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Seal Pup Season has Arrived in Washington

May 21

Seal pup being examined and monitored at the World Vets clinic in Gig Harbor, WA

While we have been busy with many marine mammal stranding cases in Washington over the last few months, this little pup is our first harbor seal of the 2019 pupping season. Estimated to be 1-2 weeks old, the seal pup was found stranded on a public beach in Westport Washington. Network partners Washington State Parks and Westport Aquarium secured the area to make sure he was not disturbed, posted signs and provided monitoring for 48 hours while he was on the beach. His mom never returned and he was considered abandoned. Working in collaboration with our network partners Cascadia Research Collective and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, he was brought in late Thursday night to the World Vets clinic in Gig Harbor for triage and stabilization. On arrival he was hypothermic, dehydrated and thin. Working together with WDFW, we stabilized him and started fluid therapy and he was admitted for overnight hospitalization. He was later transferred to PAWS for rehabilitation with the ultimate goal that he will be released back into the wild once he is healthy and ready to forage on his own.

As pupping season starts in Washington, it is important to remember to SHARE THE SHORE!

-All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to feed or harass them, which includes disrupting important behaviors such as rest, feeding, nursing or breeding.

-Give them space and stay back 100 yards from all marine mammals on shore.

-Keep pets on leash. Pets can disturb wildlife or may separate mothers from their pups. These are wild animals that can injure or spread disease to pets and humans.

-If you see a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal call: 866-767-6114

World Vets Receives Recognition from Mayor in Ecuador

May 21

Earlier this week, World Vets along with our longtime partner BAI, was recognized by the Mayor of district Antonio Ante in Ecuador for over a decade of service to the region. World Vets has been working in this region high in the Andes Mountain for going on eleven years, bringing veterinary services to thousands of animals that would otherwise have no access to care. Throughout this time, we have partnered with local group Bienstar Animal Imbabura and together have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the local animals, people and the communities in which they live. Throughout the world, World Vets has many partnerships like this one working in collaboration with government municipalities and local animal welfare organizations to provide veterinary support to animals in need in underserved areas.

Below are some photos of our ongoing work in Ecuador:

Investigating Gray Whale Deaths in Washington

May 20

Nineteen Gray whales have washed ashore in Washington over the last several weeks and more than 55 have stranded on the West Coast this year. World Vets has been involved in the disease investigation and necropsies working with lead scientists from Cascadia Research Collective, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as other members of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The strandings already seen this year are the most of any year since the year 2000 and its still early in the whale migration season. Most of the whales have shown signs of nutritional stress and poor body condition, although its still too early to fully understand the exact cause of the high death numbers. Additional testing and evaluation of collected samples are pending and should provide more insight into these deaths.

Related Media Coverage:

Why are gray whales washing up dead on Pacific Northwest beaches– KUOW News

Cascadia and other Washington stranding network organizations continue to respond to growing number of dead whales along our coast and inside waters-Cascadia Research Collective

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: World Vets photo

: Source:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Emily M. Eng, The Seattle Times

Thank you Team Nepal! Hundreds of Street Dogs Sterilized

May 17

Last month World Vets had two veterinary teams in Nepal to provide free sterilization services for street dogs. We would like to thank our dedicated volunteers, donors as well as local partners. From your efforts, and with your support, hundreds of dogs now have a greater chance at a better life!

You can help us make a difference! World Vets returns to Kathmandu later this year, and we still have a need for volunteers. Find out more

Calling All Cat Lovers & Feline Practitioners

Apr 25

We have an upcoming field service project that is the perfect volunteer opportunity for cat lovers and feline practitioners. We will be operating a free high volume sterilization campaign in Shkodër, Albania from August 1- 8, 2019, and 70% of animal patients are expected to be cats!

Volunteer opportunities are still available for veterinarians, technicians (both licensed and non-licensed), as well as students and for general assistants (individuals with no previous veterinary experience). Find out more!

Booking a direct flight to Albania might be expensive from North America. As such, we suggest prospective volunteers look into booking a round trip flight to a major hub in Europe (i.e. Amsterdam, Bucharest, Rome) and from that location book a separate flight to Albania. We also recommend that volunteers search for flight options on kayak.com, and then book directly through the airline offering the best deal/itinerary.

Hundreds of Animals Benefit from Veterinary Campaigns carried out in March

Apr 10

Last month World Vets had countless veterinary teams working in both Central and South America to provide free veterinary services for a variety of animal species.

We had a team working in Guatemala where they provided a free high volume sterilization campaign for companion animals. Our efforts in this country continue to focus on Mayan communities outlying the city of Antigua, where access to veterinary services are limited. Aside from spay/neuter, our volunteers also came across many other ailments in animal patients such as tumors, pyometras as well as canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), which were all addressed free of charge for pet owners.

Two additional veterinary field projects were operated in Ecuador, which facilitated free spay/neuter, alongside other needed veterinary services for animal patients. World Vets has been working in the Imbabura province of Ecuador for a decade now, where we continue to honor our agreements with local municipalities. Such agreements contend that sterilization be provided as the accepted form of pet population control in exchange for the termination of mass poisonings once carried out.

And World Vets also had a fourth veterinary team provide annual health exams for an array of wildlife and exotics in Roatan, Honduras. This project was carried out with our long time partner Maya Key, who houses and cares for species rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and other unfortunate situations.

