Team Roatan-Day 6 worldvets.org

It is a lovely, sunny, island day when we arrive at the clinic. There are already several locals sitting on the steps outside the church where the clinic will be held. They are waiting with their dogs on there laps.

Sandra has warned us that petty thievery is common on the island, so every evening we have to bring all our supplies in from the breezeway area and lock them up in the room designated for surgery. So this morning we are all busy getting the check-in station, pre-op, prep and recovery areas put back together.
Rachel and Heather, both a little apprehensive about their technician skills that haven’t been used for a few years are pro’s at giving pre-med injections and placing an IV catheter in each dog. Next, the patients go to Gina and Stacie where they are prepped for surgery and given more meds. The two long surgery tables are manned by a doctor on each end. Sandra has worked hard to pull together a wonderful team of volunteers from the island to help with the project. Maxine is in charge of working with the locals as they check-in for surgeries and appointments. She speaks English with a lovely British accent, but in the next sentence chatters away in Spanish or one of the other dialects commonly heard on the island. She is helped by Jillian, an American who lives on Roatan. Together they patiently gather information from the owners about their pet. If they are there for surgery, they weigh the animal and place a paper collar with the information around the patient’s neck. If they are there to be seen by a veterinarian for a medical reason or vaccinations, they log them in and have them take a seat under one of the big tents. They do a wonderful job of managing lots of cats, dogs, adults and children all day long.

All day long, locals bring their pets in. One of Sandra’s volunteers, Donna with her husband owns Roatan Equipment Rental. They have donated and set up two large tents and lots of chairs to provide the people with shade. A local hotdog vender even shows up.

We work until the last animal is seen. A total of 47 spays and neuters are performed on the first day on both dogs and cats. Each surgical patient is administered all its vaccinations as well as treated with flea and tick prevention. They are also given a physical exam and sent home on any medication they might need. 23 additional animals are seen for “medicals”. Most patients have skin issues including sarcoptic and demodectic mange, flea allergies, and hot spots. Others are seen to be tested and to receive treatment for Ehrliciosis.

We are exhausted, sweaty and smell like something I can't even describe! We clean up our equipment, scrub our surgery instruments and pack all the supplies away for the night. All is locked up again and we head back to the casa.

With just one shower on each floor of the house, we take turns cleaning up and getting ready to meet at the house of a good friend of Sandra and Al's.

We laugh and share stories of the day while enjoying a wonderful Italian dinner prepared by our generous hosts.

Off to bed we go, resting up for another busy clinic day.

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