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OCTOBER 2004 CLINICS A SUCCESS!
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VIDAS would like to announce that our 2004 October clinics were a success! This time the VIDAS crew was split into two groups. The first group headed down to Tulum and spent five days treating and sterilizing animals. In just that short time they were able to successfully sterilize and vaccinate 155 animals! The second group set up clinics in Akumal Pueblo, Cheymuil Pueblo and Bacalar (two days at each). They successfully sterilized and vaccinated 240 animals between the three towns! A large number of already sterilized dogs and cats returned to the clinics for vaccinations and treatment of mange and intestinal parasites.
Also this year, VIDAS was able to focus more on the education side of the clinics. Our president, Cristina Gutierrez, found the time to speak to grade-schoolers in Akumal and Cheymuil. She was met with great enthusiasm from the children who couldn’t wait to talk her ears off about healthy and responsible pet ownership.
Bacalar was new to the schedule this year and proved to be a great experience. Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who not only picked us up in Akumal and drove us three hours south, but also provided us with clinic locations, lodging and all the food we could eat! We could not have done the clinics without them.
With the exception of cat neuters, all the surgeries were done with gas anesthesia and close monitoring by the technicians. Once again we were able to place IV catheters for fluids in all the dog spays and paid special attention to administering pre-and post-operative pain medications.
While we had several returning VIDAS veterans, we also had several newcomers to the clinics. Dr. Tim Holt, Dr. Kathy Batdorf, Dr. Josie Mercado, and veterinary student Robin Michael joined the Tulum Clinic while Dr Alan Applebury, his wife Jesse, and Dr. B.C Robison and his wife Middy joined the second set of clinics. Also new to both clinics were Kelly and Keri Coladarci who not only volunteered at the Tulum clinic but also joined the second group in Akumal where they didn’t stop to rest until all 11 days of clinics were over! These new volunteers worked tirelessly and kept a cool head throughout each of the very busy and hectic clinic days.
We would like to thank everyone who was able to take time out of their busy schedules and join us in Mexico for the October clinics:
Tulum core crew: Dr. Lesli Hick, Dr. Kathy Batdorf, Dr. Tim Holt, Dr. Josie Mercado, Stacie Knapp, Robin Michael, Kelly and Keri Coladarci, Lydia Pontius, Lara Popyak, and Karen Jenkins.
Akumal core crew: Dr. Lisa McCarthy, Dr. Alan Applebury and Jesse Applebury, Dr. Erica Periman, Dr. B.C. Robison and Middy Robison, Cristina Gutierrez, Maya Key, Erika Hartle-Schutte, Robyn Gajdosik, Kelly and Keri Coladarci, Lydia Pontius, and Lara Popyak.
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