2011 spay and neuter clinic

Currently underway here in Merida is a Free Spay and Neuter Clinic.  Four days here in Merida, a day to rest, and then two days out in Progresso to cover the beach communities.  There are quite a few local and International people/groups/organizations involved.

Tom and I have made available our support as well goods and services.  Yesterday we spent the day working at a clinic in Colonia Emilianio Zapato Sur II.  We worked in the cat recovery area.  There was a Registration Desk where the needed paperwork was filled, animals and carriers were tagged, then directed to the waiting area. Animals were then transported to the Prep Area where they were weighed, cleaned, shaved, and as vets became available they were anesthetized and their needed surgical procedure performed.  After surgery they were transported to one of two rooms depending on if they were cat or dog.

What happened in recovery was; animals were handed over to a vet tech who weighed, administered antibiotic injection, assessed for breathing and reflex, and then handed over to a volunteer.  The volunteers were responsible to continue to monitor breathing and responsiveness, to keep the animal warm, and to keep it's tongue pulled out of its mouth, to administer drops of water to the mouth to prevent dehydration, and to assist the animal to come out from anesthetic.

It was a long day.  You sit on the floor and keep your charges in a state of movement; you rub their backs, you rub their heads, you move their legs, you roll them from side to side every 10-15 minutes, and you just keep this going and going till they are moving about on their own.  You track the amount of time recovery is taking and if the time exceeds an hour you alert the vet tech for further assess the animal.

Today my neck and buttocks are so sore; sitting on the floor for 6 -7 hours just is not the best thing for an overweight out of shape person with a bad back to do.  But oh my gosh how great is was to see so many animals coming in.   And to see the concern and pleasure of the owners when watching their pets.  It was really heartening - so as soon as one of my cats would start to move about I'd ask the owner to come in and help, giving them a bigger sense of involvement, and freeing me up for other newcomers.

I wish I had gotten up to take some photos, it really was a fabulous experience and I wish I could share some photos with you.

One of the other things Tom and I have done for this event was to offer transport to some of the visiting vets.   We picked up Octavio at the airport on Saturday, he had just flown in from San Miguel Allende which is in Central Mexico.  While at the UADY facility for setup on Saturday we met Ricky from Romania, and yesterday we met and transported a couple from Slovakia.  These vets have come tremendous distances to help out and to participate and network with other vets.

Today I did the shopping and tomorrow I construct a large vegetarian dairy free lasagna, and salad for 30.

Who knows what else may come....

Planned Pethood Mexico is a part of Planned Pethood Plus which is out of Denver Colorado.  How about that 30 years I lived in Colorado Springs and never heard of these folks... Anyway, check  out their website and read about their philosophy of animal management and care; interesting ideas.

Proclamation for an Animal Shelter near Progreso!

By the time we arrived, at 8:30 this morning, there was already quite a crowd;   Over the next 2 hours it grew, and diminished!

Today at the plaza municipal in Progreso, the Mayor of Progreso and the Governor of Yucatan were to have announced the donation of land AND the promise to build an Animal Shelter near Flamboyanes.

This is a landmark event, if it happened.  Unfortunately my Spanish is not top notch, and add to that listening to Spanish spoken over a loudspeaker I did not hear mention of the land or building.  I'll have to confer with friends to see if it was mentioned and if I did in fact miss it! 

While waiting (nearly 2 hours) for the Governor to arrive the crowd was entertained by traditional dancers, a pet parade, the Police Band, and people arriving with their pets.

There were tables set up where people could bring their pets and receive a free rabies vaccination.  It was a terrific attendance and many dogs and cats were vaccinated.  There were fancy breed dogs and just plain old regular dogs, there were whole families with their family pet or pets!

Pets came by all sorts of transport.  These puppies had bits of ribbon as collar and leash, and the green mesh bag held the family cat.  Don't be horrified or fearful, the bag is mesh and the young fellow was ver attentive, talking, stroking, being sure the kitty stayed calm.  These types of bags work very well because the injection can be given right through the mesh, keeping both cat and handlers safe.