We would like to thank our dedicated volunteers, donors, as well as local partners and Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their continual support of our veterinary field service activities. All of which help to improve the health and wellbeing of animals worldwide!

World Vets Operates Free Sterilization & Rabies Vaccination Campaign in India

Feb 22

During the month of February World Vets operated a two week long campaign south of New Delhi, India. This veterinary effort provided free spay/neuter and rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats.

We’d like to thank our donors, dedicated veterinary volunteers as well as local partners, People for Animals Trust and the National Institute of Animal Welfare of Faridabad, for making this possible.

See pictures

Intern with World Vets in Ecuador | Summer 2019

Feb 04

World Vets seeks an enthusiastic and hardworking intern who is ready for an adventure! We have an exciting summer internship opportunity as part of our International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program. The IVM Program is World Vets student program that provides English speaking international students with an opportunity to gain practical veterinary experience as well as hands on instruction in relation to performing clinical tasks.

As part of this opportunity, the intern will work alongside World Vets staff, local partners and volunteers in Ecuador to aid and assist with the execution of the Summer 2019 IVM Program. More details are provided below.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

– Assist with local logistics and coordination as it pertains to the IVM Program, in addition to providing general animal care. Activities and tasks may consist of the following:

Tending to surgical patients post op in recovery; monitoring, grooming, and administration of post op medicines
Taking part in community outreach activities, which provide free veterinary services for dogs, cats and livestock in outlying rural communities
When appropriate, helping to prep animal patients for surgery
Miscellaneous administrative/data collection duties

– Act as social coordinator for IVM Program participants while the program is underway. This will consist of the following

Welcoming students/instructors to program housing upon arrival and showing them around the villa and to their rooms
Being the “go to” person should anyone have any “tourist related” questions in relation to where they can go to do this, where they can go buy that, best places to eat etc.
Getting everyone signed up for an activity prior to the designated free day and getting these activities* lined up (and collecting money for this, if needed)
Take part in the weekly group activity that is scheduled the day after arrivals
When there is free time or during evenings, organize activities or social get-togethers where people can get to know each other, have fun, and experience more of Otavalo. I.e. rally up people to go out to dinner, to go shopping etc.

*World Vets will have 3 set activities that we offer to coordinate for IVM Program participants

There are also opportunities to participate in ongoing studies and/or conduct research as part of this internship opportunity

Who can Apply?

This internship opportunity is open to veterinary technicians, pre-veterinary students, veterinary technician students, as well as those who are pre-med and/or studying nursing. Students with an interest and/or focus in One Health will also be considered.
Preference will be given to those who have participated on a past IVM Program session
We seek candidates who are able to commit for a minimum of 4 weeks, if not 8 consecutive weeks from May 15 – July 10, 2019
Spanish fluency or conversational Spanish is desired, though not a requirement.

Conditions:

This is a non paid internship, but an excellent opportunity to gain experience working in an international setting with a veterinary non-profit, meanwhile helping animals in need.
There is a fee associated with this internship opportunity. In exchange for this fee, the following will be provided for the intern; housing for the duration of the internship, airport transfers (on assigned days), ground transportation related to clinic work and veterinary activities, breakfast, lunches on clinic work days, program supplies and full participation in program activities, in addition to a World Vets scrub top and/or gear.
What is not provided (and what the intern will need to cover): International airfare, optional excursions/activities, dinner, travel and/or health insurance, personal equipment necessary for the opportunity (i.e watch, stethoscope, water bottle), incidentals and anything not specifically outlined as included.

If interested, please send a cover letter and copy of your current resume/CV to drsteve@worldvets.org BEFORE MARCH 15th, 2019. In the cover letter, please list your full name and any previous World Vets project(s) and/or past IVM Program session(s) you may have participated on and whether you are able to commit for the dates listed.

Make your Veterinary School Application Stand out!

Jan 30

Are you currently an undergraduate student with aspirations to apply to vet school one day? We know what will make your application stand out above the rest!

World Vets International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is our official student program where “pre-veterinary” students will not only receive exposure to practicing veterinary medicine in the field but gain valuable clinical skills. You will also help countless animals in the process and receive a great cultural experience!

There are still vacancies for “pre-vet” students as part of our IVM Program scheduled in Ecuador this summer! See all date offerings here

Join World Vets in Europe this Summer! Moldova & Albania

Jan 16

World Vets will be running two small animal projects in Europe this summer! One is a pilot project to Chisinau, Moldova (May 18 – 25, 2019) and another is scheduled for Shkodër, Albania (August 1 – 8, 2019). Both will provide free sterilization services for local animals as well as street dogs.

Volunteer opportunities are open to vets, techs (both licensed and non-licensed), students and for general assistants (individuals with no previous vet experience.

Check out 25 Amazing things about Moldova
See 15 Best things to do in Shkodra
Read 15 Amazing things you probably didn’t know about Albania

Booking a direct flight to Albania and/or Moldova might be expensive from North America. As such, we suggest prospective volunteers look into booking a round trip flight to a major hub in Europe, such as Amsterdam, and from that location book a separate flight to Albania and/or Moldova. We also recommend that volunteers search for flight options on kayak.com, and then book directly through the airline offering the best deal/itinerary.