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.

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!

Carol recovering a kitty
Photo by Warren Munroe

Waiting for surgery
Photo by Warren Munroe

Endless paperwork
Photo by Warren Munroe

Kitty waking up after surgery
Photo by Warren Munroe

Dr. Liz, Jackie and Aliesha in surgery
Photo by Warren Munroe

Sedated dog
Photo by Warren Munroe

Photo by Warren Munroe

Jackie and handsome Shepherd
Photo by Donna Lasser

Patiently waiting
Photo by Warren Munroe

Photo by Warren Munroe

Pup in surgery
Photo by Warren Munroe

Dr. Cori Stephen and Amanda in surgery
Photo by Donna Lasser

Waiting!
Photo by Donna Lasser

Alistair, Denieve & Hayley transporting surgery patients to our clinic 
Photo by Donna Lasser

Burns Lake ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC, Tuesday, June 7, 2011

VETERINARY CARE CERTAINLY NOT HEADING "SOUTH" FOR THE SOUTHBANK CAAT  PROJECT.  

Rise and rain was the way the morning began for the CAAT group in Southbank, BC.  Waking to the rain though did not dampen spirits as the team prepared for day 2 of the Animal Wellness Clinic.  With animals already waiting at the hall for surgery the project was up and running in no time.  By the end of the day the team had performed 33 sterilization surgeries, 43 vaccinations, and one oral examination.  There were three surgical stations running at todays clinic; each one consisted of a veterinarian and an animal health technologist plus an assistant.  Surgical patients were admitted to the clinic by our admissions volunteer, Marissa; after the paper work was complete the animals were sent to the examination and induction station and prepped for surgery after which they were transported to one of the three surgical stations.  Our surgical patients recovered in the care of Lorna, Carol, and Brenda.  Our day was busy, fun, and successful.  It ended with the CAAT team enjoying a pizza dinner hosted by Keefe's Landing Cafe near the south shore of Francois Lake.  The rain continued moving east and tonight we were graced with a beautiful sunfilled sky.  All of the team is heading to bed early tonight as tomorrow promises to be busier as the news travels of the project here in Southbank; and there is also a rumour that a hockey game starts at 5pm tomorrow night that we all might like to watch.

Isabelle and Jackie prepping a dog for surgery

Donna and Aliesha weighing a kitty

Jackie inserting an IV catheter while Liza restrains

Jackie and Sasha, a spay patient

Owner with her dog, Cougar

Burns Lake ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC, Monday, June 6, 2011

Dog spay, Zoe, and her family
Photo by Warren Munroe

Liza and Aliesha examining a cat
Photo by Warren Munroe

Part of the Burns Lake Team, left to right, Jackie Emard, Carol Coffey, Donna Lasser, Isabelle L'Hebreux, Liza Lackner, Liz Bartlett, Aliesha Timms
Photo by Warren Munroe

Bright and early at 6:30 this morning, Aliesha, Donna, Liz and Jackie could be seen "power-walking" down the gravel road for some morning aerobic exercise, and Isabelle and Lulu, one of Alistair and Valerie's dogs, jogging by.  After a breakfast of french toast, the team headed over to prepare for our first patients which would be arriving at nine a.m.  for surgery. While Donna gave the Admissions volunteers, Riley, Marissa, Jan and Denieve a crash course in working at the Admsissions desk, the technicians prepared for the line-up of dogs and cats quickly arriving at the door.  In no time at all we had approximately twenty dogs and cats scheduled for surgery.   Liz Bartlett was our only Veterinarian today and she soldiered through one after another animal as fast as the technicians could get them prepped and on the table.  

Today was very challenging because we had a fair number of feral cats brought in, which had been running stray on one of the Reserves nearby.  A couple of us were scratched in the process, but nothing serious. 

We worked straight through the day until 6:30 p.m. and were able to accomplish five dog spays, three dog neuters, four cat spays, six feline neuters, one eye appointment for a dog, and four vaccine only appointments today.  The entire team worked so hard and Liz was a real trooper, standing in one place all day without complaint.

A disappointing hockey game was ending as we arrived home (Boston slaughtered Vancouver 8 to 1 in game three).   Dr. Cori Stephen and her assistant, Amanda Byers from Vanderhoof arrived as we were starting supper, and the team welcomed them with open arms. After a team meeting to discuss the day, the team dispersed to get a restful sleep. 

