AID FOR THE ANIMALS AND PEOPLE OF PERU

In December of 2009, Dr. Gabriella Flacke and veterinary technician Dara Rishwain will be traveling to Lima, Peru, to volunteer their services for Grupo Caridad, a local spay/neuter organization offering no-cost surgeries to pets in underprivileged areas.

Grupo Caridad was founded 2 years ago by the then 16-year-old Fernando Moreno. Over 2500 dogs and cats have been surgically altered since the group’s inception, a procedure which makes a world of difference not only for the individual animals and their long-term quality of life, but also for the city’s pet overpopulation problem. Animals running loose in the streets of Lima are routinely poisoned with strychnine by government animal control officials for public health reasons to help control the spread of rabies.

The majority of animals seen by the Grupo Caridad spay/neuter campaign are owned by poor families in very economically depressed areas of Lima. These people love and care for their animals as much as any client at Murrayhill; however, life has dealt them a more unfortunate set of circumstances. Many of these people do not have access to electricity, running water, or medical care for themselves and their families, let alone for their pets. Grupo Caridad’s services offer these people a chance for their animals to live longer, healthier lives through a routine surgical procedure.

The Peruvian veterinarians working for Grupo Caridad are all volunteers who donate their time on weekends and holidays. Unfortunately, their surgically skills are not ideal, not by any fault of their own, but due to the very rudimentary curriculum in most Latin American veterinary schools. However, these veterinarians do the very best with the skills and supplies they do have, and they truly care about their patients.

Together with Humane Society International, who sponsors Grupo Caridad, Dr. Flacke and Dara will be providing training to the local veterinarians and helping them improve their surgical skills. Your donations to support this effort are greatly appreciated. Even a very small amount makes a big difference in the lives of the animals helped by this organization. Funds are needed to purchase surgical supplies including suture material, sterile gloves and drapes, and above all much needed pain medication and antibiotics.

We here at Murrayhill are very lucky to be able to practice veterinary medicine with the highest standard of care that the profession has to offer. The volunteers of Grupo Caridad would surely do the same if able, but their dedication, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn make up for their lack of expertise, finances, and supplies a thousand times over.

If you are interested in making a donation to help the dogs and cats of Peru, visit us at Murrayhill or call 503-579-3300. We can only accept cash or checks. Upon our return, we will post a summary and photos of all the benefits your valuable donations have brought the pets of Peru.