32nd Sterilization Day

August 22, 2010 - 25 animals were sterilized today
by Dr. Andrés Tello, our wonderful veterinarian.

Although our clinics are primarily for sterilization (for the animals of low-income Panamanians), we sometimes allow an already-sterilized dog or cat to come for diagnosis or treatment. In addition to sterilizations today, Dr. Tello x-rayed a dog's leg; surgically removed two broken teeth from another dog; and removed a tumor from my latest adopted street dog.

Dr. Tello sterilized 18 dogs and 7 cats. Thirteen of the dogs were female and 5 were male. Six of the cats were female and 1 was male. Gracias a Dios, we had another beautiful day for the clinic; VERY HEAVY rain began just as I got home afterward.

We now offer teeth cleaning at our clinics, but only if the animal has already been sterilized or will be sterilized that day prior to the cleaning. The charge for cleaning is $25.00, which includes the anesthesia and injections of antibiotics, for pain, anti-parasite, vitamin B-12, and treatment for fleas and ticks when necessary. Rosemary Rios is our dental technician, trained by Dr. Tello, and she does a wonderful job. (I took four of my 14 dogs for teeth cleaning today; 10 more to go!) By appointment only, please.

We are so very fortunate to have a dedicated veterinarian like Dr. Tello. After we finished the clinic, I noticed his pickup wasn't outside. When I asked him about it, he said it was in the shop - and he had taken the bus from his home in Costa Rica. He brought with him his medical bag and the heavy portable X-ray machine, so a bus trip was not easy.

GREAT NEWS! I'm excited to report that I now have a PayPal donate button on my web site for your U.S. tax-deductible donations! It isn't necessary to have a PayPal account to donate; you can also use any major credit card. You will receive a receipt for a tax deduction.

You may recall that Spay Panama, a Panama non-profit organization, appointed me in August of 2006 as their western chapter - Spay Panama-Chiriqui. Now Spay Panama is affiliated with Spay Panama's Animals Yes, USA, which is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization. Under the umbrella of Spay Panama and the U.S. organization, we here in Chiriqui are included. (At their web site, http://www.spaypanamasanimals.com/index.html , Spay Panama-Chiriqui is mentioned near the bottom, with a PayPal donate button for Chiriqui there as well.)

In the past it was difficult to donate to Spay Panama-Chiriqui other than handing me cash or depositing money into my Panama Bank account. I'm happy to report we've eliminated that hurdle. Donations of any amount are very much appreciated. Our excellent veterinarian is paid a small amount for his expertise and skill, and I provide the building and all the equipment, medications, and supplies. Neither I nor any of the volunteers receives any payment or "perks." Every penny goes for the animals. A donation of $20 pays for the sterilization of one dog; $10 pays for the sterilization of one cat.

If you prefer that your donation is anonymous (when reported on my web page), there will be a place during the donation process for you to note the instruction.

When you make a donation, I'd appreciate an email informing me you have done so. Thank you! We want to make sure everything is "working right" and the funds intended for Chiriqui are allocated properly.

Donors and amounts are reported on my web page for each clinic. Income and expenses are listed on each clinic web page. Thank you for your help! Your contribution helps make Spay/Panama-Chiriqui services possible.

Anyone who is local to Volcan, PLEASE talk with your friends and neighbors, explain the importance of sterilization and tell them about our clinics. My goal is to sterilize at least 30 animals during each clinic. Our next clinic will be on September 19, 2010.

Please remember that our October clinic will be the last one for 2010. There are too many holidays in November and December. After the October clinic, we will resume the clinics in January of 2011.

MANY thanks to our wonderful volunteers and contributors. Without their help and dedication, this important work simply could not be done.

Keila DeGracia and Azel Ames (both new volunteers) handled registration.
Rosemary Rios did a great job cleaning animal's teeth.
Argelis Gomez and Mary Binder administered the anesthesia and the pre-op injections of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory.
Jordan Espinosa performed pre-op shaving and prepping.
Jose Espinosa, my permanent employee, helps weigh and tag the animals, provides transportation for animals in my car when necessary, and helps with various duties. Jose and I go to the clinic site on Mondays following the Sunday clinics to clean and organize for the next one.
Wally Ewen performed post-op care: cleaned the surgical site, tattooed the ears of female dogs to indicate they have been sterilized, gave injections of vitamin B-12 and antiparasite, and administered flea and tick treatment when necessary.
Francia Pinedo assisted Dr. Tello and helped with translations. Francia is a good friend and I know her to be an excellent - and HONEST - real estate agent in Volcan. Her web page is http://www.volcan.paradisepanama.net
Karolyn Rovira and Hilary Delgado cleaned and sterilized the surgical instruments and monitored the animals while they recovered from the anesthesia.

Thanks to Marianne Brown for donating a delicious pot of chili, Louise Mahoney for soft drinks, Amanda Rankin for a fruit plate, and Kate Stamm for "killer" brownies.

Also, thanks to Bryce Kimberling for providing "taxi service" to bring a dog from Guadalupe and take her home after surgery.

Thanks to Osvaldo Ivan Flores for translating this web page into Spanish. He is the editor of a local newspaper, Chiriqui Libre.

Please forgive me if I have neglected to mention any volunteers or contributors!

Income and expenses:

$ 345.00	contributions by owners and/or guardians
10.00	cash donation by Wendy Baldwin
$ 355.00	TOTAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS

At this August 22nd, 2010 clinic, we sterilized 18 dogs and 7 cats. With my average cost of $20 per dog and $10 per cat, expenses were $430 plus $100 for building rent, for a total of $530. With contributions of $355.00, there was a deficit of $175.00. Therefore, since October of 2006 to date, my accumulated deficit is $3,674.75. (The clinics began in March of 2006 but it didn't occur to me to keep financial records until October of 2006.)

Please donate! I very much appreciate your contributions, which are welcome and needed!

Lots of great pictures taken during the August 22, 2010 clinic.

Keila DeGracia	Azel Ames	People waiting.
Women with their dogs. .	Karolyn Rovira and puppy.	Rosemary Rios & two kitties she adopted today.
Woman with her puppy.	Woman and her dog after surgery.	Wally Ewen & Hilary Delgado.
Mary Binder	My recently adopted "Collie"	Dr. Tello
Rosemary cleans the teeth of my dog "Prissy Lou"	Rosemary cleaning the teeth of another dog.	Kate Stamm sits with 3 dogs while they recover from anesthesia.
Jordan Espinosa preps a doggie.	Man with his little dog.	Francia Pinedo assisting Dr. Tello.
Mary Binder and Argelis Gomez.	Rosemary Rios with a kitty.	Karolyn Rovira & Hilary Delgado.
Jordan Espinosa and Jose Espinosa, Jordan's dad.	Me (Dorothy) with two dedicated volunteers, Hilary Delgago & Karolyn Rovira.	End of the day...Dr. Tello, Argelis Gomez, Jordan Espinosa.

Here in Volcan, our small group has been responsible for sterilizing 1,045 animals to date. Added to the 129 animals that Spay/Panama (from Panama City) sterilized in in Volcan in February of 2005, we have sterilized 1,174 dogs and cats! There are many more to go, but we are making progress! Our goal is to sterilize at least 75% of the dogs and cats in the Volcan area, and thus almost completely solve the problem of homeless dogs and cats, and the terrible venereal disease suffered by so many dogs.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our clinics today, and to those who had their pets sterilized. Always remember that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Dorothy Atwater - 771-5883, 6780-2565 or viajar2566@yahoo.com
skype: muffiemae

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