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Spay And Neuter Clinics 2013

Spay and Neuter Clinic with Dagmar Stech and Dr. Bronja Berenfeld

June 7th - 21st 2013

Dagmar Stech and Dr. Bronja Berenfeld landed late on Friday night in Puerto Plata. They passed customs without problems. They were picked up by A.A.A.S. volunteers Elaine and Rob and spent the first night at their house. The next day Elaine and Rob took them to the beach before they moved into their actual residence, the apartment of Judy’s German friend Wolfgang.


Dagmar Stech and Dr. Berrenfeld with one of their „neighbours“ in front of Wolfgang’s apartment.

Then, on Sunday, the first difficult surgery:

One of the dogs of Judy’s neighbour and former employer, Dr. Bob, was suffering from intestinal adhesions. Dr. Bob, who often assists during difficult surgeries at the A.A.A.S. clinic or helps in cases of material shortage, was much too nervous to operate himself when it concerned his own dog. Unfortunately the deformities turned out to be a birth defect and couldn’t be removed entirely.

On Monday, after unpacking an enormous amount of medical gifts,…

…the normal clinic routine started.

The vets operated every day from 9 o’clock in the morning unti 3 o’clock in the afternoon,…

…on the average about 17-18 animals…

…while the A.A.A.S. volunteers were busy collecting candidates for surgery and returning them afterwards.

Wherever A.A.A.S. helpers appear, they are immediately surrounded by their four-legged friends.

In this shop puppies have hidden themselves underneath the car.

Despite the strenuous work surgeons and volunteers never lost their good humour.

Afterwards there was time to enjoy the beach…

…in the company of friends…

…sipping a sundowner.

Evening mood at Sosúa beach…

…and the sunset viewed from Wolfgang’s appartement later on.

Dagmar Stech and Dr. Bronja Berenfeld operating:

Dagmar Stech…

…and Dr. Berenfeld,…

…here assisted by A.A.A.S. volunteers Francine…

…and Debbie.

In difficult situations both surgeons worked together.

Cutting one more thread … and the surgery is finished.

As already noticed by Dr. Susanne Vogler in March, Dagmar Stech and Dr. Berenfeld observed a remarkable improvement in the general health of their patients:

Far less bleeders…

…and only 8 pregnancies.
+
That is the result of years of dedicated work of the A.A.A.S. Educating people…

…and treating animals regularly against parasites.

At present the A.A.A.S. community outreach programs take care of over 1000! animals.

A lot of the most common serious health issues such as ehrlichiosis, heartworm and mange can be prevented by regular doses of antiparasitics.

„Hey there, that is dog food!“

One bitch suffered from uterine sepsis but could be saved.

Judy preparing a dog for surgery…

…and as anesthetist controlling the inhalation machine.

Also cats were spayed.

A photo of Dagmar Stech taken from a rare angle.

The spaying of an approximately 5 year old bitch that had seen many pregnancies and births ( twice a year starting from the eighth month!) turned out to be extremely difficult:

Ovaries and womb were so brittle that they tore. It took both vets and 4 hands to save her but also this surgery ended successfully.

At the weekend they went horseback riding with Veronica, a former A.A.A.S. volunteer, along the beach to a restaurant that had been a favorite of Dagmar Stech during her last visit. Donkey Belinda refused to stay alone at home and accompanied them.

During the second week the vets continued to spay and neuter but of course they treated also sick animals. European and American residents had heard about the german vets at the clinic and brought their animals.

One dog suffered from an hematoma at the ear, another, a Rottweiler, had several atheromas. But not for all patients there was a simple remedy. One small dog had a lot of fluid in its belly, too much protein in its blood and extremely pale mucous membranes, everything indicating a tumour at an advanced stage. The owners were not ready to let their pet go and left the clinic to consult a second vet. Another older dog brought by German resident suffered from a tumour in its belly as well. It had the size of an orange. The blood test showed also a kidney insufficiency and, rather than operating with an uncertain result and strain the kidneys additionally with anesthesia, the vets advised infusions and kidney diet to prolong the dog’s life as long as it could enjoy it. Volunteer Marina brought some young dogs of local families that suffered from bloody diarrhea. Fortunately it wasn’t diagnosed as the beginning of a deadly virus infection and the patients could leave after an infusion.


