Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Antigua, Guatemala
We left Todos Santos on Monday and 3 buses and 8 hours later we arrived in Antigua. I will be here for a couple of days, exploring this beautiful town with Tavy, and taking the time to reflect on my journey, both physical and spiritual. Once I get back to Montreal I will add a final post with my thoughts and feelings of my adventures in Guatemala.
Todos Santos - Highlight
I saw so much during my time in Todos Santos that it is difficult to pin point one particular highlight. However, after much reflection, it has to be this:
Dr Kate had told me a story about when VWB was in Todos Santos in January performing the sterilization procedures. An elderly lady, probably about 80 years old (it´s very difficult to guess the ages if the Todos Santeras) brought her dog, Chino Pollo (chinese chicken), to the clinic. Bear in mind that the clinics held were usually on someone´s porch or veranda much as the surgery detailed in my earlier post. Once the procedure was completed on Chino Pollo and he was waking up from the anaesthesia, the elderly lady wanted to carry him home herself. Now, this lady was no taller than 4 ft 11 and the dog weighed about 30 kilos! Dr Kate and Andres carried the dog back themselves. It was a good 30 minutes trek up and down some serious mountain terrain to the lady´s remote, traditional house.
I am telling this story because one afternoon, Dr Kate and I were taking a stroll past the slaughter house and cemetery when Dr Kate asked if it was ok if we visited Chino Pollo to see how he was and if he was actually still alive. No problem for me, so off we set.
As we approached the house, after having crossed the river where the village sewage empties into before heading to Mexico, we saw the lady´s husband. He asked Dr Kate if she was here to see Chino Pollo. How amazing that he remembered Dr Kate! "Yes!" Chino Pollo was alive and kicking and doing very well. As we turned to leave, the lady came running to us to thank Dr Kate for everything she had done. The lady also kept asking if we had passed by just to see Chino Pollo. The locals still cannot believe that VWB has put so much emphasis on their animals. Juana and Brigido were SO happy that we had passed by to check on them. They even asked for our telephone number and agreed for us to take a photo with them!
This is my trip highlight as it really shows the impact that VWB has had (and continues to have) on this community. VWB are there primarily to improve the lives of the Todos Santeros, and they are. How lucky I am to have been a part of this experience. Thank you VWB and Aeroplan.
Dr Kate had told me a story about when VWB was in Todos Santos in January performing the sterilization procedures. An elderly lady, probably about 80 years old (it´s very difficult to guess the ages if the Todos Santeras) brought her dog, Chino Pollo (chinese chicken), to the clinic. Bear in mind that the clinics held were usually on someone´s porch or veranda much as the surgery detailed in my earlier post. Once the procedure was completed on Chino Pollo and he was waking up from the anaesthesia, the elderly lady wanted to carry him home herself. Now, this lady was no taller than 4 ft 11 and the dog weighed about 30 kilos! Dr Kate and Andres carried the dog back themselves. It was a good 30 minutes trek up and down some serious mountain terrain to the lady´s remote, traditional house.
I am telling this story because one afternoon, Dr Kate and I were taking a stroll past the slaughter house and cemetery when Dr Kate asked if it was ok if we visited Chino Pollo to see how he was and if he was actually still alive. No problem for me, so off we set.
As we approached the house, after having crossed the river where the village sewage empties into before heading to Mexico, we saw the lady´s husband. He asked Dr Kate if she was here to see Chino Pollo. How amazing that he remembered Dr Kate! "Yes!" Chino Pollo was alive and kicking and doing very well. As we turned to leave, the lady came running to us to thank Dr Kate for everything she had done. The lady also kept asking if we had passed by just to see Chino Pollo. The locals still cannot believe that VWB has put so much emphasis on their animals. Juana and Brigido were SO happy that we had passed by to check on them. They even asked for our telephone number and agreed for us to take a photo with them!
This is my trip highlight as it really shows the impact that VWB has had (and continues to have) on this community. VWB are there primarily to improve the lives of the Todos Santeros, and they are. How lucky I am to have been a part of this experience. Thank you VWB and Aeroplan.
Surgery on Blanco the dog
I cannot believe that my time in the mountains of North West Guatemala has come to an end. What an amazing experience!
A lot happened during the last few days in Todos Santos. I´ll leave the highlight of the trip for a post on its own.
