In a recent TED talk, World Vets CEO Dr Cathy King discusses the worldwide street dog problem and how World Vets is making a difference. It also provides an overview of the scope of World Vets work and programs.
Got 10 minutes? View it here
With support from Fondation Brigitte Bardot, a World Vets team has been busy providing a large scale spay/neuter and animal health clinic in poor areas of Asuncion.Our free services are being provided in collaboration with local animal welfare organization “Adoptame” as well as members from national veterinary associations such as AMVEPA and UNASUR.
Before veterinary services began, World Vets field service veterinarian, Dr. Shelley Harper, gave a talk about efficient spay/neuter techniques in relation to providing large scale spay/neuter campaigns. This event was well received and saw 80 Paraguayan vets and veterinary students in attendance!
Read more about our visit here
After much anticipation, select 2014 project locations have been announced on our `upcoming projects` page. All projects listed here will have volunteer opportunities for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students and assistants. Read more about volunteer descriptions here.
As dates are finalized for these opportunities they will be posted accordingly. World Vets members will also be given the chance to register early for Spring 2014 volunteer opportunities shortly.
At the end of August a World Vets team provided a large scale spay/neuter clinic in the city of Cusco, Peru. Services were carried out in collaboration with local partners Pataz Pro Animalista Cusco, Clinica Veterinaria Lazzy Vet and a handful of local veterinarians and volunteers representing these entities. We thank everyone for the great effort that went into providing the three day campaign despite the cold weather! We also thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their continual support of our spay/neuter program in Cusco. See pictures here
From May until mid August, World Vets had ten volunteer veterinary professionals deployed on the civil- military mission “Pacific Partnership.” They traveled on board a US Navy ship and provided free veterinary and educational services alongside US Army veterinary personnel. Together we provided services in five South Pacific nations which include Samoa, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. As part of the veterinary program, over 6000 animal patients were treated, close to 1000 surgical procedures performed as well as 
3000 teaching hours provided to host nation participants.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. World Vets has been the veterinary NGO represented on this mission since 2009. See pictures
On our recent visit to Otavalo, Ecuador, a World Vets team provided a large scale spay/neuter campaign with local partners, PAE – Ibarra. We were also joined by a few veterinarians from PAE -Quito who aided our team during the three day campaign. Together our efforts resulted in a record breaking number of surgeries being performed: 268 spay/neuter surgeries.
We thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their ongoing support of our work in Ecuador. We also extend our many thanks to those who volunteered their time and energy on this campaign. See pictures
ATTENTION STUDENTS!IVM Program sessions have been scheduled for Winter 2013. Dates have now been posted on the Upcoming Projects page. World Vets members will have the opportunity to register early for student positions. Following this, registration will open on World Vets website for general sign up. Please note that the full program fee amount will be due at the time of registration.
World Vets International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is World Vets student program. Operating out of our Latin American 
Veterinary Training Center in Granada, Nicaragua, it provides international students with an opportunity to gain practical veterinary experience. Students read more here
DVM & LVT/RVT Instructors are also needed for this program. To qualify for an instructor position, you must either be a licensed veterinarian and/or technician and have a minimum of one year clinical experience. Previous teaching experience is not a prerequisite. This is a volunteer opportunity with limited expenses for you.
U.S. Army Spc. Martin Gonzalez and World Vets volunteer Amanda Hedman, LVT/RVT, give two puppies a physical exam.
Dr. Kristin Camp, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, gives a cat named “Coffee” a pre-operation physical exam before being neutered at the free spay and neuter clinic held at the College of the Marshall Islands.
As part of Pacific Partnership 2013, a World Vets veterinary team provided a variety of services in the Marshall Islands alongside US Army personnel as well as host nation partners. Together we operated a free spay/neuter campaign, provided health consultations for small animals in addition to educational lectures on various veterinary topics such as basic animal first aid.
Pacific Partnership is a multinational mission of host nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that include Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United States that join together to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen disaster response preparedness throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
World Vets volunteers travel on board a US Navy ship as part of this mission. World Vets team has currently traveled to Samoa, Tonga, Marshall Islands and Kiribati. See photos here from World Vets activities on this mission so far.
