Canadian Animal Assistance Team

Baker Lake- Day 9

2009-10-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

The last clinic day in Baker Lake began with a few surgeries. While Janet and Julie diligently worked on sterilizing the last few animals, the rest of the team began the arduous task of clean up. Since a classroom was used as a clinic site, it was imperative that every last trace of dog and cat smell was vanquished from the air! Tuesday was the slowest clinic day, as it appeared that everyone

Baker Lake- Day 8

2009-10-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning, the team was greeted once more by a barrage of dogs and cats awaiting surgeries. Six of the dogs belonged to Nicki, a 15 year old Inuk teenager who lives and breathes dog sledding. Her dogs are much-loved working animals and, though she is a young woman of few words, Nicki soaks up dog care information like a sponge. One of her husky crosses has four

Baker Lake, Nunavut: Day 7

2009-09-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

After a late night at Sue's party, some team members slept in on Sunday while some battled through the exhaustion and headed to the clinic for 9am. It is worth noting that, though all team members have been traveling since Sunday the 6th or Monday the 7th, and the first day of work was Tuesday the 8th, there has been no day off thus far. Many Baker Lake residents work during the week and are more

Baker Lake Nunavut- Days 5 and 6

2009-09-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Days 5 and 6 were the busiest days for the veterinary team in Baker Lake. Day 5 (Friday, September 11th) saw 16 animals come through the clinic for spay and neuter surgeries, while the tally for day 6 (Saturday, September 12th) was 15 surgeries. Add a few dozen more vaccine, deworming, and physical exams to each day, and the team was swamped!Surprisingly, there are many, many cats and kittens in

Baker Lake, Nunavut: Days 3 and 4

2009-09-11T20:12:00.001-07:00

The first full day of work in the community was Wednesday, September 9th. The team was ready to go at the clinic for 10am and already had several surgery and vaccine patients booked. Though Baker Lake is an Arctic community, the majority of dogs here are not sled dogs- most are pet dogs that live either inside or outside the house. Team Baker Lake members noticed that, in contrast to many other

Baker Lake, Nunavut: Day 2

2009-09-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

*Note: The Canadian Animal Assistance Team would like to thank Calm Air for donating two FREE flights to CAAT Baker Lake team members. Calm Air, we would be unable to serve remote Northern communities without you- THANK YOU for your commitment to helping us continue to provide veterinary care in the great white North!After a good night's rest in their cushy digs, team Baker Lake was ready for

Baker Lake, Nunavut, 2009

2009-09-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

DAY 1*Note: Our sincere apologies- due to a glitch in the computer system, we are unable to upload photos at this time. Please bear with us, we are hoping to have some up and ready soon! On Monday, September 7th, a team of nine veterinary professionals from all over Canada embarked on an expedition to the great white north. Specifically, the team headed to Baker Lake, the only inland community

Interview with Madi Collins

2009-05-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

It was in late 2007 that the Canadian Animal Assistance Team first heard from Madi Collins, founder of the P.A.W. Cat Sanctuary in Caye Caulker, Belize, in the form of a press release.“It was 1:30 in the morning. I was searching for funding, number one. I started writing and sending press releases all over to see who would respond,” says Collins. It was her plea for help for the community's

Tonight!

2009-04-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

Carmen Wagner and Jennifer Picard exhibit photographs from CAAT's time in Caye Caulker, Belize.Come see the beautiful images they captured during CAAT's project, documenting the country, its people and its animals.10% of the proceeds from photographs sold will be donated to Charlie's Fund.Opening Party is tonight!Wednesday, April 1, 20097pm-1opmHigher Grounds Coffee House (2300 West Broadway @

Charlie's Fund

2009-03-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Dr. Anna with Charlie en route to Canada (Photo Credit: Kim Buker)Charlie needs your help.Surrendered by her neglectful owner in Belize, Charlie joined Dr. Anna Wallace on her flight home one week ago today.Here in Vancouver, Charlie's emaciated and disease-riddled body can be properly treated, and she can live out her days in a loving home.Charlie's story was featured on CBC News last Monday

CAYE CAULKER, Day 15 (The Final Day)

2009-03-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday was the last day on the island for the majority of the team. Gina, Sherisse and Chris were the first to depart, leaving in the early hours, with a second group heading out later in the morning.There was just enough time to reminisce about the overall experience in Caye Caulker."It’s hard to describe in a few words...I think one of the better parts – I think we all probably feel the same

CAYE CAULKER, Day 14

2009-03-17T11:10:00.001-07:00

Today was our last clinical day on Caye Caulker and the team worked shortened hours from 9am until 12 noon.Barb holds one of Miss Lola's eight puppiesMiss LolaThe puppies play at Miss Lola'sBarb, Jackie and Caitlin were able to wrangle a vicious dog, the mother of yesterday's eight puppies, at Miss Lola's place near the south end of the island. "We walked around the corner and she tried to eat me

CAYE CAULKER, Day 13

2009-03-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

A warm island breeze woke us gently this morning. Donna was in the kitchen fixing oatmeal for breakfast, and many of us strolled down the street to Deals on Wheels for fresh fruit juices.Oreo during his dental surgeryDr. Anna began the day with a difficult dental extraction on an owned cat named Oreo. “I got to take nine rotten teeth out of him without a drill, which is a bit of a challenge. We

CAYE CAULKER, Day 12

2009-03-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

Upon waking, the team knew another very hot day was upon them. Even the ocean breeze could do little to combat the island’s intense heat.Last night’s trapping was a disappointment, producing very few animals – a large percentage of the traps were tampered with, presumably by locals who are opposed to CAAT’s work on the island, and the remaining traps ensnared animals we’d captured previously.

