Bonaire
How it all started in March 2013
During a stopover travelling from Suriname to Galapagos, Jochem and Tjarda spent a couple of nights in Bonaire to meet with friends that Jochem had met when he was there helping out Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire in their struggle to protect the endangered Green sea turtle. The word soon spread and, apart from the normal cat and dog questions, Sam Williams from Echo Bonaire contacted us about an injured parrot. The yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot is under the threat of extinction and this particular one had a broken bleeding wing. Unfortunately we still did not have a basic set of medicine, but luckily Sam had a box that had been donated to Echo so we were able to treat this poor animal!
How it all started in March 2013
During a stopover travelling from Suriname to Galapagos, Jochem and Tjarda spent a couple of nights in Bonaire to meet with friends that Jochem had met when he was there helping out Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire in their struggle to protect the endangered Green sea turtle. The word soon spread and, apart from the normal cat and dog questions, Sam Williams from Echo Bonaire contacted us about an injured parrot. The yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot is under the threat of extinction and this particular one had a broken bleeding wing. Unfortunately we still did not have a basic set of medicine, but luckily Sam had a box that had been donated to Echo so we were able to treat this poor animal!
What we do now
In 2021 we opened our first veterinary clinic on Bonaire, called Flamingo Island Veterinary Center! In november 2022 we moved to a newer building in the middle of Kralendijk!
The aim for the clinic on Bonaire is to be a ‘social clinic’, where we will strive to provide the highest possible care to all patients, even if the owners cannot afford it. Since our aim is to help all animals, regardless if they have an owner, we work closely with the local animal shelters and rescue centers. Animals that we treat in the clinic are either privately owned or brought in by those other organizations. The ratio is about 60% owned and 40% without an owner, this is organized in such a way that the ‘commercial’ part of the clinic can provide the financial backbone to support the non-profit part.
What can you do to help?
Volunteer! In our clinic we offer year-round volunteer positions for veterinary student, veterinary technicians/assistants and/or veterinarians. The work done by the clinic will be both clinical work: variating from vaccination consults to spay and neuter campaigns, and clinic supporting work, such as booking appointments, taking phone calls and cleaning. In addition, we aid the organizations mentioned before. This means we visit the local shelter, Fundashon Kunuku Kakelsvers, as well.
Want to know more or volunteer? Please contact us!
In 2021 we opened our first veterinary clinic on Bonaire, called Flamingo Island Veterinary Center! In november 2022 we moved to a newer building in the middle of Kralendijk!
The aim for the clinic on Bonaire is to be a ‘social clinic’, where we will strive to provide the highest possible care to all patients, even if the owners cannot afford it. Since our aim is to help all animals, regardless if they have an owner, we work closely with the local animal shelters and rescue centers. Animals that we treat in the clinic are either privately owned or brought in by those other organizations. The ratio is about 60% owned and 40% without an owner, this is organized in such a way that the ‘commercial’ part of the clinic can provide the financial backbone to support the non-profit part.
What can you do to help?
Volunteer! In our clinic we offer year-round volunteer positions for veterinary student, veterinary technicians/assistants and/or veterinarians. The work done by the clinic will be both clinical work: variating from vaccination consults to spay and neuter campaigns, and clinic supporting work, such as booking appointments, taking phone calls and cleaning. In addition, we aid the organizations mentioned before. This means we visit the local shelter, Fundashon Kunuku Kakelsvers, as well.
Want to know more or volunteer? Please contact us!
