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Phuket volunteer veterinarian for stray dog and stray cat sterilization |
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Phuket volunteer veterinarian for stray dog and stray cat sterilization |
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Who are the visiting vets? |
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Since it's launch on the 23rd December 2000 the project has welcomed 14 vets from as far as Austria, Scotland, England and Australia. The intention is to invite both Thai and foreign vets to volunteer their time and expertise. Visiting vets decide themselves how long they can volunteer but so far have lent a hand varying from a week to a month. The Project is very, very grateful for their help. |
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| Lunch on the field clinics is a Thai food lovers dream. The Buddhist monks share their food with the volunteers. | |
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Is
the Project just for animal lovers? |
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| Certainly not. Animal lovers, animal haters, animal “fearers”, everyone will benefit from the Project’s work. Many tourists leave Phuket heartbroken at the horrible condition of the stray dogs and cats. It ruins their holiday and they vow not to return. Others decide not to return because they are concerned about the health risk these animals pose or they are frightened of them. The Project has both human and animal welfare concerns in mind. Its aim is to eradicate stray dogs and cats from Phuket but to do so humanely, efficiently and for the long term. |  |
| Dr Alison & Na giving anaesthetic to one of their patients. | |
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What involvement does the local Government have in the Atigaro Project? |
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| The Phuket Government at both Provincial and Municipal level have been very supportive of the Project. The Government understands that the stray cat and dog populations is a very serious problem and recognize that methods of control used in the past are not effective or acceptable. Though the Government is unable to finance the Project it is able to donate much needed medical and surgical supplies. Equally important the Government has given the Atigaro Project it’s approval and has allowed foreign vets to work as volunteers in Phuket, something that is an exception. Without the governments blessing the Project would not be able to go ahead and so we are very grateful of the Governments support. |  |
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What does the Atigaro Project recommend to hotels and beach restaurants as a solution? |
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To
be patient. To accept that there is no
quick and easy solution to the problem.
To use an old cliché "It may not happen overnight but it
will happen”. If they are serious about helping to solve the problem
for good then they should support a humane, effective and long-term
approach such as the Atigaro project. |
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