All A.A.A.S. volunteers have fallen in love with this bitch…

…and don’t want to return her to the street.

In the Caribbean breathtaking beauty meets with extreme poverty…

…and the symbols of voodoo can be seen in many places on Hispaniola.

The most tragic case was brought by volunteer Tanya. A young dog, only 1 year old that had broken ist left hind leg before, had hardly recovered when it was driven over again. It suffered a fracture at the same place and several fractures of pelvis and socket on the right side. In a good German or American clinic with all modern equipment for bone surgery it may have been possible to help the dog in several operations involving a very long recovery but in a developing country - no! Euthanasia was the only way. In such situations we realize painfully that we are still very far from granting animals in poor countries the medical care that is possible or even natural for our own pets at home.

Even a vaccination program for puppies to protect them against vicious virus infections like leptospirosis, parvovirus and distemper which kill so many of them senselessly at an age of only a few weeks or months remains a future prospect and is not affordable at present.

But we always have to keep in mind our foremost mission:

Population control by means of spay and neuter instead of poison and education of the local people to teach them understanding and love for animals so that in the long run the life quality of all animals in the region can be improved.

122 animals were spayed and neutered during this operative: About 77 bitches, 30 males, 12 queens and 3 toms.

Dagmar Stech and Dr. Bronja Berenfeld, here at their farewell dinner with the A.A.A.S. team, want to return for a field clinic 2014.


Spay And Neuter Clinic With Dr. Katja Schirren, Dr. Nadja Spies, Daniela Meyer and Romina Turco

April 2nd – April 14th 2013

Despite continuous clinics since January – in January with Dr. Alfano and Dr.Kashef, in February with World Vets and in March with Dr. Vogler and Dr. Brent – there were already 60 new candidates waiting when Dr. Schirren, Dr. Spies, Daniela Meyer and Romina Turco landed in Puerto Plata on April 2nd.

And despite the ceaseless efforts there were again enough volunteers ready to donate time and energy to A.A.A.S.


3 days the vets worked at the clinic in Sosúa.

Dr. Katja Schirren

Daniela Meyer

Dr. Nadja Spies

Romina Turco

Right at the beginning the current failed. This time the break down damaged also the clinic’s inverter needed to make use of the electricity supplied by the community.


As during the field clinics in the past months work could only be continued because of the new generator,…

…the Christmas present of the German vet Thomas Koch,…

…with the additional help of head lights that the prudent vets had brought along. (Photo Daniela Meyer).

There were a lot of young bitches among the patients; only one of them was pregnant, which shows again the positive effects of the years of A.A.A.S. community outreach programs; already noticable at the last clinic at Charamicos. A lot of the males were cryptorchids.

Inbetween surgeries the vets accompanied the A.A.A.S. volunteers to the “campo” to get the dogs…


…or return them to their families…

…and had first insights into a completely new and interesting world.

On Sunday, April 7th, the 4 vets rented a car and drove to Samanà where they worked during the second week of their stay. They were having supper in a restaurant near Kim’s house after their arrival when they were called to their first patient: A dog had been hit by a car on the broad seaside road right in front of Kim’s house. This street is a real death trap for dogs; again and again dogs are run over here by cars. The injured dog turned out to be a nursing bitch,…

…that immediately bit into the hand of Romina Turco who in consequence couldn’t operate the first day because no surgical glove would fit her bandaged hand. The bitch limped and had trouble breathing but they had to let her go so she could feed her puppies. Kim followed her, found the owner and gave him medicaments for her. The injury of Romina Turco was taken care of by her colleagues.


Without further ado Kim had turned her house into a field clinic.

Preparation area

A young pet keeper helps to prepare her dog for the operation.

Surgery

Recovery

This neutered dog had also a sizable neck wound which needed flushing.

Kim had made appointments with dog and cat owners. They waited in the front until it was time for the operation…

…and later on til their animals had recovered from the anaesthesia.

Cindy, the only volunteer, brought in the strays (and photographed).

