Suriname nov 2012 - mar 2013
This is where the trip started for Tjarda and Jochem joined her after the St Eustateus project, Working/volunteering in an active practice. In Suriname there are only 13 veterinarians working in the companion animal sector, while more like 30 are actually needed. So it was a busy time, especially because on Saturdays there was a trip to the local animal shelter, run by the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals . We would spay and neuter there regularly on a voluntary basis. In March, along with 6 other veterinarians and 20 volunteer students, we spayed 538 animals in only 10 days!
The "wild" animals were also of importance, next to treating the animals in the zoo, Tjarda saved a Sloth from a forest that was cut down. We brought it to the lady who keeps the Sloths until they are well enough to introduce them to the wild again! When one of them was sick she brought them to the clinic for treatment.
Education to the children was very important in Suriname. So while being there we participated in television shows for children. Telling them about the importance of taking care of the animals. That they should go to the vet for regular check ups, vaccination, deworming and ofcourse spaying and neutering. Check one of the video`s of Tjarda in action here.
At the weekend we went on a dolphin tour with the greenfund dolphin research group. On Braamspunt island we saw a lot of dogs that weren’t well fed, looked scared and were in really poor condition. So this is when we first had the idea to carry out a spaying/neutering weekend there. Jochem and I organized this weekend and we helped 25 of the 26 dogs there and gave them plenty of food and fresh water, which will now continue twice a week.
Jochem also rescued a dog from drowning, check the video here.
This is where the trip started for Tjarda and Jochem joined her after the St Eustateus project, Working/volunteering in an active practice. In Suriname there are only 13 veterinarians working in the companion animal sector, while more like 30 are actually needed. So it was a busy time, especially because on Saturdays there was a trip to the local animal shelter, run by the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals . We would spay and neuter there regularly on a voluntary basis. In March, along with 6 other veterinarians and 20 volunteer students, we spayed 538 animals in only 10 days!
The "wild" animals were also of importance, next to treating the animals in the zoo, Tjarda saved a Sloth from a forest that was cut down. We brought it to the lady who keeps the Sloths until they are well enough to introduce them to the wild again! When one of them was sick she brought them to the clinic for treatment.
Education to the children was very important in Suriname. So while being there we participated in television shows for children. Telling them about the importance of taking care of the animals. That they should go to the vet for regular check ups, vaccination, deworming and ofcourse spaying and neutering. Check one of the video`s of Tjarda in action here.
At the weekend we went on a dolphin tour with the greenfund dolphin research group. On Braamspunt island we saw a lot of dogs that weren’t well fed, looked scared and were in really poor condition. So this is when we first had the idea to carry out a spaying/neutering weekend there. Jochem and I organized this weekend and we helped 25 of the 26 dogs there and gave them plenty of food and fresh water, which will now continue twice a week.
Jochem also rescued a dog from drowning, check the video here.