I saw Dr Kate and Taya perform surgery on a Community Leader´s dog in the field, that´s to say, on the dirty porch with chickens and ducks running around our legs. The dog is suffering from paraphemosis (I won´t go into details here, but it´s very unpleasant for the dog). Obviously, Dr Kate was a bit worried going into this surgery as it was to be performed without the equipment you would have in an actual surgery theatre. That said, Dr Kate was pleased with how the operation went. I was lucky enough to not only observe, but to actually take part in the procedure (I only handed surgical gauze to Dr Kate, but it was still an honor to be there). When the dog, Blanco, was coming round out of the anaesthesia he was excitable, but nothing that Dr Kate couldn´t handle.
As Dr Kate did not want Blanco to lick his wound and open the sutures, she fabrictaed a cone out of a red bucket and rope! It was like watching the A-Team in action. Unfortunately, when we returned the following evening, Blanco had managed to break the cone. Luckily, he did not open the wound.
To cut a long story short, it was nothing but amazing to see such dedicated professionals as Dr Kate and Tavy perform surgery under such difficult conditions, with Tavy translating Dr Kate´s English instructions into Spanish to Mario who in turn translated Tavy´s Spanish into Mam for the Community Leader. Wow! What a day....
A lot happened during the last few days in Todos Santos. I´ll leave the highlight of the trip for a post on its own.
I saw Dr Kate and Taya perform surgery on a Community Leader´s dog in the field, that´s to say, on the dirty porch with chickens and ducks running around our legs. The dog is suffering from paraphemosis (I won´t go into details here, but it´s very unpleasant for the dog). Obviously, Dr Kate was a bit worried going into this surgery as it was to be performed without the equipment you would have in an actual surgery theatre. That said, Dr Kate was pleased with how the operation went. I was lucky enough to not only observe, but to actually take part in the procedure (I only handed surgical gauze to Dr Kate, but it was still an honor to be there). When the dog, Blanco, was coming round out of the anaesthesia he was excitable, but nothing that Dr Kate couldn´t handle.
As Dr Kate did not want Blanco to lick his wound and open the sutures, she fabrictaed a cone out of a red bucket and rope! It was like watching the A-Team in action. Unfortunately, when we returned the following evening, Blanco had managed to break the cone. Luckily, he did not open the wound.
To cut a long story short, it was nothing but amazing to see such dedicated professionals as Dr Kate and Tavy perform surgery under such difficult conditions, with Tavy translating Dr Kate´s English instructions into Spanish to Mario who in turn translated Tavy´s Spanish into Mam for the Community Leader. Wow! What a day....
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Final days in Todos Santos
We have a few days left in Todos Santos. This means that we will be setting out at 6am to walk around all of the Cantones that have been involved in the dog control project. We are hiking for approximately 6 hours a day, looking for stray dogs. How do we know the dog is a stray? It is not wearing one of the collars that we distributed earlier on in the week. The stray dog will be sprayed with red vegetable dye and counted, sex included. This will enable the epidemiologists know how many starys are in the towns and how effective the VWB project has been. However, I think this is going to be difficult owing to the drastic reduction in numbers of strays around town.
It´s highly likely that a small number of locals have been feeding chicken laced with strichnyne to the dogs. This causes the dogs a long a painful death. Sad, but this is how they have been handling the problem.
It´s highly likely that a small number of locals have been feeding chicken laced with strichnyne to the dogs. This causes the dogs a long a painful death. Sad, but this is how they have been handling the problem.
Los animales en Todos Santos
As we have been distributing collars and surveying the local dog owners, I have seen the variety of livestock that the Todos Santeros keep. Chickens and turkeys run around freely with their chicks in toe, that is if the adults have not been tied to a post to keep them from running away. I have seen 3 donkeys, all kept tied on short ropes to keep them from moving. It´s much the same with the pigs. One was on such a short rope that all it could do was lie down. While this is difficult to see as an animal lover, I have to remind myself why I am here and that this is how the Todos Santeros live. Things will change bit by bit and for now VWB are here to help the locals improve their health by vaccinating dogs against rabies, deworming them and spaying and neutering the dogs to control the population.
