Volunteer Vets
In March of 2007 the
"Puppy Angels" spay/neuter volunteers from the United
States paid a second visit to Grenada. We went to Gouyave in our
Mobile Van to assist the "Fish Friday" group. In
Gouyave we neutered 20 dogs.
The Puppy Angels group also neutered 79 dogs at the GSPCA hospital.
For six weeks this summer in June and July 2007 the
GSPCA were assisted by the husband and wife Vet team of Dr. Dan
Skeldon and Dr. Nikki Wiggs from the United Kingdom.
Dan and Nikki spayed and neutered 46 animals for the Shelter during their stay.
Dan and Nikki stayed upstairs the clinic and helped out at the hospital. They assisted many animals for mange, eye, ear infections and anything else that came up.
We also took a trip up to River Sallee where we held a free vaccination, deworming and skin treatment clinic.
In August 2007 Dr. Joe Hanekon from South
Africa came to volunteer at the GSPCA for two weeks.
Joe assisted in the hospital and preformed 26 spay and neuter surgeries.
In August and September
of 2007, Canadian Vet Students, Jennifer Vanderstarren and Susan
Dailley spent six weeks volunteering for the GSPCA. The students
were from the University of Guelph Veterinary College, Ontario,
Canada. The sixth term Vet Students were completing their
Externship/Elective Program at the GSPCA.
This was a new developement for the GSPCA which we hope to build on. The students were very useful and also gained experience working in a shelter environment and in another country. We enjoyed their enthusiasm and look forward to the next student who will be volunteering during the Christmas holidays.
In September and early
October, Dr. Matthew Clark came to volunteer for two weeks.
For World Animal Day we focused on the Donald Flex family in Grand Anse. We spayed and neutered their 3 male and 3 female dogs and their two cats. We also took in two unwanted puppies and put them up for adoption at the shelter.
Dr. Clark also spayed and neutered 21 dogs and cats at the shelter and helped out in the hospital.
Dr Bill Sones and Georgina
Dr Laurie
Mersha at the Clinic
New Years Day, January 1. 2007 brought the GSPCA Dr. Bill Sones, his wife Dr. Laurie and daughter Helen. Dr. Bill had visited us 3 years ago and enjoyed his visit so much he returned with his family. We had a great time hiking in the rainforest and exploring the island together. And ...oh yes....we spayed and neutered 65 dogs and cats.
Dr. Laurie spent a lot of her time helping us get our kennels more organized. She taught us how to properly feed newborn puppies who have lost their mothers. This is something we had been struggling with. She spent time helping us set up a treatment program for skin problems in our kennel dogs. She also helped us set up our X-Ray machine, which had been a bit of confusion for us.
We at the GSPCA would like to thank the Sones family, Helen, Bill and Laurie for all their help and sharing all their invaluable information with us.
We hope to see you all again next year........
Helen and MaryAnn
Dr Bill Sones
George, Peggy and Helen
Volunteer Vet Program
Mobile Surgery
The GSPCA is fortunate to have a Mobile Surgery Van donated by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). With our van we can reach remote areas of the Island and our sister Island of Carriacou. It's a great way to meet Grenadian people and become part of the Community.
The GSPCA has a large apartment at the Shelter where visiting vets can be accommodated for free. We also have a car for their use. Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay for flights as much as we would like to. But if you can get here we will accommodate you, feed you and show you paradise!! And of course spay and neuter a few hundred dogs and cats.
Dr. Tom Barkdall
Requirements for Volunteer Vets:
- Heat Resistant (we do have air-conditioning)
- Like Snorkeling, Diving, Sailing
- Sense of Humour
- Rum Punch Tolerance
- Love Sunshine
- 5 years experience in spay / neuter surgery
Many of our Volunteer Vets return every year! Our good friends, Dr. Tom Barkdall and wife Cindy from Indiana, USA who keep their beautiful Yacht "Havana Goodtime" here in Grenada have been volunteering every year for several years and have become part of our family.
Dr. Joan Kleynhans
Havana Goodtime
Bill Sones
Dr. David Walker from England returned to Grenada for the
second time to volunteer for the GSPCA. Dr. Walker spent mornings
at the clinic tending to our kennels animals and seeing walk-in
clients. He also spayed and neutered several animals for us.
David and 14 year old daughter Alice had taken diving classes
before they came and managed at least a dozen dives while they
were here. David also works with a charity in the UK
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk.
Thank you David, we love your visits, see you next year??
Dr. David Walker
Alice and Peggy
Dr. Donald Schrank with Puppy
We have with us now, Dr. Donald Schrank from the USA who will be volunteering for a year! Check out Donald's blog at: http://doningrenada.blogspot.com
After reading Donald's blog and think you may still want to come to Grenada and volunteer for us please e-mail me, Peggy, at pegalex@caribsurf.com and I will send you more information.
Dr. Mike Cohen with Monkey
Dr. Mike Cohen, a classmate and good friend of our Dr. Shrank, recently spent 10 days volunteering at GSPCA. With two Vets on hand we were able to get all our kennel dogs neutered and reorganize some of our daily procedures.
Suede
We had a bit of excitement while spaying a beautiful Weimaraner named Suede. Our second diaphragmatic hernia, jeeze louise (just breathe Peggy). A simple spay turns into this huge surgical ordeal! But you just never know....thank God for two of the BEST and most capable surgeons who saved this poor dogs life! You can read all about it on Dons blog page. http://doningrenada.blogspot.com/
Monkey
We also had our first Monkey patient. Poor little guy needed some stitching up on his face where he tore his mouth and jaw became infected. He left good as new and cosmetically just as cute thanks to Dr. Cohen and Dr. Shrank. We had a great time at the Regatta in Carriacou where Dr. Mike proved just as talented at winching as he is in surgery!! You can read more about Don and Mikes adventures on Dons blog page. http://doningrenada.blogspot.com/
Dr. Winston and Pam Schrank,
Don's parents
Don's parents Dr. Winston and Pam Schrank paid us a two
week visit and went to work assisting their son. Dr. Winston is a
radiologist and Pam is a nurse. So its a family affair at the
GSPCA and we are loving it!!! Don has spayed 115 dogs and cats so
far!! Both his parents and I agree, "He is a such a talented
surgeon....the animals practically get up an walk off the
table!"
Thanks Winston and Pam, it was great having you here and hope
you come back and visit us again soon!
Words alone cannot express the gratitude the GSPCA has for our volunteer vets spending their holiday time here working with us. What we learn from each one of you is invaluable and we have such fun doing it! Thank you all so much and we hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we do having you here!!