All patients were marked in the way already proven effectively in Sosúa:

With a piece of tape on the forehead that had a number on it.

He has already received his pre-medication.

Usually 2 vets operated at the same time.

The head lights proved to be a good aid here as well.

The other 2 vets prepared the patients for surgery and monitored them after the operation.

Preparation of medication

Dr. Katja Schirren and Daniela Meyer administering intravenous anaesthesia.

The patient is shaved…

…and intubated for the inhalation anaesthesia machine.

Ready for the surgeon!

Kim took care of the cold sterilisation of instruments while Dr. Schirren monitored the anaesthesia.


That is Cosita. This little lady only weighed 1.7 kilogram!

Max suffered from a sticker tumour…

…that had to be removed.

The anaesthesia protocol of Ketamine, Xylazin and Acepromazin caused seizures with some of the patients. A dose of Diazepam helped in those cases.


Many of the bitches and also many of the cats were pregnant.
As already in Sosúa the 4 vets noticed a tendency of the animals to bleed a lot more during surgery than they were used to from their patients back home in Germany, symptomatic for an existing or passed ehrlichiosis.

There were quite a few cats among the patients.

A cat is being prepared for the operation…

…and lies on the table shortly after.

Carefully the little leg is shaved to find the tiny vein.

Tom cat Caspar is prepared by Dr. Schirren…

…and neutered by Dr. Nadja Spies…

…while Daniela Meyer opens the belly of this female…

…with a very tiny cut.

69 animals in total were spayed and neutered.


Little Turkey arrived too late to be spayed and incapable of giving birth on her own.
Carefully she is being prepared…

…for the inevitable Caesarean.

With mouth-to-mouth resuscitation the vets try to save the puppies.

Two of them survive and are placed at their mom’s teats.

She recovers while her children enjoy their first meal.

Tuesday night an injured dog was brought, again hit by a car.

One of its hind legs had to be amputated.

While Bobi recovers slowly from the anaesthesia,…

…Dr. Katja Schirren is busy creating a custom-made surgical collar for him so he won’t lick his wound.

It has the perfect fit!

And his young owner is very happy that her pet could be saved.

Wednesday was the birthday of Daniela Meyer. (Also Dr. Schirren had birthday during the operative; congratulations and best wishes for the coming year to both of them!)

This birthday Daniela Meyer will never forget:


In the evening a sow was brought that had already delivered 4 piglets, a fifth was stuck in the uterus.

Three hours, from 9 o’clock til midnight, the vets tried to save the sow. The outcome was tragic: The Dominican owners had already tried themselves to get the piglet out. In doing so they had torn off the piglet’s head and injured the womb of the sow so severely that she died.


A last meal from their dying mom…
Kim gave the owners milk substitute for the surviving piglets. That was all that could be done.

There was little time for relaxation.

And even then medicaments were examined…

…or new candidates for spay and neuter as here on the beach of Las Calleras.

Of course Dr. Francis joined in and operated.

It was a great opportunity for him to perform once more what he had learned under supervision of an experienced vet.

Friday night the vets visited Kim’s farm.

Kim’s youngest resident: This puppy was abandoned, most probably because it suffers from mange. A lot of Dominicans are scared of this disease because they don’t know what causes it or how it is treated. Therefore dogs suffering from mange are often chased away or abandoned.

Saturday morning Dr. Schirren carried out a nose biopsy. (Unfortunately a malignant skin tumour was diagnosed. This patient’s days are counted.) Meanwhile a dog was brought in that had been run over by a car. Its thorax was injured and apparently it suffered from a lung haemorrhage. Dr. Francisco had to take care of this patient on his own on Sunday (postscript follows) because Dr. Schirren, Dr. Spies, Daniela Meyer and Romina Turco had to return to Sosúa on Saturday afternoon to catch their plane back to Germany the following day. Still 180 kilometres away from Sosúa they had a flat tire. It took only 3 minutes til a friendly Dominican stopped and helped them to change the tire.

We hope that the 4 vets enjoyed these exciting and eventful weeks and will return – maybe next year during the whale season!


