Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Another Long (But Successful!) Day
Today was really busy -- our team did 17 dogs and 2 cats, Donna's team did 15 dogs and 3 cats, and Terrill's team did 9 dogs. We went to Junior's village today (another of the resort guys), and his village cooked us these amazing fish samosas. So good. It was a very long day though; we left the resort at 7:10 am this morning, and got back at 6:00 pm. Everyone is tired, but a good tired. I think our total is up to about 130 so far, so very close to our goal of 30 per work day.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Busier Day Today
A busier day today... each team did at least 10 animals. My team did 9 dogs and 4 cats. We were doing surgery under the palm trees on the beach! Got some good pics, which we'll post to the web site soon.
The villagers are amazingly hospitable. They just welcome you. The kids hold our hands and crawl all over us. We bring candies and toys for them, and they love it.
We went to Vo's village (Daku) today, about a 20 minute boat ride. Vo is one of the fellows that works at the resort we are staying at, who have been helping us in the
villages. We have one or two of them each day with each group, and they talk to the chiefs and set things up for us.
We were immediately taken to Vo's parents house and invited in to have some lime juice and bread with lemon. His kids and wife were there also. He works at the resort during the week, and goes home when he can. Not every night, or every weekend. The women are very much the servers here... although some men do laundry and serve as well.
We got set up and went to work on the surgeries. Vo's wife made us delicious chicken and noodles in soy for lunch and we had a picnic on the beach. Back to work, and when we were done, they had a kava ceremony. Too much kava... Vo was vomiting on the beach, and I did not feel well at all. Much stronger kava than here at the resort. Then a boat ride home.
I don't think the photos will be able to express the feeling of being here, I guess they never do. The people just amaze me, so friendly. We finally feel today as though we did some good work. Not that we didn't the other days, just not the numbers we wanted, 30 a day. We finally achieved that today. Not getting all the dogs, or cats, but at least we are helping to keep the population down. We may have to come back in a few years though, and do this again!
The villagers are amazingly hospitable. They just welcome you. The kids hold our hands and crawl all over us. We bring candies and toys for them, and they love it.
We went to Vo's village (Daku) today, about a 20 minute boat ride. Vo is one of the fellows that works at the resort we are staying at, who have been helping us in the
villages. We have one or two of them each day with each group, and they talk to the chiefs and set things up for us.
We were immediately taken to Vo's parents house and invited in to have some lime juice and bread with lemon. His kids and wife were there also. He works at the resort during the week, and goes home when he can. Not every night, or every weekend. The women are very much the servers here... although some men do laundry and serve as well.
We got set up and went to work on the surgeries. Vo's wife made us delicious chicken and noodles in soy for lunch and we had a picnic on the beach. Back to work, and when we were done, they had a kava ceremony. Too much kava... Vo was vomiting on the beach, and I did not feel well at all. Much stronger kava than here at the resort. Then a boat ride home.
I don't think the photos will be able to express the feeling of being here, I guess they never do. The people just amaze me, so friendly. We finally feel today as though we did some good work. Not that we didn't the other days, just not the numbers we wanted, 30 a day. We finally achieved that today. Not getting all the dogs, or cats, but at least we are helping to keep the population down. We may have to come back in a few years though, and do this again!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Work Continues
We went to 3 villages today, did 7 dogs and one cat - not as many as we are hoping to do, but we also met with the agriculture guy in one village, the one who poisons the dogs when needed and chatted with him about what we are doing, and about the ear tags to id dogs that have been spayed or neutered, so they are kept out of the poisoning.
In one village, we went to the school, where the children swarmed us, just like you see on tv. We took some pics of them, and they were all over us, wanting to see themselves on the digital camera screen. They then set up chairs for us in a classroom, and gave us an amazing singing session. They can harmonize so incredibly! It was extremely humbling, and some of us were in tears. Then they got us up to dance! It was so great.
I continue to be amazed at the beauty here. Everytime I step outside... the birds, the fish, the gardens, the ocean. Amazing. We saw dolphins in the water as we were boated to the village yesterday.
