Every
animal counts, but this was the fewest
number
of animals we sterilized
at a single clinic in a LONG time. It was a disappointing day in that
regard.
We
had six last-minute cancelations
and 15 no-shows. Sometimes there are valid reasons
for last-minute cancelations, but when people who have confirmed their appointments
do not show
up without bothering to notify us, it is rude and demonstrates disrespect
for
the doctor and our volunteers. Those inconsiderate people can bring their animals to
subsequent clinics--but they will not be given appointments. They will be given
a letter - A, B, C, etc., instead of a number and they will have to wait until
we have time available for them.
We
do keep a list of people who fail to honor their confirmed appointments.
September
18, 2016
23
animals were spayed/neutered by Dr. Andres Tello,
our wonderful veterinarian.
Plus, Dr. Tello examined three animals,
removed a growth from a dog, and also
removed a venereal tumor
from a male dog when he neutered the dog.
At
this September 18, 2016 clinic Dr.
Tello sterilized 16 dogs and 7 cats. Of the dogs, 13 were female and 3 were
male. Of the cats, 5 were female and 2 were male. (He also neutered a male
rabbit.)
Early
in the day,
people (who did not have an appointment) came
rushing to the clinic with their puppy, begging for Dr. Tello to examine
and treat her. (They had already taken the puppy to a local veterinarian
that many people know as "Dr. Death." The puppy was not getting better. No surprise there.)
The clinics are for sterilization. The policy is not to treat for other
conditions unless the animal has already been sterilized--or will be that
day. We do not provide a "general clinic." But
with the people's promise to bring the puppy for spaying at our October
clinic, Dr. Tello did go ahead and diagnose and treat her (which was
contrary to the "diagnosis" of "Dr. Death.")
We
had another sad event. Marcos Vargas, who had an appointment to spay his
dog, saw some people drive by the clinic and THROW a dog out of their car!
Marcos put the dog in his vehicle and alerted us. Dr. Tello diagnosed that
the dog was very sick
with distemper and was near death. Dr. Tello lovingly and gently
euthanized the dog to end her suffering. Marcos then agreed to take the
body and bury it.
Many
blessings and thanks to Marcos. And to the people who did such a cruel
thing? I hope they are reincarnated as a dog with the same sickness--and
owners who treat them just as they treated this poor dog. Karma! That
would be justice well served.
I
want to extend love and special thanks to those in the Volcan area who DO
rescue and foster dogs in need and who do whatever they can to help to
prevent suffering. Although these people (expats and Panamanians alike)
are too few, they are still too numerous to mention by name in this web
page.
But
still, in the Volcan area we still desperately need more people to get involved with:
--fostering animals in need
--helping to find homes for animals in need
--filing denuncias against people who abuse animals
Whether
people believe in heaven, the afterlife, karma or whatever, the people
who help stop the suffering of animals right here in THIS life receive joy
in their hearts for the help they offer to those who cannot speak for
themselves.
Also
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to each of our dedicated volunteers.
Without them and our wonderful Dr. Andres Tello, these clinics would not
be possible. When I remember the scores of starving, mange-ridden and
dying dogs roaming the streets in Volcan before we began the clinics in
March of 2006, the exponential increase that would have happened is too depressing to
consider.
My
heartfelt thanks also to those who contribute financially to help support
the clinics.
Our
next clinic will be on October 23, 2016. Please call for an appointment
right away because the clinics fill up rapidly. And remember, our November
clinic on the 20th will be the final one for 2016.
You
may click the PayPal "Donate" button below to help the animals.
It is to my personal PayPal account at muffiemae@gmail.com
and your contribution will not
be US tax deductible. Please specify your payment is for "friends or family"
so that PayPal will not charge a fee and every penny will go
for the animals. If you don't have a PayPal
account, you can use a credit card.
