Placencia Humane Society June Clinic Report

 

On June 20 and 21, 2009, the Placencia Humane Society held its monthly animal clinic in the Placencia Community Center.

It was a more quiet clinic (Father's Day weekend), but Dr. Miguel Figueroa still provided important services to our pets.

 

One female cat and two female dogs were spayed.

Six pets had their rabies shots: twenty two cats and dogs had their annual vaccinations.

Dr. Figueroa made three home visits.                                          

 

The clinic closed one half hour earlier on Sunday, June 21.  This gave Dr. Figueroa more time to enjoy Father's Day with his own children in Belize City.

The kindness of individuals and businesses is a huge key to the success of these clinics.

 

Robert's Grove hosted Dr. Figueroa.  Wende of the Pickled Parrot generously provided lunches.

 

And as always, the hard core, caring, and very dedicated PHS volunteers were out in force.

Many thanks to Renza Hoban, Cat Harshbarger, Lesa Jordon, Pat Rarrick, Pamela Keck, Mary Anne Kaye, and Nancy Lewandowski.

 

The next PHS animal clinic will be on Saturday and Sunday, July 18, 19, 2009 at the Placencia Community Center.  To schedule a surgery or house call please contact Pat Rarrick at 610-0522.   To adopt a dog please call Mary Ann Kaye at 523-3651.  To adopt a cat call Pamela Keck at 520-4057.  For questions or comments please contact Pamela Keck at the phone number above or pkeck11@yahoo.com. 

 

 

 

 

Placencia Humane Society May Clinic Report 

 

Dr. Floyd Bennett, veterinarian, had a very long and full weekend attending to all the pets at the May, 2009 animal clinic sponsored by the Placencia Humane Society.

 

For four long days, from May 15-18, Dr. Bennett provided the following medical services to our animals:

                                                  

 

1. Four female cats were spayed                                                 

2. Two male cats were neutered  

3. Three female dogs were spayed

4. Four male dogs were neutered                                     

5. Two dogs had their teeth cleaned

6. Thirty one rabies vaccinations were given

7. Four cats were given 4-1 vaccination

8. Twenty eight dogs were given 6-1 vaccinations

 

 

The Humane Society's commitment to attending to rescued animals continued during this clinic: two rescued cats were cut, six rescued cats were cut, two rescued dogs were cut, and one rescued dog had his teeth cleaned.

 

Yes, this is a long list of treatments and is an affirmation of how successful these Humane Society clinics are.  While the Placencia Community Center hosted the animal clinic Saturday and Sunday, Dr. Bennett was out in the field providing 17 home visits on Friday and Monday. 

During one of these home visits, one dog in Maya Beach was neutered.

The number of home visits has been growing rapidly and confirms how truly outreaching these Humane Society clinics have become.

 

As always, these clinics rely totally on dedicated and committed volunteers.  The May 2009 clinic saw these following folks giving selflessly of their time and energies: Pamela Keck, Mary Anne Kaye, Pat Rarrick, Juana Itch, Beth Princiotta, and Renza Hoban.

 

Thanks to all these volunteers, and special thanks to Lost Reef Resort, who hosted Dr. Bennett during his stay here.

 

As always PHS is supported solely by donations, memberships and miscellaneous items sold at clinics and other fundraisers.  Please consider becoming a member, renewing your membership or making a donation. 

 

Our June clinic will be held June 20, 21.  July’s clinic will be July 18, 19.  To schedule a surgery or house call please contact Pat Rarrick at 610-0522.   To adopt a dog please call Mary Ann Kaye at 523-3651. 

 

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Placencia Humane Society President Pamela Keck Was Recently Invited to Speak at the Placencia Chapter of the BTIA General Meeting.  Below is a Synopsis of Her Speech:

 

The Humane Society has come a long way since our inception in 1999 where a group of animal lovers came together and started a local Humane Society.  It was founded with the goal of making veterinary care available to local pets.   In their first year PHS did 9 dog neuters and 13 dog spays.

 

In 2008 we did 17 dog neuters, 25 dog spays, 15 cat neuters, and 19 cat spays for a total of 76 spays and neuters in Placencia alone.

 

This figure does not include the spays and neuters we did during the field clinics in Monkey River and Seine Bight.   If we were to add those in, the vets spayed and neutered over 100 animals last year.  This would have equaled a huge puppy and kitten population.

 

PHS is very proud of this growth and I am very grateful to work with a wonderful board and wonderful volunteers.   

 

As a side note for 2009 we have a combined spay and neuter total for the first 5 months of 44.  If this trend continues we are well on our way to surpass 2008. 

