66 animals sterilized on this date!

Our seventh sterilization clinic was held on December 2, 2007.  Again, many thanks to Jorge Acosta, Director of the bi-lingual school "Paulletino," for allowing us to use the school for the clinic. 

On this day, we sterilized 19 cats and 47 dogs.  Of that number, four dogs were pregnant (and were aborted), two dogs were lactating (nursing), one cat was lactating, and one venereal tumor was removed.

Our veterinarians were Dr. Andres Tello of Costa Rica, John Booth and Hanna MacNaughton (two volunteer veterinarians from Canada), and Dr. Laura Kieswetter of Volcan. Laura is mainly a large-animal vet but she has had one day of training for dogs and cats by Dr. Escrucerias of the McKee Foundation. She feels she needs more training and operated on just two animals. But we appreciate that she was our designated post-surgery person to call if any unexpected problems occurred in the first few days after the surgeries.

MANY thanks to our wonderful volunteers and contributors:

Ray Valdes and his daughter Vivian, who served as registrars and did a wonderful job!
Dr. Chely (from Boquete) who administered the anesthesia;
Harry Harrison, who helped weigh and tag the animals;
TJ Stephens who did shaving and pre-op cleaning of the animals;
Wally Ewen, who also helped with the shaving an pre-op cleaning;
Roger Imerman (from Boquete), who also helped with the shaving and pre-op cleaning;
Ruby McKenzie and Jakki Champ (from Boquete) who helped with anything and everything. (Ruby heads the sterilization clinics in Boquete, and she is a real pro; Jakki is Ruby's daughter.)
Yina Ortiz, who gave the pre-op injections of antibiotics and pain prevention;
Francia Pinedo, who assisted Dr. Tello;
Lynn Longbons, who is a surgical nurse and helped wherever she was needed;
Jose Espinosa, who helped wherever he was needed, and helped give IV injections when an animal needed a second dose.
Judy Odom (from Boquete) and Fariza Castillo, who did the post-op cleaning and care of the animals and gave the post-op injections of anti-parasite and vitamin B-12;
Yimel Caballero and Eymi Pitti Arcia, high school students, who cleaned and sterilized the instruments;
Nina Stephens did a super job in after care, checking the temperature and vital signs of the animals as they recovered from anesthesia. (She also helped us transport equipment and supplies to the clinic on Saturday before the Sunday clinic.)
Luis and Gabriel, friends of Fariza Castillo, who served as "taxi" service to carry the anesthesized animals from one station to another.

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Other contributions:
*Sharon Borgman provided food and lodging for the two Canadian vets.
*Nina Stephens donated 20 sandwiches PLUS helped me with the massive amounts of laundry that's always needed after a clinic - the blankets and towels that are used on the floor in the recovery area.
*Gail Hockberger donated 7 dozen cookies, a vegetable plate and funds (which will be listed below).
*Marianne Brown contributed a crockpot of Sloppy Joes, rolls, fruit, and their own home-grown coffee.
*Jennifer Taylor contributed 20 sandwiches.
*Ken and Anne Reid contributed 20 sandwiches.
*Lydia and David Dell donated 14 one-liter bottles of soft drinks.
*Lynn Longbons prepared and donated 2008 calendars as a fund raiser.

Thanks also to those who stayed to help us pack up the equipment and supplies, and then sweep and mop the floors and replace the school desks. 

Please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone - and if I have, please call me so that I can correct this web page!

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Income and financial donations:

$   418.00	contributions by owners for surgeries (included a $20 donation by Lynn Longbons) (this figure also included $9.00 in calendar sales)
200.00	cash donation by "anonymous"
50.00	cash donation by Gail Hockberger
20.00	cash donation by Richard Mower
50.00	cash donation by Bob and Lynn Wald (they also adopted a dog at this clinic.)
40.00	cash donation by "anonymous"
50.00	cash donation by "anonymous"
$  828.00	total income

         Costs for this clinic were approximately $1,130, leaving a deficit of $302. Thanks to everyone who contributes! Our deficits are getting smaller each time.

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Following are a few pictures taken during the clinic:

Ray Valdes, registrar. (sorry, I didn't get a picture of his beautiful daughter Vivian)

Mama and baby were both sterilized today.

Surgeries are much easier on the younger ones.

She loves her doggie!

Wally Ewen

Dr. Chely from Boquete

Francia Pinedo assists Dr. Tello

A horrible neck wound from being tied by a wire or something similar.

Fraiza Castillo

John Booth from Canada

Hanna from Canada

Judy Odom in post-op.

Nina Stephens in the recovery area.

Animals in recovery.

Aren't they sweet!

Far left:  Lynn Longbons and Bob Wald. Near left, Bob Wald with "Bosco," the dog he and his wife adopted at the clinic.

Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers and everyone who has participated in the sterilization process for these dogs and cats. We simply could not provide this vital service without you!  We love you all - and so do these fortunate animals! Together we are making a difference!

Here in Volcan, our group has been responsible for sterilizing 339 animals to date. Added to the 129 animals that Spay/Panama sterilized in in Volcan in February of 2005, we have sterilized 468 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.

Dorothy Atwater - 771-5883 or 6780-2565 or viajar2566@yahoo.com

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