Photos and captions: Amanda Saavedra
Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets
Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets
Photo: Van Olsen Photography
Photo: Van Olsen Photography
Photo: Katie Horn/WorldVets
As World Vets team pulled up to the local school, which was to be our clinic site, piglets and chickens were busy foraging on the school grounds. Unafraid of our presence they continued about their daily routine. As we proceeded to set up our work stations we were greeted by a donkey that happened to preside over a family’s small agricultural plot next door. He provided constant reminders of his presence, “hee – haw”, that enticed many of us to go see him throughout the work day.
As veterinary services got underway, children and grown men dressed in their Sunday’s best began to form a line around the registration desk. Dogs were brought to us in handbags, on carts and wheelbarrows and cats surprisingly enough were carried in on string leashes or in cardboard boxes. Half came to us to receive spay/neuter surgery and the other half for health consultations
Until recently World Vets had not set up a direct veterinary service campaign in this particular community. Located 25 minutes or so outside of the main town of San Juan del Sur, the rural community of Escamequita is a world of its own. In contrast to town, houses are scattered over considerable distances and made from all kinds of materials; from wood to metal scrap and/or brick. All animals, including dogs, pigs, chickens and turkeys roam free, yet everyone knows which house they belong to. Furthermore, potable water may only be accessible from a well and during the rainy season the only road to and from Escamequita may be washed out, limiting contact with town and its subsequent products and services.
Even though World Vets had never visited the area before, the animals of Escamequita have quite a history with World Vets and the services we have provided in San Juan del Sur over the years. This has much to do with concerned and kind hearted expatriates who also live in the area. Without hesitation, they have rallied local households and loaded up their trucks with animals, accompanied by their owners, to receive our services, wherever they would be provided. The animals brought to us in their vehicles were always the ones that had the worse body conditions and needed the most TLC from our teams.
After years of their dedication and demand for veterinary care, it made perfect sense to bring our services directly to them. Our recent campaign in Escamequita has acted to harness this growing awareness of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, especially amongst the young population. Many animals from the original “truck loads” were first brought to us to receive spay/neuter surgery. Now we happily welcome them back for follow up medical treatments. And wouldn’t you know it; they were some of the healthiest looking bunch during our recent campaign!
Photo: Van Olsen Photography
Our visit to Escamequita has also served to further promote the concept of animal wellness, specifically for new pet owners who had not previously sought out our services either due to distance and/or logistics. In consultations we saw one young boy who brought his puppy for a check up and to receive preventative health treatments. This is the first step we explained, to being a responsible pet owner, and his father proudly agreed.
More than anything our veterinary services in rural communities such as Escamequita provide the means for individuals to care for and be responsible pet owners. It is a huge misconception that people in foreign countries simply do not care for their animals. They do! This young boy is but one example.
As part of the 2013 Pacific Partnership mission, a World Vets veterinary team provided a variety of services in Tonga alongside US Army personnel as well as host nation partners. Below we provide a photo essay to highlight the work accomplished as part of the veterinary program provided during our recent visit to Tonga.
US Army Captain, Cherise Neu, and World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Camp, answer questions about proper care for both dairy cows and beef cows from local farmers, para-vets, and veterinarians
U.S. Army Captain, Cherise Neu, lectures local farmers, para-vets, and veterinarians about cow body scoring and proper nutrion and diet based on how the cow will ultimately be used
World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Camp, gives a calf a physical exam to ensure that the calf is healthy
World Vets volunteer, Dr. Kristin Camp, talks to the local veterinarian, para-vets, and farmers about the importance of testing for Mastitis in cows, which will help ensure that the milk they are producing is healthy for both human and calves to consume
Dr. Kristin Camp, volunteer veterinarian for World Vets, shows locals how to easily test for mastitis in cow’s milk.
Dr. Abbey O’Connor, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, and Lt. Hannah Castillo, prepare a young dog for desexing as part of the free clinic that was held for locals
World Vets volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Abi Collinson, and U.S. Army Veterinarian Technician , Sargent Lynn Marsh, clean Brown Senior’s ear after having been in a dog fight
Dr. Abbey O’Connor, a World Vets volunteer veterinarian, and Lt. Hannah Castillo, prepare a young dog for desexing as part of the free clinic that was held for locals
Pacific Partnership is a multinational mission of host nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that include Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United States that join together to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen disaster response preparedness throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
World Vets volunteers travel on board a US Navy ship as part of this mission.
All photos and captions: Amanda Saavedra
