Free Animal Clinic Aug. 2007 in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos

September 10th, 2007

The amazing VIDAS Volunteer Vets, Techs and Students came to the Yucatan Peninsula to help our local animals and community. They set up their temporary animal sterilization clinic in Playa del Carmen Aug 8-11, 2007 in the colosio at a Primary school. They offer their services for free in hopes to prevent animal suffering due to starvation, disease, and other health problems associated with pet overpopulation, recognizing also that overpopulation of animals also contributes directly to human disease. Their focus is safe sterilization, vaccination and parasite control for the animals and education for the local people about safe animal handling, zoonotic disease and general animal husbandry and health care.

After finishing a 4 day clinic in Playa del Carmen, they broke down the clinic and moved it to a school in Puerto Morelos and completed a 2 day clinic there as well, Aug 13 &14, 2007.

 

The total number of animals sterilized and treated (Includes cats and dogs, male and female).
Playa del Carmen in 4 days: 201
Puerto Morelos in 2 days: 97

Here are some photos to take you through some of a day of the Playa del Carmen VIDAS clinic.

After advertising the clinic weeks prior in local papers, radio and fliers around town… people start showing up for the free clinic in the morning at 8 AM.

First, we check them in with owner and pet information. Then they wait their turn for general exams.

 

 

 

Volunteers have plenty of time to meet and greet all the friendly customers. This is the best part!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, they get the pre-med ready for each individual animal in the surgery room.

This is US VET Meghann Burgland, she is in charge of everything that goes on with the medication doses and the flow of the surgery room. She is basically the backbone of the surgery room. Keep in mind they averaged 50 surgeries a day!

 

 

 

 

In one of the classrooms of the primary school they have their surgery room with 4 operating tables made especially for animals, other stations for sterilizing equipment etc.
Dr. Erica Periman beginning a surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1:00 or so everyday, one of the Visiting Vet Students that is fluent in Spanish, taught classes to the local children.

Teaching them basic animal care and safety.

They LOVE it! 

 

 

 

 

Kids having a ball with Vidas Volunteer Teacher, Nolan Zeide. He is a vet student at Purdue University.

 

 

Showing off their work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the recovery room where all patients go after surgery to recover and wake up. 

 

Volunteer, Deborah Payne checks a sweet Playa puppy for ticks.

We make comfy soft places to lay them and while they are still sleepy, we do a lot of extra care such as, cleaning ears, picking ticks, and a lot of TLC.

Any animals in need of parasite control or have skin conditions are treated at the clinic.

 

 

 

 Volunteer, Diane Patterson from Michigan takes care of a tiny black kitten in the recovery room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After waking up and going through the recovery process, it is time to go home. The owners are told when they could return for their pet according to when they were dropped off. Some pet owners stay and wait the whole day and even help in the recovery room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ”Mom, I am ready to go home!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a prefect success. Our community is grateful to VIDAS organization and volunteer crew. All of the visiting crew comes from the US or Canada, paying their own way and use their vacation time to come to this area and volunteer their skills!!!!- We love them for this!

During the clinic we have many locals and local businesses that have donated housing, meals, transportation assitance and hands on help. The Blue Parrot donated wonderful lunches for all the crew and volunteers, as well as, a thank you party at the end of the clinic. Mexico Escape donated two beautiful properties, as well as, an individual, Judith York Newman donated her condo for the visiting crew.

Vidas provides new collars and leashes to any animals in need! These dogs came with electrical cords as leads. (on the black dog in this photo you can even see the plug around his neck). If you have interest in getting involved with VIDAS or helping the animals please check out http://www.vidas.org/ or go to our local animal charity page.
I want to give my gratitude for the locals and visting volunteers that helped make this clinic work!
Thank you to Dr. Sandra Valdez, Dr. Claudia Lewy Sanchez, Dr. Diego Queijeiro G, Glenda Gabriel, Brenda Lee Carson, Deborah Ritchie, Libby and John Bekas, Paula Tunstall, Madi Collins, Deborah Payne, Marilyn Wall, Dale Cabauatan, Diane and Richard Patterson, Leslie Clark, Claire, Judith York Newman, Jan and Larry Hoffman and Pam and Tom of the Blue Parrot and their lovely staff – Sherry Stevens