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Compassionate Couple Helps Animals on Their BIG Day!

Paige-All

J.F.Hannigan Photography

Newlyweds Paige & Derek Lough share a love for animals. Paige is a Veterinarian and Derek is a Landscape Architect.  Together they live in Guelph, Ontario with their rescued dogs Lucy and Callie (pictured here) and cats Todd and Freddie.  For their big day they asked friends & family to contribute to World Vets and help animals in need around the globe!

Paige volunteered on a veterinary field project in Roatan with World Vets in 2016.  This experience inspired her to choose World Vets as a recipient of donations on her & Derek’s big day.  Paige explained, “I was inspired by the program, the amazing team I worked with, and the team leader in particular Winnie Neunzig.”  She is looking forward to her upcoming World Vets volunteer experience on the island of St.Vincent.

The generous pair had a wedding at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario on January 21st, 2017.  Friends and family of Derek & Paige raised $400 USD in honor of the couple!  This is enough funds to provide a complete health exam and spay/neuter surgery to six animals in need.  What’s more, the couple plans to match this value with an in-kind donation of much needed supplies.

We can’t express enough how thankful we are to have such compassionate supporters like Paige & Derek.  All funds raised by this event directly benefit World Vets and go towards the care of animals that would otherwise have no access to life-saving treatment.

Inviting friends & family to donate in your honor is a wonderful way of supporting the work that we do.  You can register any upcoming event, including weddings, graduations, and birthdays!  To make World Vets a part of your special day, click an image below!

 

 

 

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Volunteer Opportunity for Veterinarians in Thailand

World Vets has a new partnership that will provide an exciting opportunity for veterinarians to volunteer in northern Thailand.  The volunteer opportunity is located at an elephant sanctuary (about an hour north of Chiang Mai) that is home to ~ 40 elephants, ~80 water buffalo and 400+ dogs.  The sanctuary is located along a river in a beautiful and picturesque valley where rescued elephants spend their days freely roaming.  The 400+ dogs living at the sanctuary are mostly rescues from the 2011 Thailand flood, which World Vets assisted and provided disaster response.

This volunteer opportunity is for small animal veterinarians who can commit at least 1 month (up to 3 months if possible) to volunteering.  Opportunities are available starting in January 2016 and will be available throughout the year with flexible start dates.  Up to 2 veterinarians can be accepted during any time slot.

Read more

 

Love at First Sight: The Story of Puma

JoePumabefore

Dr. Joe Zulty in recovery with Puma after his leg amputation. World Vets Cusco, Peru project 2012.

It begins in the stone streets of Cusco, an ancient city of 600 thousand people, constructed by the Incas in the magnificent Andes mountains at 3,400 meters above sea level.  There are many dogs in the streets, in doorways, everywhere.  Unlike those of the U.S., these dogs are very talented.  They know how to negotiate the streets, to stop at corners, and incredible how to avoid traffic.

Well, maybe not all of them.

On day two of World Vets spay/neuter clinic, three members of the Peruvian National Police, dressed in green uniforms, appearing strict and emotionless, delivered two dogs that had been running the streets.   Both were discovered with 2 other dogs, all four belonging to a woman who loved them but unfortunately was not capable of providing for them.  The older of the

Dr. Joe Zulty with Puma following World Vets project in Maryland, USA.

Dr. Joe Zulty with Puma following World Vets project in Maryland, USA.

two was scruffy but OK, the younger one however needed our help.  He had a paw that was completely paralyzed and severely swollen. Its appearance was that of the paw of the Puma in the ancient wall of the Saqsayhuaman ruins.  And there was something else worth mentioning.  Perhaps another sign from the Incas, I am not sure.  It is that moment in time that captures your heart and gives a true relevance to why we do what we do.

One of the police officers, a woman who was especially very quiet and very reserved, spoke not with words but with the hardly noticeable tears in her eyes.  Those wet eyes touched me, made their way to my heart, and reinforced what the Incas were trying to tell me.

So the next day, on the last day of clinic, with the help of local Peruvian veterinarian, Dr. Carmen Caceres, the paw that touched but did not feel the surface of the street, was removed.  Incredibly this dog, just 2 hours after surgery, was awake, standing, and wagging his tail!   That was when one of World Vets volunteers stated, “It is not too difficult to take a dog back to the U.S.  We brought a dog back from Ecuador on a past World Vets project.”

