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You are one of the reasons HBHS has had such an amazing year. We set our sights high, and we have been able to achieve our goal….. to date, in 2013 we have spayed and neutered 1031 animals! And with two weekend clinics to go, we know that number will go up. Having once a month weekend clinics with Dr. Orlando Baptist in addition to our visiting veterinary teams has really impacted the animals of Belize.
On October 17th, HBHS joined forces with Saga Humane Society on the island of San Pedro, targeting the San Mateo neighborhood. San Mateo is an impoverished area, and HBHS has wanted to work in that area for years. We were finally able to make it happen, and we hope Saga Humane Society will work with us again to help this community. Dr. Orlando Baptist, Dr. Tonya Pruett and Dr. Linda Leavell worked for two and a half days with the Saga Humane team, treated almost 200 animals and spaying/neutering over 50.
From San Pedro, we went to Placencia to team up with the Placencia Humane Society for an evening and morning of clinics. Drs. Baptist, Pruett and Leavell did 13 surgeries and over 35 exams. Then, back to Hopkins to meet up with Dr. Rob Echentile and Dr. Mia Canton for HBHS clinics. Animal Health Director Joseph Morgan worked with all doctors and volunteers to see that animals were picked up, their needs met, and they were delivered home safely. Volunteers Kelli & Stephen Blank, and Carol & Brian Gregory spent many hours at the clinic organizing, cleaning, giving out dog food, providing transportation for patients, and making calls to people that needed animal assistance. And professional photographer, Amanda Thielman, was on hand to capture the moments for all of us!
As Dr. Pruett and Dr. Leavell departed, the next group came it. Belize veterans Dr. Tina Cone, Anita Beeson and Ramona Hambrick (Carroll Country Vets Without Borders) arrived and jumped right into work, assisting Drs. Echentile and Pruett before going to their room at Villa Verano! Dr. Cone and Dr. Baptist held clinics in Hopkins, while I went to San Ignacio to assist with a six vet “mega clinic” set up by Humberto Wohlers of the Belize Zoo. And what a weekend it was! Dr. Cone and Baptist were working in the flood waters in Hopkins, Drs. Edwardo Tesecum, Jorge Lopez, Isabelle Paquet-Durand, Mia Canton, Angela Gimmel, Jennifer Riley and Kelly Schmitz conducted clinic in the pouring down rain for two days. It was wet, crazy, and fabulous! In two days, over 200 animals were treated in Belize, and almost 60 surgeries. If only the sun had been out, we could have done miraculous things!
The flood waters trapped the Carroll County Vets Without Borders in Hopkins, but I was able to travel to the Belize Zoo to meet up with Dr. Baptist. Humberto and the amazing Zoo crew were superb hosts, and despite the bucketing rain, Dr. B did 14 surgeries and treated over 20 animals. And, as the flood waters slowly receded, Dr. Cone and her team slogged through crocodile infested waters to continue with clinics at HBHS for several days.
When Dr. Cone and her crew departed, Dr. Jon Kendall arrived. Dr. Kendall, Dr. Canton and Dr. Baptist treated over 90 animals in Dangriga in one day between 9 am and 2pm. Wow! Then they treated even more over the weekend at HBHS, helping us reach and go over our spay/neuter goal.
HBHS was also able to give out 4000 does of Pet Trust dewormer this year, thanks to the donation of the products from the Pet Trust company… and over 2000 Kind News magazines thanks to the Humane Society of the United States.
Only one month left, and we are finishing 2013 very strong! We are looking forward to 2014!