I have taken about 200 photos already, and burned them to disk, so will be able to hopefully post them when we get home.
We are going to 3 more villages tomorrow, hopefully more dogs. Even if we don't do as many as we wanted to, we are at least saving some from the horrible poisoning death that they may face.
In one village, we went to the school, where the children swarmed us, just like you see on tv. We took some pics of them, and they were all over us, wanting to see themselves on the digital camera screen. They then set up chairs for us in a classroom, and gave us an amazing singing session. They can harmonize so incredibly! It was extremely humbling, and some of us were in tears. Then they got us up to dance! It was so great.
I continue to be amazed at the beauty here. Everytime I step outside... the birds, the fish, the gardens, the ocean. Amazing. We saw dolphins in the water as we were boated to the village yesterday.
I have taken about 200 photos already, and burned them to disk, so will be able to hopefully post them when we get home.
We are going to 3 more villages tomorrow, hopefully more dogs. Even if we don't do as many as we wanted to, we are at least saving some from the horrible poisoning death that they may face.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Bula from Fiji
Bula!
What a beautiful country! We arrived on Tuesday here, in the afternoon. We spent Wednesday meeting and organizing. Then we went out today, Thurs to our first village. It was the town just near the airstrip, and we did about 12 surgeries. Less than we wanted, but there was a funeral in town, so a lot of the villagers were there. Many people were a bit worried at first, but after a few, they were all interested in watching. The dogs were given ear tags after the surgery, so that when the government comes to poison when they become overpopulated, these dogs will separated. The children all came to see us, and we gave out toys, books and candy. The kids are all so beautiful...gorgeous smiles!
I have to keep this short, as we are using the office's computer. I will try to post more as our time here progresses. We are off to 3 different villages tomorrow, and hope to do closer to 30 surgeries. These villages have been told we are coming, so hopefully the turnout will be better.
Vinaka (thank you) for continuing to support us!
What a beautiful country! We arrived on Tuesday here, in the afternoon. We spent Wednesday meeting and organizing. Then we went out today, Thurs to our first village. It was the town just near the airstrip, and we did about 12 surgeries. Less than we wanted, but there was a funeral in town, so a lot of the villagers were there. Many people were a bit worried at first, but after a few, they were all interested in watching. The dogs were given ear tags after the surgery, so that when the government comes to poison when they become overpopulated, these dogs will separated. The children all came to see us, and we gave out toys, books and candy. The kids are all so beautiful...gorgeous smiles!
I have to keep this short, as we are using the office's computer. I will try to post more as our time here progresses. We are off to 3 different villages tomorrow, and hope to do closer to 30 surgeries. These villages have been told we are coming, so hopefully the turnout will be better.
Vinaka (thank you) for continuing to support us!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Bula! (Hello!)
A personal blog entry...
I'm starting to get a little nervous! This will be unlike anything I have ever done before. The remoteness of the trip for starters...we are going to the island of Kadavu. There are no roads to the area we are going, so we will take the 30 minute trip by boat after flying from the main island. And I am a pretty nervous flyer!
The anesthesia will be unlike what I am used to also, as we will be using only injectible medications. Ordinarily, after inducing anesthesia with injectibles, we have the dogs hooked up to gas anesthesia through a breathing tube. And then there is the fact that the dogs are somewhat feral, so not exactly used to walking at a heel on a leash!
I am very excited to meet the Fijian villagers. What a great opportunity to learn about their history and culture. We are bringing gifts for the villagers and the children--clothing, candy, fishing line and hooks, toys. I hope to dance in the moonlight to the music of the people!
We leave in just over 48 hours!
I'm starting to get a little nervous! This will be unlike anything I have ever done before. The remoteness of the trip for starters...we are going to the island of Kadavu. There are no roads to the area we are going, so we will take the 30 minute trip by boat after flying from the main island. And I am a pretty nervous flyer!
