Vets helping vets -Papua New Guinea

  Hi, thanks so much for coming to our page to learn more about us.  We are "Vets helping vets" in Papua New Guinea!

  We are a group of small and large animal veterinarians: 
Dr Carol Sanio, Dr Jocelyn Wichtel, Dr Helena Dean, Dr Justine Rudniski and Christina Jobson, a future veterinary student.  We are passionate about veterinary relief work and overseas development.  Our goal is to improve veterinary knowledge and skills in regions of the world where animal and human populations are more vulnerable.  There is currently only a single private veterinary clinic, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,  on the entire island of Papua New Guinea.

  For 3 years, Rebekah Drew, a London Ontario native, has lived and worked in Papua New Guinea.  She instigated our trip to Papua New Guinea to help the people and their animals.  Rebekah is knowledgeable of animals, but knows her limitations and has solicited us to come and train the animal health personnel on the ground.  We are following her lead and will travel to the other side of the world to train surgeons, give medical advice, show compassion, bring supplies and much needed medications.  HELP US TO HELP THEM.  This is a very expensive trip for all of us who use our vacation time to help others in areas of the world where they have very little.  Many Papuans depend upon their animals for their livelihood.

  You can give very little of your resources and it will help a lot.

How can your dollars help?

- help treat parasitic disease with medication
- help chicken farmers to vaccine their flocks to prevent disease
- help the children's horse club to keep their horses healthy
- help farmers to treat their animals humanely and keep them safe

  With the help of local veterinarians, farmers and animal care workers in Papua New Guinea, we have identified issues surrounding animal health that impact animal welfare and the livelihood of families that care for them or rely on them.  The main species we will be working with are cats, dogs, goats, horses, donkeys, pigs and chickens.

  We will be working with the RSPCA staff to improve technical skills and to make procedures/surgeries more efficient and safe for pets and working dogs.

We will help to improve the diagnostic skills of animal care workers and teach infectious disease and animal population control.

  We will also be providing formal continuing education via presentations on topics of their choice, including wellness programs and welfare.  

  We will be providing information sessions, workshops and presentations on basic herd health principles and managing common diseases for horses, ruminants, swine and poultry.  These topics have been requested by local veterinarians and villagers.

  We will also be travelling to several isolated islands of the archipelago to teach preventative medicine and provide basic health care.

  The emphasis of our program is a multi-year commitment to teaching and sharing knowledge.  This provides a platform for sustainable improvements in animal welfare and productivity, in contrast to other programs that provide only free medical care.

  If this strikes a chord with you, we would gladly welcome donations that would go towards bringing medical supplies, surgical kits and veterinary educational materials from Canada to Papua New Guinea.

For more information on our trip and how you can help, contact:

Dr. Carol Sanio - [email redacted]

HELPING ANIMALS · ENLIGHTENING PEOPLE · CHANGING LIVES.