Come and join us on a unique South Indian trip
Volunteer to join a dedicated team of 2-3 vets and 1-2 vet nurses on a two week program in the forests of South India. This project is in partnership with the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and the
Tibetan Volunteers for Animals. This is a unique opportunity to be part of the first dog health program in a restricted area of the South Indian highlands amongst a fascinating community of Tibetan Buddhist monks in one of the world’s largest monastic complexes. This pilot dog steralisation, health care and anti-rabies program will operate from 28th March- 5th April 2009. Accommodation and food will be provided in a comfortable guest house nearby.
Prerequisites: Previous experience working in field camps in developing communities preferred but not essential. Vets: at least 2 years experience in small animal practice and proficiency in canine steralisation surgeries. Vet Nurses: at least 1 year’s experience in small animal practice. Ability to general surgical and medical nursing tasks, place i.v. catheters, monitor and maintain i.v. anesthesia and training of local volunteers who will continue to provide basic animal care on our departure.
Ability to work in minimalist conditions and be adaptable. Good sense of humor and flexible, tolerant attitude to different cultural attitudes and beliefs. Cooperative attitude and good team work essential.
For more information please contact catherine@vetsbeyondborders.org.
Prerequisites: Previous experience working in field camps in developing communities preferred but not essential. Vets: at least 2 years experience in small animal practice and proficiency in canine steralisation surgeries. Vet Nurses: at least 1 year’s experience in small animal practice. Ability to general surgical and medical nursing tasks, place i.v. catheters, monitor and maintain i.v. anesthesia and training of local volunteers who will continue to provide basic animal care on our departure.
Ability to work in minimalist conditions and be adaptable. Good sense of humor and flexible, tolerant attitude to different cultural attitudes and beliefs. Cooperative attitude and good team work essential.
For more information please contact catherine@vetsbeyondborders.org.
About the Karnataka Project
Sera Datsang (Monastery) is one of the world’s largest teaching institutions for Buddhism. As well as providing comprehensive education, it houses and indirectly supports approximately 6000 Tibetan monks.
While a relatively small population of feral and semi-domestic or “community” dogs, live in the Monastery precinct (which could, in itself, be considered a self-contained town), many more live in the surrounding districts in approximately 32 Tibetan ‘camps’ and in the broader surrounds inhabited by the Indian population.
The potential for a pilot animal birth control anti-rabies (ABC-AR) program within the Sera Monastery environs is a practical and manageable strategy to create what may potentially become a much more wide-spread project with significant benefits on many social levels as well as those of a public health and animal welfare nature.
It is proposed that an efficient short-term pilot project be established to sterilise the current dog population within Sera Monastery. This would involve temporary surgical setups within the current human hospital and clinical facility on the edge of the extensive Monastery grounds. In any case, this facility would become the focus for the project in many respects.
This clinic – the H. Poiter Health Centre – is situated in a fairly large area of maintained grounds large enough to accommodate temporary shelters for dog recovery as well as a longer-term palliative care shelter should it be necessary. The facility has good access to external boundaries of the monastery and to main road links with major regional centres.
While a relatively small population of feral and semi-domestic or “community” dogs, live in the Monastery precinct (which could, in itself, be considered a self-contained town), many more live in the surrounding districts in approximately 32 Tibetan ‘camps’ and in the broader surrounds inhabited by the Indian population.
The potential for a pilot animal birth control anti-rabies (ABC-AR) program within the Sera Monastery environs is a practical and manageable strategy to create what may potentially become a much more wide-spread project with significant benefits on many social levels as well as those of a public health and animal welfare nature.
It is proposed that an efficient short-term pilot project be established to sterilise the current dog population within Sera Monastery. This would involve temporary surgical setups within the current human hospital and clinical facility on the edge of the extensive Monastery grounds. In any case, this facility would become the focus for the project in many respects.
This clinic – the H. Poiter Health Centre – is situated in a fairly large area of maintained grounds large enough to accommodate temporary shelters for dog recovery as well as a longer-term palliative care shelter should it be necessary. The facility has good access to external boundaries of the monastery and to main road links with major regional centres.
Partner Organisations
Brigitte Bardot Foundation (FBB)
FBB is one of VBB’s long time and treasured funding bodies. They have again generously agreed to support this project and VBB’s work for animals in Asia. FBB’s vision in supporting pilot programs, which have the ability to develop into wide ranging and sustainable animal welfare efforts, is most evident by their long term support of the SARAH program in Sikkim.
Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) is a registered non-government and non-profit organization registered under Karnataka Societies Act 1960.
TVA will assist with logistical support, translation, community and school education campaigns and recruitment and management of local volunteers. It is anticipated that this pilot program will lead to wider scale animal/ public health programs throughout all the Tibetan refugee communities in India, managed by TVA and supported by VBB.
Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) is a registered non-government and non-profit organization registered under Karnataka Societies Act 1960.
TVA will assist with logistical support, translation, community and school education campaigns and recruitment and management of local volunteers. It is anticipated that this pilot program will lead to wider scale animal/ public health programs throughout all the Tibetan refugee communities in India, managed by TVA and supported by VBB.