NOVEMBER 27, 2011
How to control the number of abandoned animals: a dilemma in Panama
Most of the population understand the importance of sterilizations. We do a lot of education, but....
Only those that have a car or pay to bring their pets can come to our spay/neuter center
We mobilize to remote locations so that people do not have to pay to transport their pets to our spay/neuter center. And we have Ricardito Moreno, who lives in la Cantera and asks us: I only have 25 cents, can you operate my dog?
Just like Ricardito, the majority of the people that come to our makeshift clinics with their pets, do not have the funds to pay the minimum. No animal is rejected if the guardian can not make a contributon.
And we have people that bring their dogs and only want the old female dog or the sick pet to be fixed because they sell the puppies for $5.
Have we got the moral right to insist that they spay/neuter all their pets if we can not offer them an alternative to make a living?
The powerlessness we feel with the local authorities that do not want to see the problem of the overpopulation of dogs and cats and the need of the low-income guardians, yet spend millions in consulting services and publicity for political gain
But we have faith and hope for a better future for Panama. Dr. Alexia from the Health Center of Alcalde Diaz donated gauze, gloves and part of the syringes needed. Her employees worked non-stop and they got two pick-ups to transport the equipment and sugical supplies.
The principal of Nicolle Garay School, Professor Antonio, contracted a bus to pick up the staff at Spay/Panama and bring us back
Professor Antonio offered us lunch prepared by the teachers
Six teachers served as volunteers
Each animal receives the best care and if there is a special case, all the staff pitch in to help
Spay team: Dr. Augusto, Dr. Ruben, Dr. Francisco, Dr. Gloria. Vet students: Ernesto & Yelitsa from Panama; Christine & Adrian from the USA. Volunteers: Rebeca, Matias, Marlen, David, Peggy, Alberto & Dioselina
Results
88 dogs and 13 cats sterilized, dewormed, ears cleaned, sprayed against fleas and ticks, injected with vitamins and treated for other conditions; all the dogs were vaccinated against rabies.
The whole family sterilized (mama dog and 4 female puppies)
To breakeven, Spay/Panama must collect $25 per dog and $12 per cat. Total collected at this blitz: $230 or the equivalent of $2.28 per animal.
And Ricardito Moreno went running to get his friend's female dog to be spayed at no cost.
Want to help us continue to reach the less fortunate animals and the Ricarditos out there? Click Here