Spay And Neuter Clinic With Dr. Susanne Vogler

March 17th – March 26th 2013

On March 17th Dr. Vogler flew to the Dominican Republic for the second time, this time accompanied by her daughter Maxi who wanted to study for her high school exam during her stay,…

…but still helped at the clinic wherever she could.

They stayed at the Viva Wyndham Tangerine hotel at Cabarete where Volunteer Debbie picked up Dr. Vogler for work every morning.

Dr. Vogler had brought with her a large amount of much needed medical donations:

Puppy de-wormer, eye drops, swabs, surgical gloves, suture, syringes, hypodermic needles, cast material, antibiotics, the precious anesthesia Diazepam, Ketamine, Veracin and Xylazin as well as scalpels and surgical instrument for Kim in Samanà. Already in the morning of her first day Dr. Vogler spayed and neutered 4 young dogs at the A.A.A.S. clinic while happy volunteers stored the donations. In the afternoon the field clinic was set up.


The actual operative took place in the colorful small town of Charamicos.

As everywhere in the Dominican Republic…

…the motorcycle is the most popular means of transportation for just about everything.

As in August 2011 for the field clinic with Dr. List and Dr. Bonin,…

…the fire brigade of Charamicos didn’t hesitate to remove their trucks…

…and make their building available to A.A.A.S.

A second vet, Dr. Brent, had come from Canada together with his sister-in-law Dee Morrison, veterinary technician and frequent visitor in Sosúa, and volunteer Carolyn. Also Dr. Brent didn’t come for the first time.


During the next 3 days Dr. Vogler and Dr. Brent operated tirelessly…

…cutting open…

…taking out…

…sewing up…

…from 9 o’clock in the morning till 4 o’clock in the afternoon, interrupted only by an occasional refreshment.
Around them the usual hustle and bustle of a field clinic…

Everything is happening in the same room.

Reception and preparation of medication.

Preparation for the surgery

This bitch is already pre-medicated, shaved…

…and intubated. The glass with her protocol (and name and phone number of the owner)
and the medication beside her, she awaits the surgeon.

Recovery

Dr. Vogler’s daughter Maxi helps with the post-operative monitoring.

And of course as always…

…a lot of onlookers.

In a corner in the back…

…the surgeons have a quick lunch.

As usual a lot of people came.


They waited patiently…

…or passed the time with games.

A remarkable old lady…

…and her best friend.
Most of the dogs were brought by their owners.

And since Chihuahuas are the favorite dogs of Dominicans,…

…there were of course a lot of Chihuahuas among the patients.

But also strays were operated.

Bella had to stay overnight at the clinic because she had a hard time waking up after surgery.

This bitch has to wait for the next clinic. She has had a litter shortly and has still too much milk to be operated.

The number of cats, both queens and toms, who are brought by their owners to be spayed or neutered, has increased notably.

Young cat-lovers with their pet

The Canadian volunteer Carolyn loves especially cats.

The successful work of the A.A.A.S. in the communities shows also in this: Only about 2 pregnant bitches per day landed on the vets’ tables whereas still half of the queens were pregnant.

You’re unforgettable!

He was everybody’s favorite.

Still all animals are weighed at the reception, information about them is taken down and they receive a number.

But instead of a simple piece of tape with the number on the forehead, as before,…

…each dog wears now a yellow collar with a blue tag.

This little guy only weighed 2 kilos. He doesn’t have to return to the street but can recover at A.A.A.S. until he finds a home.

This little girl came with her mom, her cat and her favorite pet – a toy dog! Of course the dog was properly received, got a yellow collar and blue tag and the appropriate “treatment”.

Many bitches had brittle wombs which made surgeries more difficult. In one case Dr. Brent had to assist Dr. Vogler to put a tourniquet on. Many very young bitches had wombs that small that Dr. Vogler resorted to instruments otherwise used to spay cats.

All animals received antibiotics and medication against pain after surgery and were treated against parasites. Three ladies of the public health department vaccinated each animal against rabies.

On the second day of the clinic a male dog was brought with an injury at the scrotum already infested by maggots. The whole scrotum was removed when he was neutered.

The same day a young male dog was brought with a terrible wound at its tail where the bone showed: His owner had “docked” it himself! For weeks the young dog had been running around with the infected wound. Dr. Brent amputated the whole tail.