The anesthesia will be unlike what I am used to also, as we will be using only injectible medications. Ordinarily, after inducing anesthesia with injectibles, we have the dogs hooked up to gas anesthesia through a breathing tube. And then there is the fact that the dogs are somewhat feral, so not exactly used to walking at a heel on a leash!
I am very excited to meet the Fijian villagers. What a great opportunity to learn about their history and culture. We are bringing gifts for the villagers and the children--clothing, candy, fishing line and hooks, toys. I hope to dance in the moonlight to the music of the people!
We leave in just over 48 hours!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Toll Free Number Now Available
The CAAT now has a toll-free number: 1-888-500-3330. Call for information on our organization, or how you can donate!
The Fiji Spay/Neuter Project (SNP) is just 9 days away! Our anesthetic drugs have been purchased through the Fiji SPCA and will be forwarded to the island of Kadavu for us. We will arrive in Nadi, on the west coast of the main island, and then fly south to Kadavu (about a 45 min flight). The Veterinarians may have to travel to Suva, (on the east coast of the main island) to get licensure, and then meet us on Kadavu (about a 30 min flight). We will stay at the Papageno resort, courtesy of the owner Anneliese Schimmelpfennig. She is very involved in the local community, and it was she that requested the SNP.
Other upcoming CAAT events: Come and see us at the Abbotsford Dog Daze (Abbotsford Exhibition Park) event on May 6th. We will have a booth set up with pictures of our Hurricane Katrina trip as well as the Fiji SNP. We will also have a booth set up at the Port Coquitlam ESS Fair May 7th. And one of our members will be speaking on the Fiji SNP to a Grade 3 class at Diamond Elementary School, an independent school in Surrey, B.C. This class raised $250.00 for the CAAT with a bakesale in October.
We will attempt to publish posts while in Fiji, however we are unsure if we will have access to an internet connection. If we are unable, we will be keeping a daily journal, and will post when we return.
Thank you for your continued support of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team.
The Fiji Spay/Neuter Project (SNP) is just 9 days away! Our anesthetic drugs have been purchased through the Fiji SPCA and will be forwarded to the island of Kadavu for us. We will arrive in Nadi, on the west coast of the main island, and then fly south to Kadavu (about a 45 min flight). The Veterinarians may have to travel to Suva, (on the east coast of the main island) to get licensure, and then meet us on Kadavu (about a 30 min flight). We will stay at the Papageno resort, courtesy of the owner Anneliese Schimmelpfennig. She is very involved in the local community, and it was she that requested the SNP.
Other upcoming CAAT events: Come and see us at the Abbotsford Dog Daze (Abbotsford Exhibition Park) event on May 6th. We will have a booth set up with pictures of our Hurricane Katrina trip as well as the Fiji SNP. We will also have a booth set up at the Port Coquitlam ESS Fair May 7th. And one of our members will be speaking on the Fiji SNP to a Grade 3 class at Diamond Elementary School, an independent school in Surrey, B.C. This class raised $250.00 for the CAAT with a bakesale in October.
We will attempt to publish posts while in Fiji, however we are unsure if we will have access to an internet connection. If we are unable, we will be keeping a daily journal, and will post when we return.
Thank you for your continued support of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Fiji Project Coming Together
Many people have been working over the past few months to complete preparations for CAAT's Spay and Neuter project in Fiji. We have just sent a medications list to the SPCA in Fiji, who will purchase them there for us. The logistics to bring our own medications proved to be near impossible, so this solution was found. The medications will be purchased with donations from many generous companies (see donor list on our website), as well as the donations we continue to receive from people in the community. (Thank you!)
We have been asked by several groups to provide speakers on the topic of Emergency Preparedness for Animals. These presentations are in the works, as well as Spay and Neuter projects in communities here at home. More details on these projects to come.
We have been asked by several groups to provide speakers on the topic of Emergency Preparedness for Animals. These presentations are in the works, as well as Spay and Neuter projects in communities here at home. More details on these projects to come.
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