International Veterinary Assistance, Inc.
The mission of the International Veterinary Assistance Inc. (IVA) is to promote the humane management of stray and feral companion animals abroad. IVA mobilizes local and international veterinary resources and collaborates with animal protection societies, the tourism sector, leading businesses and organizations with strong commitments to animal welfare, and individual animal lovers to create and support change. IVA was incorporated in May 2001 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations and contributions to IVA are tax deductible in the USA.
May and June 2004 IVA Clinics
The first of this season's IVA Spay and Neuter clinics has just been completed in the southern town of Vieux Fort. A contingency of Irish and English vets and veterinary nurses (Andria Cauvin, Jeremy Moloney, Nicola Doyle and Rosalyn Newton) flew in for the 10-day clinic to neuter 84 dogs and treat over 400 hundred others.
Rodney Bay will play host to the next clinic, 13th - 20th June 2004, when veterinarians Tristan Shanks and Tamsin Fordham and veterinary nurses Catherine Reynolds and Julie Hayter will be in St Lucia for the first time as IVA volunteers.
10th - 21st May 2004, Vieux Fort
"Hundreds flock to Vieux Fort dog clinic" by Jolien Harmsen
With a grand total of 84 dogs now neutered and another four hundred-odd dogs dewormed, de-flead and de-ticked, the first ever free dog clinic in Vieux Fort has been hailed a success by both the Vieux Fort Town Council and the St Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS). Last week, an Irish/English team from International Veterinary Assistance Inc. consisting of veterinary surgeons Jerry Moloney and Andria Cauvin and vet nurses Ros Newton and Nicky Doyle worked tirelessly for six days to spay and neuter animals at the Vieux Fort Health Plaza, while St Lucian vets George Joseph, Jovitha St Marthe, Christiana Pierre and Kirsty James took turns to man the daily walk-in clinics which were held at the True Value building along the Vieux Fort-Laborie Highway.
Meanwhile, SLAPS volunteers took to the schools on Tuesday and Wednesday in an attempt to raise the awareness of students aged 5 to 17 with respect to animal care and welfare, the development of healthy relationships with pets and the benefits of spaying and neutering (stray) dogs. Once word got around, the public's interest in the free dog clinics soared, with several dozen dog owners making their way to the walk-in clinics every afternoon, and many proceeding from there on to the surgery clinic to have their pets neutered. A dozen or so stray dogs were captured and treated also, including dogs caught at the Vieux Fort Landfill thanks to the efforts of staff of the Solid Waste Management Authority. Most of these animals have since been re-housed after treatment, vaccination and neutering. While many dogs in the Vieux Fort area appear to be strays, they actually have delinquent owners. So as not to offend anyone, organisers refrained from trapping animals in town but instead invited dog owners to voluntarily bring their pets to the clinic. The downside of this approach being of course that several of the most visible cases of neglect did not actually receive treatment. However, it is hoped that increased sensitivity to animal health, and heightened awareness of the health risks involved in having unneutered animals procreate at liberty (spreading not only unwanted puppies but also sexually transmitted tumours - TVT - throughout the dog population) will in time help to curb the unsightly problem of dog neglect in the southern town.
Besides being concerned with animal welfare per se, another, deeper-seated motive for organising these free dog clinics is also the notion that fostering healthy relationships between children and pets can have long-term beneficial effects on a child's ability to empathise with fellow human beings. A child that cares for his dog and has known the love he receives in return better understands the benefits of caring for other dependent creatures later on in life, including people. As India's former prime minister Ghandi once said: "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
This year's clinic was made possible by the support of The Reef Beach Cafe, True Value, The Health Plaza, Paradise Springs, Villa Caribbean Dream, Cimpex, Tolyn Manufacturers, SMJ Beverages, the Old Plantation House, Ishan's Ital Food, the Big Bite, Auntie's Restaurant, Sapphire, By Denbow's, Lazarus Funeral Home and the STDC.
The Vieux Fort Town Council, SLAPS and International Veterinary Assistance Inc. hope to repeat the free animal health clinic sometime next year. A stray dog and cat clinic is planned for Gros Islet, next month.
September and November 2003 Clinics
SLAPS welcomed two teams comprising American, Australian, British and Irish veterinarians and nurses/technicians for the September and November 2003 spay & neuter clinics. The September team, which sterilized 80 cats and dogs delivered by SLAPS, was mobilized by Leigh Grady, Executive Director, Animal Shelter of Sterling, MA. Leigh was joined by technician Colleen McGuiness, Sterling Animal Shelter, and Dr Rachel Kiessling, Associate Veterinarian with VCA. Their trip was co-sponsored by the VCA. Despite the tragic death of Jane Tipson, SLAPS and its supporters were able to pull together and accommodate the planned November clinic and provide over 100 animals for sterilization. This included mostly dogs as bad weather hampered the trapping of feral cats. The November clinic was organized by veteran IVA volunteers Clare Bryant, Head Nurse and Lecturer at Medivet Enfield, and Emma Booth, surgery nurse, Royal Veterinary College (RVC).Read more.