Too late! The young dog died the next day of a sepsis. Again and again locals try to dock their dogs with clippers and other unimaginable instrument, of course without anaesthesia or sterilization, to raise the value of their mongrels because they know that some purebred dogs are/have been docked! Education is direly needed here! Local people have to be informed that docking has become very unpopular and is fortunately nowadays forbidden in most countries – and they have to be taught that their local dogs are just as valuable, intelligent and lovable as any purebred. Courses with volunteering dog trainers and small subsequent events such as the very popular agility shows could improve the situation a lot.

We are very happy to see Dominican volunteers at this clinic!

Socorro brings strays to the clinic, helps with post-operative monitoring and is an invaluable help as translator.

Juan Carlos lives with Socorro. He is very enthusiastic and eager to learn.

He spends the whole day at the clinic and performs his tasks very seriously.

That is the future, we believe! Dominicans don’t have to be only trained as vets, like Dr. Francisco, but also as responsible volunteers in the community outreach programs. Otherwise many future projects may not happen due to lack of staff.

Juan Carlos dreams of becoming a vet himself one day. For that he’ll have to overcome his dislike against school though…

On the third day of the clinic a German resident brought 3 dogs of locals.

On the last day the vets operated til noon, then the field clinic shut down and the equipment was taken back to Sosúa.

A total of 137 animals has been operated in Charamicos.

Next day the volunteers went horseback riding and in the evening all joined the farewell dinner with Dr. Brent who flew back to Canada. A day later Dr. Vogler and Maxi visited the Ocean World in Puerto Plata. Well-deserved relaxation!

But on March 25th Dr. Vogler was already again at the A.A.A.S. clinic in Sosúa and spayed and neutered 18 animals.


Also Maxi participated til the very end.

On the 26th, the day of her return flight, Dr. Vogler came to the clinic in the morning with her suitcases packed – and operated another 8 animals before she got on the plane.

Not without the promise to return next year!

We’re already looking forward to that and wish Maxi all the best for her exam!


Spay And Neuter Clinic With Dr. Tarek El Kashef

January 22nd - February 24th 2013

It was already the third time that Dr. Tarek El Kashef flew to the Dominican Republic for Aid and Support of the Creole dogs; this time on a very special mission: To train the young Dominican vet Dr. Francisco as surgeon.

Already during his first operative in November 2010 Dr Kashef supervised the first spay and neuter clinic of Dr. Giselle Santos in Santiago. Dr. Santos, who spays today a bitch within 20 minutes, had participated only a few months earlier in the educational clinic of the Canadian Dr. Clooney which we could help to sponsor.

But first of all there was a happy re-union with old friends in Sosúa!

…two-legged and four-legged ones…

The date 1/22/2013 on the photo shows:Already on the day of his arrival Dr. Kashef and Frank collected dog food for A.A.A.S.


During the first week Dr. Kashef operated in the A.A.A.S. clinic…


…together with Dr. Frank Alfano from Massachusetts. The two vets had worked already together in Sosúa in November 2010.

February 3rd 2013 Dr. Kashef posted on Facebook:

Since my arrival 12 days ago we have spayed and neutered about 40 bitches, males, queens and toms. The operative is running well. Tomorrow the actual mission starts in Samanà: The coaching of Dr. Francis who shall spay and neuter on his own afterwards.

A big Thank you to all sponsors whose donations make this possible, Tarek!

Further posts followed from Samanà:

February 8th 2013

„The Samanà operative started Tuesday, we operate fewer animals as in Sosúa because the coaching of Dr. Francisco has priority. We are learning from each other: A lot of the diagnostic aids we are accustomed to in Germany are lacking here; one has to rely on experience and sensitivity and improvise. People bring their own dogs, but also with strays, and drive up to 50 kilometres to come here.The news of the clinic is spreading quickly. Despite the difficulties that accompany every new project I’m very optimistic.”

February 12th 2013

„Everything is running well. Francis is operating almost completely on his own. I’m very content with the situation at the moment.”

