P O Box 29, Caye Caulker, Belize, Central America
|
|
|
P O Box 29, Caye Caulker, Belize, Central America |
FIRST CLINIC: 14 Aug 2009
Hopefully in the near future we won't need to bore you with all the intricacies of running a clinic out on an island miles from the mainland. Hopefully it will all be so 'humdrum' that it is hardly worth a mention, but this first one, originally spearheaded by the ladies who ran the Belize Dive Services, was exciting for us all. The combination of the ladies leaving the island for good and the unfortunate poisonings of local dogs meant that it was now up to us to make a difference.
Cooper once again offered up her services. She has an art-studio below her house which she kindly turned into a clinic for the day. Her and her husband had recently built a fenced in area with a dog house for their two dogs, so it was a perfect set up. Jane and Phyllis from the Belize Animal Medical Centre came on the 8am boat and we collected them up and ushered them over to Coopers. In the meantime we had collected up some animals in need of medical attention and a couple that needed spaying or neutering. It was understood that surgeries would be in the morning, and general care in the afternoon, from shots, to tick and flea meds, mange, toe nails and anything else! This would give the anethsetised dogs time to collect themselves before being transported home. We had golf carts on hand for this job.
It was a busy morning and as I dashed off to sort out lunch I was interrupted by a phone call from them asking about the young tan dog that I had brought in for fixing. His living conditions are horrendous but the owners do care about him, and I had asked if he had been neutered. They said not, so I asked if I could take him and also get some shots, heart worm meds into him etc. Well, apparently Jane had problems finding the offending testes and I had to take him home defeated. Who had done this already? Who knows, but unless they just never distended, then he was already fixed. Much laughter from the 'supporting' crew and I went about my business - tail between legs!
The afternoon unfolded to lots of dogs and owners showing up, pups of Cara where reunited for the first time, and Coco barked them all down! We gave tick and flea medications out that had been kindly donated, we taught owners the importance of heartworm medications, Jane managed to get toe-nails cut to much drama as they screamed their way through the process! We all know that it does not hurt but apparently a couple of these guys KNOW better! Shots for parvo, rabies and parainfluenza, leptospirosis and distemper to many dogs and one cat showed up. A good day.
We were somewhat disorganised in terms of being aware of who paid for what although Phyllis had it all sorted out. As the day wore on, there was a little concern that it might all end up costing us more than we had. But, as the final count was made, our bill only came to around $310. A job well done and many thanks to Jane and Phyllis of the Animal Medical Centre and to Liz, Doris, Monique, Luciana, Lennie, Ani (wonderful cake!), Patty, for all their help volunteering their time (and golf carts). Here are some pics!
 |
 |
 |
|
Fluffy
and Cara - nose to nose. Waiting to wake up.
|
Cara's
pups reunite.
|
Dogs
leashed everywhere!
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Pre-Op
for Cara.
|
Bo
getting shots and checking out his bad hip.
|
All
healthy, but in need of shots and heartworm.
|