SPCA - Fiji

Veterinarian Required for Fiji SPCA

The SPCA, Fijiís only animal welfare organisation, which has been operating a clinic in Suva, the nationís capital, since the early 1950s, is looking to immediately recruit a replacement fulltime veterinarian. Suva has a population of 200,000 and has one other veterinarian in private practice.

The Suva clinic is at present a one veterinarian practice, with 2 veterinary nurses, several kennel hands, an Executive Director and 2 other office staff plus several volunteers. Visiting short term volunteer veterinarians from several countries, provide support on an ongoing basis. A part time clinic is also operated in Nadi, near the International airport, where demand for services is growing. The clinics are overseen by an Executive Committee and a Branch Committee respectively. Occasional clinics, for both neutering and general veterinary services are undertaken, as resources and staffing permit, in some of the most visually stunning rural locations and settings on a number of Fijiís 300 other islands.

The bulk of activities are related to companion animals and a large part of the clientele is in the low income group. Neutering constitutes a major focus, as part of national efforts to better manage the stray dog problem, and is supported by activities aimed at enhancing awareness about this subject as well as to improve animal welfare generally throughout Fiji.

The Fiji SPCA plans to establish a permanent clinic, manned by a veterinarian and support staff, in Nadi and to progressively improve access to veterinary services for companion animals in other areas of the country.

The SPCA has a close working relationship, in particular on dog licencing, with the Fiji Department of Agriculture, which maintains a para veterinary service in many areas. In addition, the Fiji SPCA is endeavouring to work more closely with other arms of government and local government, on building animal welfare awareness, especially in young people, and in managing stray dogs. The Fiji SPCA also collaborates closely with other organisations, in particular with the regional Secretariat of the Pacific Community [SPC] and WSPA, in working toward an improved level of services and coverage.

This role, in one of the most friendly and beautiful of small island states, would be both challenging and also rewarding in a work sense, because of the opportunities to develop the capacity of local staff and to visit different parts of the country. It would also suit an experienced and motivated individual who is interested in working in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural developing country.