With the  assistance of Monica  Chacon of Pataz Pro Animalista Cusco, officer Glenda Anchea Garavito, Dr. Edgar Ochoa and his colleagues at Lazzie Vet Clinic, and the spiritual support of the Incas, the process  of transporting a dog from one hemisphere to another became a reality.   The forces were too strong.  It was meant to be I suppose.  In the airport in Cusco, my son Zack and I , with our new pet Puma, said goodbye to our friends from Cusco and of course the conversation was full of tears.  But special moments like this do not come often.  I was proud to be a veterinarian.  I was proud of having worked with people who make a difference in the life of an animal.  And I am pretty sure the ancient Incas were smiling from above.

**This article was written by Dr. Joe Zulty, a World Vets field service veterinarian. This article reflects his participation on World Vets Cusco, Peru project in 2012 when Puma was assisted and then adopted. Dr. Zulty is leading a World Vets small animal project to Sosua, Dominican Republic in November 2013. Read more about this volunteer opportunity here.

 World Vets has an upcoming volunteer opportunity to Cusco, Peru operating September 28 – October 5, 2013. Volunteer positions remain open for the tech/student category. This position can be filled by licensed vet techs, non-licensed vet techs, vet students, pre-vet students and vet tech students. Read more about this volunteer opportunity here

An Outstanding Effort in Ecuador

Ecu17During the month of March World Vets sent a veterinary team to the Otavalo region of Ecuador in support of our small animal project. We have been working in this region for the past four years with local animal welfare group PAE Ibarra to control the street as well as owned small animal population. We thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their continual support of this project as well as our volunteers that put forth an outstanding effort which resulted in 229 free spay/neuter surgeries being performed.

Join us on our next campaign (July 17 -24, 2013)! Read more

A Successful Veterinary Campaign in Roatan

130322_1377We have just completed a successful veterinary campaign Roatan, Honduras. Our veterinary team provided not only free spay/neuter services but an animal outreach clinic which provided free health consultations and preventative health treatments to small animals. During our visit, we performed 160 surgeries and treated over 350 animals. One of our patients was a dog that jumped off a roof but was lucky enough to receive special emergency surgery from our outstanding volunteers.

We would like to thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot, our volunteers on Team Roatan, Sandra & Al Zeilstra and all of the local contributors that continue to support our efforts on the island.

Working Hard in Arusha, Tanzania

A20We have just completed a two week veterinary campaign in Arusha, Tanzania. During this campaign, our teams operated mobile donkey welfare clinics in multiple areas which resulted in close to 1000 donkeys receiving free veterinary services. Following donkey work, we also operated a vaccination campaign where 400 dogs were vaccinated for rabies.

We’d like to thank the Arusha Society for the Protection of Animals (ASPA) as well as our Team Arusha volunteers for such a successful outcome.

 

World Vets in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

DSCN2227With support from Fondation Brigitte Bardot, World Vets has been able to provide free spay/neuter services in the town of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for the past 3 years. During the month of March 2013 we are providing such free services for community owned animals. Enjoy our photo album on Facebook – more pictures to be posted soon!

We have 1 volunteer position left on our small animal project to San Juan del Sur in July 2013: check it out and join our team!

Papillo: In Search of a Loving New Home

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

 

 

A Miracle Surgery Performed

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!

 

 

 

 

Saved from the streets of Nicaragua

We saw so many patients during our four clinic days in Granada, but one very special little patient stood out among them. At the start of our first day, a very kind man named Oscar brought in a little blonde and white puppy that was clearly not doing very well. With his whole body shaking, very pale gums, dehydration, and major GI upset, this puppy was in for a rough road ahead. On top of being very ill, the pup was a street dog without a home. We affectionately named him Chancho, Spanish for pig, as he had a very big, round belly due to parasites.

Chancho stayed in our clinic on IV fluids, meds, and lots of TLC from the amazing World Vets team. He quickly won over their hearts. World Vets volunteer Dr. Robert Trevino worked tirelessly trying to create a treatment plan strong enough to support Chancho and bring him back to health. Within 48 hours a little pup that came in lethargic and non-­responsive bounced back! Checking in on him, we found a puppy rolling on his back kicking his feet in the air or dancing at the front of his cage with a tail that never stopped wagging. This puppy was clearly a fighter and would not let his rough start at life defeat him.

Now the question became what would be the future of Chancho as he was still without a home. Such a special guy definitely deserved a great future. The veterinary student on the trip, Tori Hall, finally broke down and went through the steps needed to bring Chancho back to the US. From there on, Chancho became the unofficial mascot of this World Vets trip, with his playful puppy attitude and his immediate love for anyone he meets. Seemingly forgetting anything that happened to him before he came to his World Vets team, Chancho quickly adjusted to his new life of constant love and playing. While he will soon travel to Mississippi with Tori, he is starting to look for a very special forever home where he can get all the love and attention that the little guy deserves.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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