 

Along the way PHS began rescuing abused, neglected and homeless animals.  These animals stay with a foster home until they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and well enough to be adopted.  Our rescue animals for 2008 totaled 19 dogs and 10 cats.   All rescued animals are spayed or neutered and vaccinated.  With a general cost of $275.00 per female and $205.00 per male just for cutting and vaccines PHS uses much of the donations received to pay the vet for these rescues.  PHS pays the same amount for services to the vet as everyone else.  Occasionally the vet will allow us the cost of a neuter or spay. 

 

 Currently Mary Ann and Keith Kaye foster 95% of our rescue dogs.  If anyone is interested in adopting a dog or fostering dogs please let us know. 

 

 

In 2008 we also were able to do Outreach Clinics in Monkey River and Red Bank  This has been an enormously successful way to bring pet care to other areas.   We also did 2 Field Clinics in Seine Bight Village,  one in April 2008 that was a spay/neuter clinic only

 

In 2007 we also did a spay neuter clinic in Seine Bight) and one in October 2008  that was sponsored by Dr. Cliff Barnett of the United States.  This was his 4^th year working with PHS to provide a clinic in Seine Bight.  Dr. Cliff not only provides the medical staff but also all medications necessary for the clinic. 

 

We hope to continue with field clinics but with the addition of the Feral Cat Clinics in our area this will be difficult without additional volunteers.   In 2009 we also continue with our monthly clinics and are pleased that throughout our existence PHS has maintained the initial goal of making vet care available to everyone.   For those of you that do not know PHS offers loans in the form of promissory notes.  These loans can be paid off as quickly or as slowly as needed. 

 

In 2009 we continue with our rescue program and to date have had a total of 19 rescues.  9 dogs and 10 cats.    Of the dogs, 6 have found homes and we currently have 3 available for adoption.  Of the kittens/cats, we currently have total of 7 available for adoption.  In order to adopt there is an application process and an adoption agreement that the adoptee has to sign.  We try to ensure as best we can that these animals go to a good home.  

 

In April PHS held a volunteer meeting at Wendy’s restaurant to promote volunteering.  We would love to add some additional programs but at this time the biggest obstacle is lack of volunteers.  Volunteers are a necessity for PHS as there is to much for the Board Members alone to do.   Besides our feral Cat program,  we could use volunteers for fundraising, a junior program, thank you letters, crafting items to sell,  and many other areas.   I am sure there are areas that volunteers could assist that we have not even considered yet.  One thing I know is that all the volunteers we have had have added something to PHS.  Perhaps an idea for a new program, or a better way to do something, an improved form or report.   I cannot stress the value and necessity of volunteers for PHS, and as it has always been PHS is run by volunteers and governed by a Board of Directors.  Neither the board members, officers, or volunteers receive any compensation for their work or time.   All members, board members and volunteers pay the same vet fees as everyone else.  All PHS operations are funded solely from fundraisers, memberships and donations.   PHS also has a building fund that hopefully one day will help to outfit a clinic and /or build a clinic.

 

I want to say that for pets I believe Placencia is the best place in Belize for them.  My belief in this is strengthened each time I get an email from someone that has visited Belize and Placencia and feels so strongly about their visit that they contact me to tell us that they are thrilled that Placencia has an active Humane Society.  When these emails compare Placencia to other villages regarding animal care Placencia is described as fantastic.   Placencia is a wonderful place to live and a wonderful place for tourists to vacation.  When you come to Placencia and do not see the starving, ill health animals that you see in other villages and this leaves a positive impact on tourists.  They want to come back; they go home and tell their friends how great Placencia was.  This is excellent advertising and an excellent reputation to have for a village that is largely dependent on tourism.   I want to thank those people that call us when they see an animal in need.  PHS needs you and community involvement is necessary to our ongoing success.   

 

 

I also want to take a moment to thank Tropic Air for many times transporting animals to Belize City for veterinary care.  To the Secret Garden for financially supporting us with a monthly donation, and to Ellie and the Placencia Tourism Office  for their ongoing support of PHS.   A big thank you to Roberts Grove and Lost Reef for hosting the vets for the monthly clinics.  Each year Roberts Grove has also hosted the vet and medical staff that comes down for the Seine Bight October clinic.  Typically this is anywhere from 10-14 people.  Also a thank you to the members, donators and volunteers that help us help the animals in our corner of the world.  Finally a thank you to all the pet owners who take advantage of our clinics and love their pets.  You are what make this all worthwhile.