February 17th 2013

First photos from Samanà:


Dr. Kashef comments: „First impressions of Samanà, Kim and I doing street work, feeding dogs and treating them against parasites.”


"Kim and I doing street work"

"The contact to the local people is decisive for the success; no problem in Samanà where Kim is known and greatly respected by everybody."

First contact between Dr. Kashef and his future patients

Can one trust him?

Oh yes, one can!


"My Dominican colleague Francisco or Francis is really doing well. When I return to Germany he will be able to spay and neuter all on his own. We are working on a few details like draping the surgical area andwearing a cap and mask during surgery."

Dr. Francisco neutering a male dog.

"Some of our patients… Since we are the only vets in Samanà we don’t only spay and neuter but also inform and educate and provide prophylaxis."

"We treat victims of car accidents like the bitch whose eye we had to take out and whose shoulder is most likely broken.

Up to now we have spayed and neutered about 40 dogs, we could have done more if we had more materials and anaesthesia but considering that we have just started, it’s running quite well…"


In Samanà cages with waiting dogs are standing right in the surgery.

There aren’t as many volunteers as in Sosúa…

…and the vet looks after each of his patients personally.


Read Here Dr. Kashef’s Personal Report

Operative in the Dominican Republic (January 22nd – February 24th 2013)

My 3rd operative for the A.A.A.S. (Asociación de los Amigos por los Animales de Sosúa Inc) and their German partner Association for the Aid and Support of the Creole dogs Inc lasted 5 weeks – and was still too short! The Dominican Republic is beautiful, its people are radiant and apparently always in a good mood, probably because of the good climate and a constant temperature of about 25°C, life seems to run easily and complacently – simply a paradise! But also a paradise has its dark sides…

This operative is divided in 2 parts. The first 10 days I stay in Sosúa and spay and neuter more than 50 dogs and cats with my colleague Dr. Frank from Massachusetts and the help of the great A.A.A.S. volunteer team supervised by director Judy. Again and again pregnant animals land on the table but we treat also injuries and, for example, wounds infested with maggots as well as poisonings.


No rare sight: The pregnant ovaries of a bitch (7 puppies!).

Dogs of Samanà

My second and actual destination is Samanà in the East of the Dominican Republic. The peninsula Samanà with the small town Santa Barbara di Samanà is the easternmost region of Hispaniola, known especially for the humpback whales that come from the far North thousands of kilometres away to mate and calve in the warm and shallow waters every year during January til March. In this time a lot of tourists visit Samanà to go “whale watching” which has become very popular; although re-occurring regularly, it remains a spectacular and unforgettable event. Three cruise ships per week from Germany, Norway and the States give the tourist industry an additional boost.


I had also time to enjoy this: A breeching whale!

Much less known is the fact that there are only two veterinaries on the whole peninsula who also treat smaller animals. My colleague Francisco is one of them.The dog population of Santa Barbara die Samanà spreads out all over town. The dogs roam alone or in pairs in their area whichthey leave only on “cruiseshipdays” . The dogs know that most tourists are kind-hearted towards animals anf often feed them, therefore they appear in packs at the landing when the ships come. They behave very well as if aware of the importance not to disturb the tourists or annoy the Dominicn hosts. Once they have found anumal-lovers who feed them, they follow them around as “part of the family”. In the evenings, when the ships leave, the dogs return to their areas in town.

As long as the local dogs defend their areas against dogs that want to enter the town from the outside, the population remains stable and people and dogs co-exist without major problems. Once the majority of the town dogs is spayed and neutered, their situation will be even better.

If this balance is destroyed for instance by mass poisonings, new fertile dogs from outside of town enter, fight with the local dogs to occupy an area and multiply. This leads to anxiety among the people, especially because of the very real danger of rabies – and, of course, to surpopulation.(During my stay 20 dog were poisoned in one single night!)


Example of treating strays in the streets.

Kim, director of the project, talking to a resident.

The local people often have a lot of information for us about the dogs in their area. While we are feeding the dogs and treat them against parasites we note the candidates to be spayed and neutered next.

