Helping animals, their people and the community
As I looked across the large gymnasium where we had set up our temporary, MASH-style animal health care clinic in Burns Lake, British Columbia, I saw the lineup of people with their pets constantly increasing. We were in for a busy day.
I was lucky enough to be part of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT), a volunteer veterinary team that travels to communities to provide veterinary services for low-income families. I was well aware of the fact that animal overpopulation and disease issues are common concerns where veterinary care is not routinely available, which has a devastating effect on animal welfare. I was there to be part of the solution.
As I looked at the line of people and pets, I noticed an older lady with her tiny white dog in her arms. She held him close and was patiently waiting her turn. When I spoke to her, she told me his name was Peanut and he was there for his vaccination. I examined him and discovered he had a condition where one of his testicles had not descended (cryptorchidism). I explained to her that there are definite health risks with this condition and they can be quite serious. She was nervous about the surgery, but after reassuring her we would do all we could to ensure his safety, she looked at me with trusting eyes and carefully handed him over. I took him into my arms with great care and looked into her eyes to let her know I understood how important he was to her.
After a successful surgery, he was moved into our recovery area. I called his owner over and set up a chair for her to be able to sit with him. She was so relieved and delighted to have her little friend back in her arms. She snuggled him into a blanket to keep him warm and talked to him. She and her whole family stayed with him for the rest of the afternoon until he was ready to go home.
The next day, as we prepared for another long day of seeing medical and surgical patients, I saw the same woman patiently standing in line again, but without Peanut. I immediately went over to ask if he was all right. Her face opened up into a big smile. She said he was doing well and she was extremely happy she had brought him to us. She knew he was going to be healthier because of the care he had received. She told me she was waiting in line to be able to properly thank us.
The night before, once they had returned home, her daughter had explained to her that the entire team of people from CAAT were volunteering their time, had paid their own way to the community and did fundraising to be able to provide the services. She and her family sat around the dinner table and decided they would all contribute what they could. She had come to bring a donation to our organization. I was speechless.
Watching that family leave, so happy because we were able to provide what was needed for their little dog, I couldn’t help but smile. I became involved in this volunteer organization to contribute to the welfare of animals. Moments like that, however, prove to me that helping the animals, helping the people and helping the community as a whole are all undeniably intertwined.
On our last day, as we packed up our hospital supplies and equipment and left the gymnasium, it looked like we had never been there. However, I knew that out in the village it would be evident for a long time. The impoundment rate at the local pound has decreased by 75 percent and the local rescue group’s intake has decreased by 50 percent since we started our annual clinics in Burns Lake. The local animal welfare groups also continue working to maintain what we started, using the teaching aides we provide during the educational programs we offer while the clinic is open.
The majority of our work is in British Columbia’s First Nations communities, though we’ve been to communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon, as well as in other countries. CAAT was first founded in 2005 as a disaster-relief team that went to help the animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.
I was sad to leave the wonderful community of Burns Lake, but there are countless others in need. I have no doubt that, in every place, I will meet people just like Peanut’s owner, who love their pets, want to help their pets and just need the opportunity to be able to do so.
—by Chris Robinson, Cambridge, Ontario