On our second night here, we were on our way to feed one of the local dogs some chicken left over from dinner, when we were stopped in the street by a local hostel owner. They knew Dr Kate was a vet and so asked her to take a look at their sow who had given birth to 3 piglets some 4 hours eartlier but no more. Dr Kate, armed with her surgical gloves, jumped into the pen and was able to pull out a piglet that had gotten stuck. It was touch and go whether this piglet would live as Dr Kate had no other tools or suction devices to clear the piglets airway. A bit of straw and a few shakes later, the piglet was happily suckling. Then, another piglet was born! This was a very exciting experience never having seen such an event. The hostel owner was so happy that Dr Kate had saved the piglets and the sow! It´s important to remember that Dr Kate only deals with cats and dogs, way to go!!
Eating in Todos Santos
There are a handful of local restaurants (comedor) in Todos Santos. We have been eating in both "Hollywood" and "Comedor Evelyn". This is the biggest challenge for me here. These are not restaurants as you find in Montreal. They are more like small shacks or concrete rooms with a few plastic tables and chairs. There are no menus as illiteracy is a problem here. The waitress (maybe 13 years old) will come and recite what is on the menu. Food mainly consists of carne assada (roasted beef) or some form of chicken with rice and beans. I have eaten the chicken a couple of times, but am now sticking to the rice and beans. You have to really not think about the flies buzzing around or the dirty walls when you eat.
I´ve avoided the beef as I have seen both the slaughter house where the cattle spend their last minutes alive and have also seen the buther shops, beef carcass hanging in unrefrigerated rooms with flies and a dirty axe used to chop the meat. Becoming a vegetarian is seeming like a good idea.
In the evening, Dr Kate, Tavy and I eat on Tavy´s balcony. Bread rolls that are sweet, topped with home made guacamole, queso fresco (fresh cheese) and refried beans from a tin. Followed by the most delicious mangoes ever! Dr Kate has been worried that I will blog that I´m not being fed, but no need to worry. These dinners are delicious!! As I told them last night, I´ve lost more weight here in Guatemala than 5 months exercise at the gym!
I´ve avoided the beef as I have seen both the slaughter house where the cattle spend their last minutes alive and have also seen the buther shops, beef carcass hanging in unrefrigerated rooms with flies and a dirty axe used to chop the meat. Becoming a vegetarian is seeming like a good idea.
In the evening, Dr Kate, Tavy and I eat on Tavy´s balcony. Bread rolls that are sweet, topped with home made guacamole, queso fresco (fresh cheese) and refried beans from a tin. Followed by the most delicious mangoes ever! Dr Kate has been worried that I will blog that I´m not being fed, but no need to worry. These dinners are delicious!! As I told them last night, I´ve lost more weight here in Guatemala than 5 months exercise at the gym!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Hola desde Guatemala
After almost 2 days of travelling by planes and bus, I arrived safely in the mountains of Guatemala with Dr Kate. Todos Santos is about what I expected, a poor region where people live in shacks that they have most probably built themselves and in insanitary conditions. However, they are one of the happiest townsfolk I have ever come across. It´s great to walk up and down the very steep streets saying hello to everyone who passes.
We started carrying out our dog surveys yesterday, 10 hours walking around the different communities that make up Todos Santos (10 "Cantones" in all) meeting dog owners and asking various questions relating to the animal. Everyone was very happy to answer the questions. Those owners of dogs missing a collar were given one by VWB along with instructions on how to use the as they are new here.
Not much time to blog as I have to hit the streets again with the team, (Andres is our man on the ground who speaks Spanish, Mam and English, Tavy who is a student Vet and Dr Kate)...
More to come along with photos when I return. We are unable to take photos in the town owing to locals thinking that when a photo is taken the soul is stolen, that we are going to sell the photo afterwards for mass postcard distribution or that we are going to steal their children. A Japanese tourist was actually killed several years ago for this!!
Hasta la proxima!
We started carrying out our dog surveys yesterday, 10 hours walking around the different communities that make up Todos Santos (10 "Cantones" in all) meeting dog owners and asking various questions relating to the animal. Everyone was very happy to answer the questions. Those owners of dogs missing a collar were given one by VWB along with instructions on how to use the as they are new here.
Not much time to blog as I have to hit the streets again with the team, (Andres is our man on the ground who speaks Spanish, Mam and English, Tavy who is a student Vet and Dr Kate)...
