I originally wrote the following article for the Iquitos Times.  Due to a miscommunication at the office, my Veterinarian wrote an article in Spanish and used a computer program to translate it into English.  I regret the error, but admired her initiative and praised her for her work.  The resulting article in the Iquitos times is obviously written by a non-English speaker, and I will make sure my article is published in the next issue.   In the meantime, I want to tell interested parties about our successful Amazon river excusion to provide veterinary services and education to smaller communities.  Over the next week I will post items written by other participants!

(Photo Caption: ) WVS Volunteers pose in front of a children's art collage following a sterilization clinic in Los Delfines that incorporated humane education classes for children.

 

The adventure included the participation of four Veterinarians in the Great Amazon River Raft Race. Beth McGennisken, Jane Little, Sheradan Harvey, Aeofe O'Sullivan took Second Place among the competing international teams! These four strong women trained daily prior to the race, yet still managed to participate in mobile sterilization clinics for street dogs and cats in the two days prior to the race.

 

These clinics require massive preparation because the clinic site must be completely sterile and surgical equipment and medications must be transported to the clinic site. During two days of clinics in Bella Vista Nanay and Los Delphines over 40 animals were sterilized, vaccinated, and treated for other ailments such as mange and TVT, a sexually transmitted diseased which is rampant in the Iquitos animal community.

 

Due to publicity in La Region, El Commercio and on two local TV programs, many locals took an intense interest in the veterinary clinics.

(Photo Caption: Dr. Jane Little maintains her concentration while sterilizing a dog, despite hoards of curious onlookers.)

Despite these long hours performing repeated surgeries in extreme heat and without rest or meal breaks the four Doctors mentioned above rallied and traveled to Nauta where the Great Amazon River Raft Race commenced. Dr. McGennisken commented “The race was 142 kms over 3 days, & I can definitely say it was the most grueling physical challenge of my life. It was so tough - hot, hot sun, sunburn, blisters, heat exhaustion, incredible pain. We wanted to win the race to donate the money to Amazon c.a.r.e.s. to save more animals, but the Peruvian teams, born with a paddle in hand, were way too fast for us. So the challenge was to complete the race & beat the other 5 international teams. We did it & we came in 2nd beating some very fit young guys in the process!”

 

The day after the race, the WVS team boarded a riverboat along with employees of Amazon c.a.r.e.s., Director Molly Mednikow of the USA and Veterinary Assistants Ricardo Abarca and Bethjane Rios, both of Iquitos. Local volunteer and teacher, Tania Rodriguez Ayala also accompanied the team. Their five day journey included mobile sterilization and anti-rabies clinics in the communities of Indiana, Mazan, Las Palmeras and Yanamono. While the Veterinarians were busy sterilizing animals, Karina and Tanya visited local schools to teach children about responsible pet care, and the differences between wild animals and domestic animals.

 

Several animals were infected with TVT, a sexually transmitted disease that requires prolonged treatment. Rather than dooming these animals to a sure death, and in order to prevent the spread of the infection in these communities, the team transported several dogs back to Iquitos and will return them to their original communities in a few weeks when they are restored to health.

 

In addition to the departure of the WVS team, everyone in Iquitos will be saying a bittersweet farewell to Australian Veterinarian Beth McGennisken, who has dedicated months to working with Amazon c.a.r.e.s. to establish a stray animal sterilization and anti-rabies program in Iquitos and training the staff at Amazon c.a.r.e.s. in the newest surgical techniques and veterinary protocols. She has become well known in the local community and especially among the many stray dogs, that follow her wherever she goes!

 

During Dr. McGennisken's tenure she and other Veterinary volunteers conducted several seminars for the members of the local Veterinary Association, helping Amazon c.a.r.e.s. fulfill one of its goals of promoting the advancement of Veterinary knowledge throughout the Loreto region. Other seminars hosted by Amazon c.a.r.e.s. have been on parasitology, sterilization protocols, advances in pharmaceutical medicine for small animals, early-age sterilization, and animal acupuncture and holistic healing.