AVAR Veterinarians Join Thanksgiving Spay/Neuter Mission to MexicoDavis, California (Nov. 22, 2003)
Dr. John Strathman won’t be spending his Thanksgiving vacation getting some much-needed rest from his job as a staff veterinarian at the Contra Costa County Animal Services Department shelter in Martinez, California. Instead, Dr. Strathman will be traveling with a team of AVAR volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other dedicated animal lovers down to Juarez, Mexico, to spay and neuter animals in this impoverished community.
As with most Mexican communities, Juarez has a huge animal overpopulation problem, and residents have virtually no access to affordable spay/neuter services. As a result, there are many stray dogs and cats living on the streets and animal control efforts typically involve rounding up these animals, placing them in holding centers for about a week and then electrocuting them. “I have seen dogs and cats in the streets of Mexico and other developing countries and know that they are in trouble,” said Dr. Strathman in explaining his reasons for participating in his second Spay Camp, as the mission to Juarez is called. Strathman also traveled to Juarez in May 2003 for a Spay Camp. “Their populations are out of control, and they receive little care. Many are thin, parasitized, malnourished and diseased. If medical care were available, many of these animals wouldn’t receive it because they are unhomed or live in homes without financial resources to provide it.” The Spay Camp will provide free surgical sterilizations for up to 150 animals in the Juarez community in an effort to help control the cat and dog population. Dr. Strathman and the other volunteer veterinarians will also help train local veterinarians during the camp so spay/neuter efforts can continue in the future. This will be the second Spay Camp in Juarez, which is just south of El Paso, Texas. The trips are organized by UC Davis veterinary student Christi Payne and her group, Compassion Without Borders and are co-sponsored by the Davis-based Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR). The other AVAR veterinarians participating in the trip include Dr. Gary Hurlbut of Pacific, California and Dr. Lori Alvarez of Missoula, Montana. “During our first Spay Camp we demonstrated to the locals there, including Mexican veterinarians, veterinary students, humane workers and pet owners, that the surgeries can be done, a lot of them at that, even in school classrooms on folding tables,” said Dr. Strathman. “We heard later that we had changed attitudes among the local veterinary community and that they had become more cooperative with the local humane organization. One local veterinarian said that he didn’t think American veterinarians cared about them, but we demonstrated to them that we did.” “Our goal in going forward,” Strathman added, “is to train local veterinarians and students in some surgical techniques and help them build confidence so that they can continue sterilization efforts long after we leave. Maybe what is more important than the actual procedures we perform is that we show up and kindle a spark of motivation so that someday, say in 100 years, there will be a lot fewer homeless animals in the streets suffering.” In addition to the free sterilizations, every animal who visits the Spay Camp will be treated for flea and ticks (ticks are a big problem in the area), and their families will receive donated animal supplies such as leashes, collars and toys. Clothing, shoes and even children’s toys are also given to the families at the camp. Compassion Without Borders and AVAR will be organizing three more Spay Camps in Mexican communities in 2004. Donations are needed for the upcoming Spay Camp and the Spay Camps scheduled for next year to cover the cost of medical supplies and travel expenses. All workers at the camp are volunteering their time. Other wish list items include: collars and leashes, dog and cat shampoo, tweezers to remove ticks, ID tags that can be filled out on site and toys for the animals. Donations can be mailed to the AVAR office at AVAR, 635 Anderson Road, Suite 13B, Davis, CA 95616. The next Spay Camp will be in April 2004. Click here to link to an article in the Contra Costa Times about Dr. Strathman's trip to Juarez. And click here to link to an article about Christi Payne and her efforts to help the animals in Mexico. |