More to come along with photos when I return. We are unable to take photos in the town owing to locals thinking that when a photo is taken the soul is stolen, that we are going to sell the photo afterwards for mass postcard distribution or that we are going to steal their children. A Japanese tourist was actually killed several years ago for this!!
Hasta la proxima!
Friday, May 8, 2009
1 week to go!
With only one week left until I leave for Guatemala with VWB, I went to the travel clinic today for my shots. I had 5 in total, including hep A & B, Typhoid and a tetanus shot. No shots for Rabies owing to the lack of time between now and leaving for Todos Santos. That's ok though, I'll just have to be real careful about not getting bit! The nurse said I was the calmest patient she has seen in a long time! It's only a needle or 2, no big deal. Although, that said, the jabs I had in my thighs are now starting to sting! Oh well, it's going to be worth it.
Next up I need to get my supplies ready for the trip. VWB have been great, Dr Kuzminski emailed a list of items to bring ranging from waterproof shoes (it's the start of the rainy season) to medications, to a travel towel that dries in an instant because a normal one will smell bad very fast!
Good news is that there is an internet cafe in the village and also a place to do laundry.
That's it for now, make sure you stay tuned for more news on my Guatemalan adventure with VWB.
¡Hasta Luego!
Next up I need to get my supplies ready for the trip. VWB have been great, Dr Kuzminski emailed a list of items to bring ranging from waterproof shoes (it's the start of the rainy season) to medications, to a travel towel that dries in an instant because a normal one will smell bad very fast!
Good news is that there is an internet cafe in the village and also a place to do laundry.
That's it for now, make sure you stay tuned for more news on my Guatemalan adventure with VWB.
¡Hasta Luego!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
¡Hola!
Welcome to my blog where I am going to share my adventures in Guatemala with you. Before I even set foot in Central America, let’s take a look at the journey so far….
I’d seen other employee engagement trips to Kenya, Zambia and across Canada with our “…Without Borders” partners and was patiently waiting for a “Vets Without Borders” trip. Then, it appeared! I was so happy to see a help VWB with a dog over-population issue in Todos Santos, Guatemala. I had to apply right then and there.
However, I stopped myself and questioned why I wanted to participate. Was it to have a nice vacation in Central America? NO! Was it to help animals and people in need? YES!
Then, I did extensive research prior to submitting my essay to Tamara from the Community Investment team, treating the process much like I would if I had been applying for a job. I read the VWB website (http://www.vwb-vsf.ca) and what they are doing in Guatemala, read up on Todos Santos to be sure it was an environment I thought I could handle and so on. The result was a resounding yes, I had to apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
To cut a long story short, after a tough interview with Dr Kate Kuzminski (lead vet), Marjo Perrault (lead technician) and Dr Enid Stiles (coordinator canine / feline programs) I have been invited to join Dr Kuzminski on the trip in May! What an honor! I was very happy and proud to accept the invitation and be an Aeroplan ambassador.
Now I am going to get my shots as I definitely want to try and avoid getting rabies or hepatitis!
I’d seen other employee engagement trips to Kenya, Zambia and across Canada with our “…Without Borders” partners and was patiently waiting for a “Vets Without Borders” trip. Then, it appeared! I was so happy to see a help VWB with a dog over-population issue in Todos Santos, Guatemala. I had to apply right then and there.
However, I stopped myself and questioned why I wanted to participate. Was it to have a nice vacation in Central America? NO! Was it to help animals and people in need? YES!
Then, I did extensive research prior to submitting my essay to Tamara from the Community Investment team, treating the process much like I would if I had been applying for a job. I read the VWB website (http://www.vwb-vsf.ca) and what they are doing in Guatemala, read up on Todos Santos to be sure it was an environment I thought I could handle and so on. The result was a resounding yes, I had to apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
To cut a long story short, after a tough interview with Dr Kate Kuzminski (lead vet), Marjo Perrault (lead technician) and Dr Enid Stiles (coordinator canine / feline programs) I have been invited to join Dr Kuzminski on the trip in May! What an honor! I was very happy and proud to accept the invitation and be an Aeroplan ambassador.
Now I am going to get my shots as I definitely want to try and avoid getting rabies or hepatitis!
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