And finally the Governor and dignitatries arrived, the crowd was there,  presentations and recognitions made,  

The Governor was recognized, but did not speak.

The Mayor of Progreso spoke

The Secretary of Health spoke

The Governor passed through the crowd, and when she departed in her entourage of shiny white vans the crowd quickly dispersed!

This would mark a significant event in that the State and Municipal Governments are noticing the problems of abused, abandoned, starving, and stray animals, and are making provision for their care.  Just the fact that they are now making the rabies vaccine available free of charge is a step.  The times they are a changin!

Tatie update, and more kittens!

May 8, 2010

Tatie's tests came back as kidney failure.  He has been on antibiotics and painkillers all week.  He was also supposed to be eating a very expensive 'Special' Renal kibble.  He won't touch the kibble so we are feeding him kitten kibble.

He now needs to be tested again to  see if there has been any change in the kidney function results. Although from what we've read on the internet once the problem has escalated to the point of noticing it's usually to far along to affect any demonstrative change.  So, the pain meds are keeping him comfortable. 

Two more kittens found their way in to our yard.  These two were maybe 10 weeks old;  And quite docile.  I gave one a bath and it screamed bloody murder, which upset Tatie tremendously so I didn't wash the other.  But even after that -  the bathed one still let me hold it, turn it upside down, rub his belly, scratch his chin, etc.

The kittens went to AFAD, an Animal Rescue yesterday.  Fostering kittens is just too stressful for Tatie right now.  I feel like he needs a calm environment.

Lots of events, but the heat, actually its the humidity, is just too much.  We have been using the a/c every night.  We try just the fans, but even in the hammocks you end up in a puddle of sweat.  Life is too short, so we turn on the a/c.  Usually running about 5 hours will keep us comfy the whole night, well into morning actually.

I have recovered from my gastrointestinal thing.  At least I feel good, who knows what's really going on in there!

So all is well in the hood.  A few construction projects taking form in my mind.  Tom spread a new layer of Impermabilizante (sealer) over the roof.   Garden is growing like gangbusters.  What the heck does that mean anyway?   GangBusters!

Exit Stage Left

Friday, April 28, 2010

Such an odd expression that has come to mean "Out of here...".

And they are!

Since so many keep inquiring -----

This past Saturday I took the kittens to a neighborhood vet who said he could place them.  I hate this, this not knowing... I feel no better than those who abandoned them to the street...  If I had been able to place them where I knew they'd be cared for I'd feel so much better, but I couldn't keep them.  But three weeks and no prospects in sight.  I was/did get too attached to one in particular, and was fast becoming enamored by a second...

Our youngest cat Tate, at 14 years old was so incredibly unhappy and 3 kittens have him so stressed that we had to call the vet today and we suspect his bladder is having difficulty but won't know for sure till some tests can be run.  He was in so much pain he had to have a painkiller shot.

Oh my gosh, I am so past devastated at the moment...Please let them go someplace safe, nurturing, and where they will be loved.

I need blinders, or a cold cold heart!

So we were having friends over for some dinner and cards last night, which was great fun by the way, and I needed a few very specific items.  So I get in the car to head to the store, and what do my wandering eyes behold but a pair of tiny little kittens hovering in a corner on a street of facades and no route in to or out of a yard.  Someone had dumped 2 undernourished and dehydrated 5 week old kittens.

So here are the two I picked up yesterday

So now I am in desperate need to find homes for three 5-6 week old kittens; the one we've had here for 2 weeks (read about him here) who is totally family friendly, loves our dog, plays with well actually terrorizes our two older cats, and uses the litter box.

And here are some pics of the three of them playing

The kittens have been bathed, and are eating well. They use the litter box.  I think they are still a bit young for much else as far as worming or flea repellent treatments.

I am going to have to start wearing blinders whenever I go out, because in some cases I just can't walk on by.

Please if you know of anyone looking for a kitten.