The Dominican Republic has a new animal welfare law (since 2011) which punishes dog poisonings. Fortunately the law is being enforced:

In the case of the 20 poisoned dogs, mentioned above, an influential, wealthy Dominican was found guilty. He was heavily fined, had to re-imburse the dogs’ owners and wasn’t allowed to leave the country. The attitude towards animals changes in the Dominican Republic – just like in other countries – with progress and increasing wealth.

Despite the improvements of the situation lots remains to be done! Two vets on the whole of the peninsula are far too few! The surpopulation of dogs outside of Santa Barbara di Samanà is incredible though far less food is available than in town. I encounter large-scale neglect, mal-nutrition along with bad immune systems, often fatal especially for very young dogs.

The goal of the project is to raise the awareness of the local people and to establish spay and neuter as the means of controlling the dog population instead of poisonings. Healthy (and infertile) dogs have a better standing with Dominicans. We include locals as much as possible in the project. Together we feed the dogs on our daily tours and distribute ivermectim, an all-round treatment against parasites.We visit Dominican families and talk with them about the advantages of spay and neuter. Many of them, often very poor people, come afterwards with their dogs and also with strays of their neighbourhood for the operation.


Dominicans, to whom we give medication and food for their dogs, and whom we inform about spay and neuter.

Especially children love to take part. The people of Samanà have a lot of confidence in Kim’s work. Imagine a stranger in Germany entering your property asking if he may give food or medicaments to your dog or take it along to have it neutered!

My Dominican colleague Francisco, called „Franci“, was trained twice intensively by British and American vets who taught him spay and neuter techniques. Now we want to practice what he has learnt already over a longer period of time to gain routine and experience so that Dr. Francisco will be able in the future to operate all on his own and also handle emergencies during operations confidently and successfully.


My colleague „Franci“ at work …

…and here together with our Autrichian colleague Alexandra who helped us one week as well as supplying us with medication.

"Franci" assisted in the beginning but after only a few days practice he performed all operations perfectly on his own, supervised by me, and rarely needed help.

The Autrichian vet Alexandra helped us during the third and last week with surgeries and medication. After I’d left I learnt that "Franci" successfully treated a complicated injury of a dog run over by a car.


Post-operative care of a spayed bitch. Normal lighting and towels provide warmth instead of heat lamps.

We had to remove the left eye of this bitch after a car accident. She recovered well during 3 weeks of care. When spayed afterwards, we found out that she had been pregnant with 9 puppies!

The typical appearance of a stray bitch severely infested with mites…

…the same bitch after she had stayed with us for 2 weeks, receiving daily treatment.

We, the volunteering vets, bring as much material with us as possible everytime we come ( Special thanks to Steffi B., veterinary assistant at the animal clinic Norderstedt, who collected material for this project during the entire past year.); particularly medication for anaesthesia and pain management, but without the donations of all the generous sponsors such projects couldn’t be realized, especially the training of Franci would have been impossible.

Outside of Santa Barbara di Samanà there are about 30.000 – 40.000 dogs that suffer from the surpopulation and lack of medicare.


They are malnutritioned, severely infested by mites that cause mange and other parasites and in a general state of bad health.

Loosing a companion can also make survival on the street more difficult; as for this older male whose partner, a female, disappeared a few months ago.

As soon as we have achieved a certain balance within the dog population of Santa Barbara di Samanà, high volume spay and neuter field clinics outside of town have to take place to raise the life standard of these many dogs on the peninsula. Therefore I’m very happy that so many people support these projects for the Creole dogs.


The director Kim Beddall and I saying Good bye (But only for the moment!)

Despite the positive experiences Dr.Kashef made with the new Dominican animal welfare law we don’t want to raise expectations too high! For more information on the law view here.

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Dr. Francisco At Work


Dr. Francisco shows what he has learnt.

Supervised by his teacher…

…he spays a bitch.

As so often,…

…Dr. Francisco finds out…

…that the bitch is pregnant.

Every vet who spays and neuters in a developing country must be able to handle this situation. As Dr. Kashef reports there are 30.000 – 40.000 dogs in the region of Samanà that lead a life in misery. No love for animals, no matter how strong, can help here. Preventing birth has the highest priority.

Sewing her up is all that’s left to do.

Teacher and student have all reason to be proud!

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