May 24, 2009 - 33 animals sterilized 
today by Dr. Tello, our wonderful veterinarian!

We had a great day! Today Dr. Tello sterilized 23 dogs and 10 cats. Of the 23 dogs, 21 were female and 2 were male. Of the 10 cats, 6 were female and 4 were male.  

We normally limit the clinics to sterilizations only, except that on the day he sterilizes an animal, per our recommendations Dr. Tello will also treat other conditions the animal may have. We do we make exceptions in certain cases for animals that have already been sterilized.  We ask Dr. Tello to examine and treat conditions of animals that belong to our volunteers or to people who have been supportive of our clinics... with financial and/or food donations for example. Today in addition to the sterilizations, Dr. Tello repaired two hernias on a cat and removed three tumors from a dog. Those two animals belong to one of our volunteers, Argelis Gomez. (Argelis is also my neighbor.) Dr. Tello also anesthetized my big dog Buddy in order to trim his toenails - Buddy will NOT permit it otherwise. Dr. Tello also examined the ears of another of my dogs and recommended medication. So in all, there were 37 animals attended today.

Our registrar, Wally Ewen, remarked that these clinics are an educational process in addition to a sterilization program. Indeed, since the inception of the clinics, it has been gratifying to see that more Panamanians are beginning to actually LOVE their animals and care for them accordingly - and we also see more  young people bringing their animals to the clinics. It is also encouraging that Panamanians are recognizing the necessity of sterilizing their male pets as well as the females.

Agnes McKittick from David brought another of their adopted street dogs to be sterilized. She and her husband Patrick are wonderful, caring people who do extensive work with the Rotary Club in David....for example, they have a regular vaccination program for dogs and cats in David. They are also searching for a location where they can hold regular sterilization clinics like we have here. (Dr. Tello would be willing to work at their clinics, too, if they can find a location....and I and many of our volunteers would also help.) I would not have objected if Agnes had paid only my cost for sterilizing her new doggie, but she contributed $60. She said she brings her animals here from David not because she is looking for a "bargain," but because of the expertise of Dr. Tello.

MANY thanks to our wonderful volunteers and contributors. Without their help and dedication, this important work simply could not be done.

Wally Ewen, who served as registrar;
Betsy Boeve and Argelis Gomez, who gave the injections of anesthesia and pre-op injections. Betsy also provided transportion when needed;
Kevin Espinosa, who did pre-op shaving and prepping. (Kevin is Jose's son.) 
Jose Espinosa. He is my permanent employee and I donate his time and work to the clinics. He helps weigh and tag the animals and give the anesthesia; he and I go to the clinic site on Mondays following the Sunday clinics to clean and organize for the next one;
Brenda Paulson, who gave the post-op injections of vitamin B-12 and anti-parasite, flea and tick treatment, and tattooed the ears of female dogs to indicate they have been sterilized;
Francia Pinedo, who assisted Dr. Tello and helped wherever necessary, including translation. (Thanks also to Francia for helping to schedule the animals prior to the clinics. She also does the translation for the Spanish version of this web site.) Francia is a good friend and I know her to be an excellent - and HONEST - real estate agent in Volcan. Her web page is http://www.volcan.paradisepanama.net 
Eymi Pitti and Karolyn Rovira, who cleaned and sterilized the surgical instruments and monitored the animals while they recovered from the anesthesia.

Thanks to Marianne Brown for contributing delicious sandwiches (made with her homemade bread), Richard Kongable for the soft drinks, and Francia Pinedo for a Panamanian rice dish. I provided hummus and toasted pita chips.

Thanks also to Patricia Chan (Spay/Panama) who donated a bottle of Endovet. Endovet is an excellent anti-parasite injection and it is not available locally, even in David.

Please forgive me if I have neglected to mention any volunteers or contributors! 

Income and financial donations:

At this May 24, 2009 clinic, we sterilized 23 dogs and 10 cats. (I paid Dr. Tello for the animals that were treated but not sterilized and I am not including the cost for those in the following amount.) At my average cost of $20 per dog and $10 per cat for sterilization, expenses were $560, plus $100 for building rent for a total expense of $660. With contributions of $475.00, there was a deficit of $185.00. Therefore, since October of 2006 to date, my accumulated deficit is $4,343.75.  Please contribute! I very much appreciate your contributions, which are welcome and needed! (US citizens: please contact me about how to make IRS tax-deductible contributions.)

Following are a few pictures taken during the May 24, 2009 clinic. 

Francia Pinedo assists Dr. Tello	Woman attends her dog while it  wakes up from the anesthesia.	Karolyn Rovira & Eimy Pitti
Cute doggie waits its turn	Woman sits with her kitty	Wally Ewen works with registration
The building is getting too crowded!	Francia Pinedo and Dr. Tello	Brenda Paulson prepares an injection.
Kevin Espinosa shaves two kitties at once.	Joe Eveleth brought five female dogs to be spayed today. Bless you, Joe! Argelis Gomez is in the background, and Kevin Espinosa prepares to weigh a doggie.	Wally Ewen holds a precious puppy.

Here in Volcan, our small group has been responsible for sterilizing 722 animals to date. Added to the 129 animals that Spay/Panama (from Panama City) sterilized in in Volcan in February of 2005, we have sterilized 851 dogs and cats! There are many more to go, but we are making progress!  Our goal is to sterilize at least 75% of the dogs and cats in the Volcan area, and thus almost completely solve the problem of homeless dogs and cats, and the terrible venereal disease suffered by so many dogs.

Dorothy Atwater - 6780-2565 or viajar2566@yahoo.com

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