Canadian Animal Assistance Team: June 2011

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

BURNS LAKE ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC, Saturday, June 11, 2011

Part of today's surgery line-up
Photo by Donna Lasser

Patients and owners waiting patiently
Photo by Donna Lasser

The day started earlier than usual with the team catching the ferry across Lake Francois at 7:00 a.m. and then the twenty minute drive into the town of Burns Lake. The Lake Babine First Nations generously offered us full use of their community hall for the next four days to hold our clinic in. The space we have to work in here was probably three times the space we have just finished working in in Southbank, so we had many areas to choose to set up most efficiently in. After helping to take down tables and chairs from Bingo the night before, we started our set up and within an hour, by 9:00 a.m. we were ready to open the front doors to let our first patients in. Within no time at all we had a line-up of carriers all the way to the back of the building.

We welcomed new team member, Heidi Brown, an assistant from Sechelt to the team today. Glad for your help, Heidi. Today was also a three Vet day, instead of our usual one or two Vets, so we were able to accomplish many surgeries. The vast majority of the dogs and cats we worked with here today were owned by people on the Lk. Babine Reserve. We completed thirty-eight surgeries today, bringing our total to two hundred and nine. Great work Team! Thanks for all of your hard work.

Photo by Lorna Bertram

Sunny and her owner
Photo by Donna Lasser

Isabelle intubating a dog before surgery
Photo by Lorna Bertram

Photo by Lorna Bertram

Liz in Surgery
Photo by Lorna Bertram

Heidi, Liz and dog owner in the recovery area
Photo by Lorna Bertram

A muzzled dog waiting for his turn for a neuter
Photo by Lorna Bertram

Isabelle and Lindsay prepping a dog for surgery
Photo by Donna Lasser

Lacy & her Mom waiting for their
puppy to go to surgery

Photo by Donna Lasser

Lacy
Photo by Donna Lasser

Marcus
Photo by Donna Lasser

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Burns Lake ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC, Friday, June 10, 2011

L to R - Donna, Cori, Amanda, Aliesha, Liz, Jackie, Carol, Isabelle

Today was the last day for our Southbank clinic to be held and it was to be a shorter day than usual. We were pleased to have a few more team members arrive today, Dr. Sammi Fuller and Technologist Kristie McKee from Prince George, and Dr. Earladeen MacGregor from Vancouver. We were able to accomplish approximately thirty-one spays and neuters today as well as numerous vaccinations and dewormings.

It was possible for us to work only until 2:00 p.m. today, as there was a "Roundtable" meeting held at the Southbank Health Centre. Representatives were present from various groups such as Nancy Larsen from the Alberta Spay and Neuter Task Force, Sherle Raitt from the Coalition for Animals, Dave Walchuk from the Burns Lake RCMP detachment, Lindsey and Melanie representing the Prince Rupert SPCA, Joyce from the Prince George SPCA, Dave from Turtle Gardens, a woman representing the BC government, Annie from the Lake Babine First Nations Band, Valerie from a First Nations Band near Smithers, Cam and Jen from Terrace, Valerie, Alistair, Hayley, and Jan from the Lakes Animal Friendship group, several local Veterinarians, the entire CAAT team, and several more persons of importance in the Animal Welfare community in BC. The issues discussed were how best to solve the overpopulation of dogs and cats along the Highway 16 corridor - from Prince George to Prince Rupert. Many ideas and suggestions were discussed and plans put into place. It was a very eye-opening and interesting meeting with much discussion and possible solutions.

At 6:00 p.m. we moved next door to the elementary school gymnasium where the team were the guests of honour for a "Spaygetti and No-Balls" dinner hosted by the Southbank community to express their gratitude for all of the work we have been doing for their dogs and cats this past week. The Faith Martin family treated us to delicious spagetti, salads, garlic bread and desserts. The three member band, "Audrey's Band" played a set of ten or so songs, and then "Flaming Pie" treated us to an evening of Beatles tunes as we enjoyed our time socializing. A Loonie Auction was held with many wonderful items being auctioned. There was a television set up so those interested could keep up with the hockey score - Vancouver ended up winning 1 to 0. YAY! The school children had drawn pictures to thank CAAT for coming and they were posted all over the gymnasium walls. A few samples of their artwork are posted below for you to enjoy and appreciate. Several brought tears to our eyes.

Surgical intake
Photo by Donna Lasser

No-name puppy - oh so cute!
Photo by Warren Munroe

Liz and Donna recovering Chico
Photo by Warren Munroe

Handsome boy waiting for his neuter

Photo by Lorna Bertram

Hayley - volunteer extraordinaire
Photo by Donna Lasser

Our amazing admissions volunteer, Marissa
who came from Terrace to help
Photo by Donna Lasser

Donna, Dr. Cori Stephen, Amanda

Amanda, Aliesha, Liz, Jackie

Jackie, Carol, Isabelle

"Audrey's Band" - at the community dinner
Photo by Donna Lasser

Denieve - volunteer
Photo by Donna Lasser

Donna and Sherle Raitt

"Flaming Pie" - playing Beatles tunes at the community dinner
Photo by Donna Lasser

Our cooks for the "Spaygetti and No-balls" dinner
Photo by Donna Lasser

"Spaygetti and no-balls" community dinner.
Thank you Southbank community for entrusting us
with your beloved pets' lives!
Photo by Donna Lasser

Watching for the hockey score
Photo by Lorna Bertram

Kristie McKee, Dr. Sammi Fuller - Prince George
Photo by Donna Lasser

A sampling of the drawings done for CAAT by the school children

Our favorite one! Brought tears to my eyes.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Burns Lake ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC,Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 & 9, 2011

Two days have passed and we are still not getting the opportunity to write the blog. Our apologies! The days have been long, with steady surgeries and vaccination appointments coming in from the moment we open the clinic doors at 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. We are posting many photos from the past two days instead of writing a blog tonight! Too tired! A picture speaks a thousand words, right?

We will tell you that we are so happy and proud to announce that in the four days we have been here, we have done 103 surgeries, and probably double that number in vaccinations! Definitely the best numbers we've had since CAAT's beginnings!

We were sad to say goodbye to Cori (Dr. Stephen) and Amanda today who have worked so hard over the past three days and have fit into the team so quickly and easily! We are so happy to have three new team members join us this evening - Dr. Sammi Fuller and Kristie McKee (technologist) from Prince George, and Dr. Earladeen MacGregor from Vancouver. We look forward to getting to know our new team members and work with them over the next few days!

Enough said for tonight! The following photos will speak for themselves!