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Requesting World Vets Veterinary Assistance

Mar 24

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.

World Vets Brings Veterinary Care to Remote Region in Guatemala

Jun 18

A World Vets team has just returned after a great adventure to the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala. Following 7 hours of travel, in a van and boat ride from the capital, they arrived in the Livingston/Rio Dulce region. During their visit they provided free veterinary services, a luxury for local cats and dogs, as local services for animals are hard to come by in such an isolated area. Many communities are only accessible by boat making veterinary care a great challenge.

Our team provided a large scale sterilization campaign where 164 surgeries were performed as well as an additional 200 plus health consultations and treatments provided to local animals. We also saw patients at the dock of our accommodations during the evening along the river. In these activities, we were joined by local volunteers and veterinary students from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

We would like to extend our many thanks and gratitude to our team members and local coordinator, Aska, of El Hotelito Perdido. We would also like to thank CATUR, the local Centro de Salud and municipality of Livingston for all their support in helping make this campaign possible. And finally we would like to thank local businesses and the community of Livingston for their warm welcome and hospitality.

See pictures of World Vets visit to Rio Dulce, Guatemala – coming soon!

World Vets Provides Education & Veterinary Services in Samoa

Jun 11

Photo Credit: Amanda Saavedra/World Vets

World Vets volunteers were hard at work this past week on the Samoan islands of Upolu and Sevai’i doing everything from spay and neuter clinics, educational lectures, and even having some fun with kids at two Special Olympic health fairs. While they were there, they witnessed a culture very different from their own, where community and sharing are very much the way of life. Along with the U.S. service members and other partner nations participating in the Pacific Partnership 2013 mission (PP 2013), they integrated into the different villages of Samoa working to better their communities and the health of both the people and the animals in them.

Spay and neuter clinics were held on both Upolu and Sevai’i, where World Vet volunteers and U.S. Army veterinarians and vet techs set up free clinics at local churches and various other sites. Countless families came with their furry friends to get them spayed and neutered to better their communities. In Samoa, dogs have begun to create a problem due to overpopulation, lack of regulation and proper confinement. Many homes in Samoa are called “fallahs,” which is a home without walls. The homes are a part of communities where everything is shared among them. Naturally, these communities have no fences and many dogs run freely, contributing to the dog over population problem. Spay and neuter clinics provided by Pacific Partnership gave these communities the opportunity to bring their dogs and cats in and prevent their own pets from contributing to the problem.

An overpopulation of dogs also means dog bites are a common occurrence. World Vet volunteers and U.S. Army veterinarians visited several schools educating young children about dog bites, how to prevent them, and what to do in case they get one. The children in these schools were so eager to learn and quickly caught on to the signs of what a mean, scared, or unthreatening dog looks like. US Army vets also spoke about the importance of washing ones hands after petting animals and even gave the kids a great way to remember how long hands should be washed for by singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with them. With these tools given to the children Vets are hope that not only will the information be passed on to their families at home, but that dog bites will be prevented in the future.

World Vet volunteers and U.S. Army Veterinarians also held educational lectures for the members of the Animal Protection Society in Upolu and those who work in the meat industry. Lectures covered everything from body scoring of horses, learning about new drugs available for neutering dogs, proper physical examinations of both large and small animals and properly preparing animals for slaughtering and the process that follows. These lectures brought the local veterinarians and “para-vets” up to date on the latest information and also ways to complete procedures and examinations with what the local community has, making the procedures and examinations available to them in the future.

On both Sevai’i and Upolu, World Vet volunteers and U.S. Army vets joined other U.S. service members Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and other partner nation service members of PP 2013 for Special Olympic eligibility health fairs. While children were checked-out by various members of the PP 2013 medical team they were given the opportunity to learn about preventing dog bites and color in books featuring their unique furry friends. With more than 100 kids in attendance, many children got to meet with veterinarians for some fun and learning. Some vets even got to throw around a rugby ball with the kids participating in the events.

Samoa is just the beginning of the Pacific Partnership 2013 mission and World Vets has already accomplished so much. After departing Samoa, World Vets, other NGO’s, partner nations, and U.S. service members will be heading towards Tonga, where more exciting and community based projects are waiting.

*This article was written by Amanda Saavedra, World Vets photojournalist on board the 2013 Pacific Partnership mission

Now Accepting Volunteer Applications: Pacific Partnership 2013

Dec 17

Pacific Partnership is an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission designed to work by, with and through host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build partnerships and a collective ability to respond to natural disasters. Serves: South Pacific & South East Asia

World Vets is a veterinary nongovernmental organization (NGO) that has been represented on the Pacific Partnership mission since 2009. We provide volunteer opportunities for veterinary professionals on board this mission and in turn contribute veterinary manpower and skills to accomplish the mission`s objectives. We are now accepting volunteer applications, until January 13th, 2013, from veterinarians, veterinary technicians as well as veterinary students to be considered for a position on our veterinary team. Read more

Providing Veterinary Aid and Support in Indonesia

Jun 08

World Vets has a veterinary team working in Indonesia as part of the 2012 Pacific Partnership mission. This humanitarian aid mission is operated on an annual basis in the Pacific region and is led by the US Navy. Through a collaboration with partner and host nations, as well as foreign military and medical personnel, in addition to nongovernmental organizations, medical, dental and veterinary aid is provided.

This past week our team has been working in Indonesia with US military veterinarians and technicians, the local Animal Health Division as well as Ratulangi University. Together they have provided free vaccinations and de-worming for up to 1700 cats and dogs, in addition to operating free spay/neuter clinics.

Aside from direct veterinary aid, our team has also provided surgical instruction to Indonesian veterinarians and given presentations, commonly known as SMEE’s (subject matter expert exchanges), at the university to Indonesian students and veterinary professionals.

World Vets volunteers live on board a US Navy ship and provide their veterinary services on shore in host nations. As part of the Pacific Partnership 2012 mission, World Vets team will provide their services in four host nations this summer- Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

World Vets and Innovacyn team up for the donkeys of Tanzania

Jun 06

Later this month World Vets will have a team in Tanzania. The objective of their visit will be to provide veterinary care for the working donkey population. Donkeys are primarily utilized for hauling anything from bricks to wood to produce and/or water. As a result of their use as laborers, they often carry many wounds and/or lacerations that become infected if left untreated.

To treat such cases during our visit, Vetericyn is the ideal product. For that reason, we are extremely thankful for the support of Innovacyn.Together we hope to treat up to 1000 donkeys.

Our team will provide rural mobile donkey clinics in various communities around Arusha. All World Vets veterinary services are provided free.

World Vets team on board Pacific Partnership mission get to work!

May 29

World Vets team for the first rotation of the Pacific Partnership 2012 mission is now on board the USNS MERCY. They have quickly gotten to work preparing their presentations and lectures that will be given in the four host nations to be visited; Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. These presentations are commonly referred to as SMEE’s – Subject Matter Expert Exchanges. As such, our team will not only be providing direct veterinary aid on this mission, but will also be educating on various topics and issues relating to veterinary medicine.

Pacific Partnership is an annual humanitarian aid mission operated by the US Navy in collaboration with host and partner nations, foreign military and medical personnel as well as non governmental organizations. In a joint effort, medical, dental and veterinary assistance is provided.