Except for our
wonderful
veterinarian, neither I nor anyone else
connected with the clinics receives any pay. I rent
the building where we hold the clinics, and I buy all the anesthesia,
medications, instruments, supplies, and equipment--and provide
transportation for those who need it. I have no offices, no
salaries, no paid advertising. Every penny goes for the animals.
This
is a project from my heart, and I pay the deficits from my own
pocket.
Thank you in
advance for
future financial help, and thanks to everyone who has donated in the
past.
Volunteers:
Francia Pinedo handled registration. Francia did a great job! Don Binder weighed animals and gave the anesthesia
injections. He, Amanda Dettloff, and Elcy Morales gave the pre-op
injections of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. They also put mineral
oil in the eyes of the animals so they would not dry out, and performed
whatever other duties were needed. John Gould helped
carry animals to and from surgery and did whatever else was necessary. Jose
Espinosa, my permanent employee, also drives my car to provide transportation for animals when
necessary. Then Jose and I go to the clinic building the following week to clean,
bring home blankets to wash, and organize for the next one. Stephanie Rodriguez assisted Dr. Tello. She gave post-op injections of B-12 and antiparasite.
They dressed the incisions, applied flea
and tick treatment, tattooed the ears of female dogs, and generally checked the well being of the
animals. Alex Rios cleaned and sterilized the instruments.
As
always, we had a great
team of volunteers and everything ran very smoothly!
We had a lot of
delicious food for the doctor and the volunteers! Thanks to everyone
who contributed: The main dish from Amanda Dettloff, Don Binder provided drinks, Amanda Rankin brought fruit, and
Jeannie Friedman provided dessert.
Please
forgive me if I forgot to thank anyone who donated or contributed.
Income and expenses:
$
475.00*
contributions by guardians/owners
25.00
cash
donation by Al Jan
40.00
cash
donation by
Judy Odom (Boquete)
15.00
cash
donation by
Lotti Gambetta
(El Frances Arriba)
100.00
cash
donation by
Kit Cooper
2.00
cash
donation by Lil Maria Herrera
$
657.00
Total
Cash Contributions
*Note:
The $475 contributions by guardians/owners were for spaying and neutering
only. Payments for other procedures were paid to Dr. Tello
separately. Neither those payments nor the charges for other services are
included in the income and expenses.
At
this September 18, 2016 clinic Dr. Tello sterilized 16 dogs and 7 cats. With my
average costs of $25 per dog and $15 per cat, expenses were $505 plus $100
for building rent for a total of $605. Income this month was $657 leaving
an excess of $52. Therefore, my current out-of-pocket expenses are
$1,058.29.
My
heartfelt thanks for the generous donations of those who have contributed
for this clinic, who have contributed in the past, and who will contribute in the future! We need and appreciate your help! Love and thanks to everyone!
Be
sure to see all the photos taken during the clinic!
See my Flickr web album HERE
Click
on the first picture to see the captions and advance through all
the pictures.
Here in
Volcan, our small group has been
responsible for sterilizing 3,628 dogs and cats to date. (And this number does
not include the extraordinary surgeries that Dr. Tello has performed at
our clinics...removal of tumors, amputations, etc., nor the clinic we
performed in Davila in which 35 dogs were sterilized.)
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--but thankfully, we see a
lot fewer venereal tumors than we did in the past!.
Remember:
In 7 years a female cat and her off springs can be the source of 420,000
kittens. In 6 years a female dog and her off springs can be the
source of 67,000 puppies. Unless your dog/cat is totally
confined and unable to continue the population increase (AND the spread of
venereal disease), please do the humane thing of having them sterilized!
For
the health and safety of your dog/cat, however, have the sterilization
performed by a competent vet who is experienced in early sterilization
(eight weeks of age and up) and small-incision surgeries, and one
who closes with stainless steel sutures....like Dr. Tello, who we are so
fortunate to have operate at our clinics. (I do not trust care of my dogs
or injured dogs that I find in the street to ANYONE except Dr. Tello.)
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!
Francia Pinedo handled registration. Francia did a great job!