Perry - the oh so cute Newfie puppy
Photo by Warren Munroe

BURNS LAKE ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC, June 5, 2011

View from the firetower lookout
Photo by Liz Bartlett

Lakeside Legacy Bed and Breakfast
Photo by Aliesha Timms Wilson

BBQ luncheon lakeside
Photo by Liz Bartlett

Our vehicles lined up waiting for the Southbank Ferry
Photo by Aliesha Timms Wilson

 And so begins another adventure with the Canadian Animal Assistance Team!  Three of our Burns Lake, BC team drove approximately seven hours on Friday, from Hope to Prince George or from Kelowna to Prince George.  After spending the night in a motel, we met the rest of our team members at the Prince George airport on Saturday morning. Team photo to follow on tomorrow's blog posting.


  The Burns Lake team is made up of the following members:
  Jackie Emard - Technologist from Kelowna, BC
  Aliesha Timms Wilson - Technologist from Squamish, BC
  Dr. Elizabeth Bartlett - Veterinarian from Langley, BC
  Carol Coffey - Assistant from Squamish, BC
  Isabelle L'Hebreux - Technologist from Calgary, AB
  Liza Lackner - Veterinarian from Richmond, BC
  Donna Lasser - Technologist from Hope, BC
  Dr. Cori Stephen - Veterinarian from Vanderhoof, BC
  Dr. Samantha Fuller - Veterinarian from Prince George, BC
  Kristie McKee - Technologist from Prince George, BC
  Dr. Earladeen MacGregor - Veterinarian from Vancouver, BC
  Dr. Laura White - Veterinarian from Vanderhoof, BC
  Amanda Byers - Assistant from Vanderhoof, BC
  Joanna Hadley - Technologist from Vanderhoof, BC
  Heidi Brown - Assistant from Sechelt, BC
 


 After stopping at the BCSPCA shelter in Prince George and picking up a van so graciously loaned to us for our use during our ten day stay in Burns Lake, we started the three and a half hour drive west to Burns Lake.   We were met by our hostess and contact person, Valerie Ingram, whom we followed the twenty minutes to the Southside Ferry, which crosses Francois Lake.   Valerie and her husband, Alistair, have a beautiful Bed and Breakfast (Lakeside Legacy B&B) situated on Francois Lake (photos to be posted), as well as running the Lakes Animal Friendship Society.


 Upon our arrival at the B&B, we were treated to a wonderful dinner and were given the opportunity to watch the Stanley cup hockey game on T.V., which the Vancouver Canucks fortunately won.


 Sunday morning was started with probably the best pancakes we have ever eaten, as well as some of the best coffee was thoroughly enjoyed by many.  The team spent the morning at the community hall we will be holding our clinic at for the next five days, setting up tables and organizing our supplies to ready ourselves for a busy workday tomorrow.  Following a very productive team meeting, we were treated to a Barbeque beside the lake, and had the privilege of meeting several people connected to the Burns Lake Veterinary Clinic.  Delicious food, great people, gorgeous views of the lake, and interesting conversation  made for a wonderful afternoon.


 We decided to do a practice run with our surgeries this afternoon by spaying and neutering two dogs and one cat, all surrendered by someone who could no longer keep them.  We neutered Perry, a 6 month old Newfie cross and very cute, spayed Bailey, a two year old lab/bassett hound cross, and neutered Mickey Blue Eyes, a two year old lovely and loving siamese cat with a white moustache.  All recovered beautifully from their surgeries.


 After another delicious meal - wow - are we every being spoiled rotten here, like never before anywhere CAAT has ever been - we drove twenty minutes and ended up on top of a hill with a fire towere, looking out over an incredibly gorgeous landscape, as the sun was setting.  Snow-capped mountains in the distance, lush green fields and pasture, endless Aspen and Pine trees as far as the eye can see!


 Tomorrow morning will come quickly, as we are anticipating a full day of appointments, vaccinations, and surgeries.

Jackie (foreground), Donna, Aliesha, Liz, Isabelle, Liza
Photo by Liz Bartlett

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