Sint Eustateus Oct 2012 - Jan 2013
Jochem arrived on the island as a volunteer researcher for the ministry of fisheries in collaboration with the St. Eustateus marine park. Our goal was to develop a survey method to monitor the numbers of endangered Queen Conch around the island.
Since there is no regular vet on the island the word spread quickly that there was a vet in town. So a few cases landed on my doorstep, such as a cat from the local animal shelter that had recently had surgery on a broken leg. This had been carried out in St. Marten where they have a resident vet. Unfortunately the wound had become infected and the cat had stopped eating because he was in such pain. As it was impossible to get him back to St. Marten we found a box of medicines at the local shelter and managed to alleviate his pain and restore his eating again.
Only 100 metres from us, a car hit a puppy and the car just drove off. After a week of treatment the pup was springing around on its 4 paws again.
When the local government asked me to take a critical look at the procedures used in the local slaughterhouse, I talked to the butchers and witnessed the process so I could recommend improvements to minimize the suffering of the animals and improve the overall hygiene as well.
Jochem arrived on the island as a volunteer researcher for the ministry of fisheries in collaboration with the St. Eustateus marine park. Our goal was to develop a survey method to monitor the numbers of endangered Queen Conch around the island.
Since there is no regular vet on the island the word spread quickly that there was a vet in town. So a few cases landed on my doorstep, such as a cat from the local animal shelter that had recently had surgery on a broken leg. This had been carried out in St. Marten where they have a resident vet. Unfortunately the wound had become infected and the cat had stopped eating because he was in such pain. As it was impossible to get him back to St. Marten we found a box of medicines at the local shelter and managed to alleviate his pain and restore his eating again.
Only 100 metres from us, a car hit a puppy and the car just drove off. After a week of treatment the pup was springing around on its 4 paws again.
When the local government asked me to take a critical look at the procedures used in the local slaughterhouse, I talked to the butchers and witnessed the process so I could recommend improvements to minimize the suffering of the animals and improve the overall hygiene as well.
