean island. It was a great success. Their visit was also the very first of its kind. Never before had the island hosted such a large scale sterilization campaign that was executed by a foreign veterinary team.
To carry out the island wide campaign we had many local partners. Our team worked in collaboration with the island’s department of health as well as Colombian animal welfare group Pro Animal SAI. We e
ven received support from the Colombian military stationed on the island. They brought us dogs from the local army base to receive surgery and treatment.
The abundant local support made the success of our team’s visit and campaign possible. Well over 300 animals received spay/neuter surgery and/or health treatments. We look forward to making a follow up visit to further our contribution towards the improvement of both animal and human health on the island.
Papillo is a special dog originally from Nosara, Costa Rica. About a month ago he was hit by a car. When our partners at Nosara Animal Care were alerted to his condition, they immediately set to work to provide him the care that he needed. After failed acupuncture treatments in San Jose, Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Oregon kindly offered their help.
This past month, Papillo was flown to Portland to have an MRI along with the anticipation for surgery. However, after tests and examinations, it was discovered that his spinal cord had been severed rendering him unfit for surgery. Nevertheless, Papillo has been outfitted with a set of wheels that will now aid his movement and overall well being.
To complete his road to recovery, Papillo is now in need of a loving new home that can provide him the attention and care that he deserves. Since is he currently in Portland, the ideal home is within the state of Oregon to avoid further travel and stress.
For more information about Papillo and/or to inquire about his adoption, please contact Rochelle Low at goose1296@gmail.com
Read a great personal account from a veterinary student about the rewarding experience they’ve gained from volunteering with World Vets. Read Laica’s Story
Veterinary student Alexander Robb studies at Tufts University and has presently volunteered with World Vets on two projects. However, he plans to continue to volunteer and provide his skills as a veterinarian on future projects once he has graduated.
While the majority of volunteer opportunities offered through our organization are for a short duration, we do on occasion have those which can last up to 3 – 6 weeks if not longer. This summer we have two volunteer opportunities that have the potential to be a long term volunteer placement for veterinarians and/or licensed veterinary technicians.
The first is a volunteer instructor position at our surgical training center in Granada, Nicaragua. Volunteer instructors will work in collaboration with World Vets staff and interns which includes US and Nicaraguan veterinarians and technicians. They will provide training and/or instruction to students in a clinical environment. Volunteer instructor positions are open to licensed veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians. Openings run from June through August. Read more…
The second is a position on our team for the New Horizons Peru 2012 exercise. Volunteers will work alongside and in collaboration with a veterinary team from the US military, a Peruvian veterinary school as well as the local ministry of agriculture. Volunteers can expect to be involved in veterinary activities relating to both small and large animals. Volunteer positions are open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. From June 30 – July 14. Read more…
If you want to stay in the loop about upcoming volunteer opportunities with our organization, consider becoming a member of World Vets! Become a Member
New Horizons Peru 2012 is a Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) exercise undertaken and coordinated by the U.S. Air Forces South. Such HCA exercises aid and work towards their vision of a secure and stable Peru. In carrying out the projects and activities of the exercise, partnerships are established and cemented through active collaboration and teamwork.
The main focus of the exercise is on medical readiness training (MEDRETE) and engineering construction projects to benefit communities in Peru. However, also included in this exercise is a veterinary/animal related component. World Vets will be partnering with the New Horizons Peru 2012 exercise in this regard.
World Vets has now released preliminary information relating to the volunteer opportunity that exists through our organization for veterinarians and veterinary technicians in conjunction with this exercise.The veterinary activities are scheduled from June – July 2012. For more information, please click here
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.
In the community where our team will be working, running water and electricity are not present even despite the rapid growth and devel
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.
World Vets first visited this community last year to provide impromptu veterinary services – they expected a few cows, maybe a couple of horses and some pigs – however the turn out was extremely great. Herds of cattle came down from the hillside, even oxen carts ap
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.
And so, World Vets will be dedicating its follow up visit to all the animals of this community as well as those within its vicinity. For those who don’t mind getting dirty, we still have volunteer positions open for veterinarians – both small and large animal vets are encouraged and welcome to sign up and take part! Read more about the volunteer opportunity here
The World Vets team examines Lassi's tumor
One of our recent teams in Nicaragua met a sweet dog named Lassi.She was brought to us by her concerned owner, Anna, who was praying for a miracle. Not too long ago Lassi developed a collection of small tumors that soon turned into one very large mass that hung from her abdomen. The tumor grew to be so big that it almost touched the ground, making it difficult for her to walk and move around.
Before bringing Lassi to us, Anna had consulted many local veterinarians for help. They all advised her that Lassi should be put to sleep. Unwilling to accept this diagnosis, it now became Anna’s mission to find another solution, that would lessen Lassi’s suffering, without ending her life.
World Vets surgeons prepare to begin the operation
Our team was able to fulfill such a noble cause and got straight to work. The operation took place at our surgical training center, where our team of surgeons were equipped with modern technology such as gas anesthesia, pulse oximeters, central oxygen and fluid pumps. All such equipment allowed for optimal monitoring and safe anesthesia during the one hour operation. Following surgery, Lassi was kept overnight to monitor her recovery and for proper pain management.
The next morning, it was a miracle. Lassi was able to stand up and walk, tumor free and healing well. The operation was a success. Anna was overjoyed and exclaimed “Thanks to God and to World Vets, I still have my pretty dog. Now I am happy.”
Lassi one day after surgery; fully recovered, healing well and ready to go home
Anna and Lassi’s story is but one of many whose lives have been touched and positively impacted by a World Vets team. We are able to make such miracles happen with the support of our dedicated volunteers and donors.
Help us make more miracles – consider volunteering or donating today!
This week we have two teams deployed and out helping the animals of the world. These teams are currently in Belize (pictured left) and Nicaragua. Both are running free spay/neuter clinics, in addition to providing preventative health care, health consultations and other treatments. But that’s not all, more teams are headed out before the week is over to Honduras and Ecuador!