CAYE CAULKER, Day 11

2009-03-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today was the team’s second consecutive day off and Isabelle’s birthday. Donna fixed a quick breakfast of eggs with vegetables and much of the team headed out early to catch a water taxi to Belize City, with plans to visit a baboon sanctuary and ancient Mayan ruins.Jen P. awoke with a severe case of heat stroke after her day spent on Ambergris Caye, and the ladies in the cabana suffered from lack

CAYE CAULKER, Day 10

2009-03-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Sticky in the humidity and ravaged by an assortment of biting insects, our hard-working team was in much need of a break.It was our second day off since arriving on the island. We enjoyed breakfast at the Happy Lobster before splitting up on several adventures.Much of the group partook in a manatee boat tour at Swallow Caye, led by Chocolate's Manatee Tours, lasting more than five hours. It was a

CAYE CAULKER, Day 9

2009-03-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Charlie was feeling a bit stronger todayDr. Sherisse cleaning a cat's belly after her spayWheatie II during his enucleationToday was Baron Bliss Day, a bank holiday honouring a British-born traveller who willed $2,000,000 USD to a trust fund in 1926 for the benefit of the citizens of Belize. Many of the locals were out of town celebrating. However, it did not prevent many animal owners from

CAYE CAULKER, Day 8

2009-03-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

The morning began with a light rainfall and another mouth-watering breakfast prepared by Isabelle. Afterwards, the team congregated on the waterfront to discuss the day's plan.Laurie and Cathy interview DonnaLaurie and Cathy arrived early with their camera to interview team members and observe surgeries and vaccinations. It was an incredibly humid day, with quite a few frustrating circumstances,

CAYE CAULKER, Day 7

2009-03-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the team’s first full day off since arriving in Belize. It’s a long weekend, and much of the island will head to the mainland for canoe races and Baron Bliss Day celebrations, so it seemed like a good day to close up shop and visit San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, also known as La Isla Bonita (and rumoured to be the subject of Madonna's song of that name), a more commercialized island just

CAYE CAULKER, Day 6

2009-03-08T11:56:00.001-07:00

This morning there was a children’s kite-flying contest in a nearby soccer field, and it was warmer than ever. The day began with a meeting, where it was decided that the team begin doing house calls. Many of the islanders are at work during the day and are unable to deliver their animals to the clinic.“We’re going to start going door-to-door. Hopefully through going door-to-door, we can recruit

CAYE CAULKER, Day 5

2009-03-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

DeAnnaThis morning, Isabelle treated us to a breakfast of eggs, served in tortillas made by Idalmi, Madi’s sister. Idalmi lives across the back lane, and has prepared delicious meals for the entire group each night. “We have a wonderful team, probably one of the best teams we’ve ever taken anywhere,” said Donna. “Everyone’s got a wonderful work ethic and a really good heart for the animals. I’m

CAYE CAULKER, Day 4

2009-03-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

Donna Lasser, founder of CAATDr. Anna and a patientThis morning the team awoke to sunshine and warmth, rising early to enjoy a breakfast of juicy watermelon, warm oatmeal and much-needed coffee.Donna Lasser, founder of CAAT and the team’s leader, had a positive outlook for the day. “We’ve got a really great team. We’re all working swell together. Yesterday we managed to spay and neuter twelve

CAYE CAULKER, Day 3

2009-03-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

Our banner on Madi's front gateBarb putting up posters all over the island (Photo Credit: Caitlin MacLagan)The team hit the ground running with a 7am start and a delicious breakfast of fresh pineapple and coffee. The first full day spent in Belize began with a team meeting, where Caitlin and Barb shared their experiences so far, touching on issues that impact the island, such as animal cruelty,

CAAT TEAM IN CAYE CAULKER, BELIZE Days 1 & 2

2009-03-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Isabelle napping at the airport in HoustonDr. Anna at the airportKim reading at the airportOver the next two weeks, CAAT will be working with P.A.W. Cat Sanctuary & Humane Society to help spay/neuter and vaccinate a great number of feral cats and dogs on the island of Caye Caulker, 35km northeast of Belize (once known as British Honduras).Last Wednesday, veterinary assistants Barb Ashmead and

CAAT Fundraiser - Wednesday, February 18

2009-02-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

A night to raise money for the Canadian Animal Assistance Team's efforts to ensure domestic animals are included in community disaster response/preparedness plans, provide veterinary services to domestic animals following natural disasters, and to provide spay and neuter clinics for domestic animals in rural/underserved areas.Wednesday, February 18Relish, 888 Nelson St. (between Hornby & Howe),