August 2014

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Vet programme volunteers participation in the ViDAS Campaign
with our partners Cocos Cat Rescue
Objective
Raise awareness on pet welfare and to contribute to decreasing the stray cats and dogs population in
Playa del Carmen, thus contributing to public health.
Summary
GVI vet program volunteers, intern and staff members were immersed in the 6-day ViDAS annual
campaign of sterilization of cats and dogs for the community of Playa del Carmen for free. For the first
time in 6 years, GVI has been able to participate through the partnership with Cocos Cat Rescue and
IFAW. The goal was to raise awareness of animal and pet care, and to work with local veterinarians
and municipalities on sustainable and humane solutions to overpopulation. This goal was achieved
through the staggering number of volunteers, vets, donors, sponsors, partners, and of course, loving
owners and rescuers who safely and successfully sterilized 1613 cats and dogs.
Report
After identifying a large over population of stray cats and dogs here in
Playa del Carmen, many non-for profit organisations have been created to tackle this situation. The GVI Playa community hub has been
working with Cocos Cat Rescue and International Fund for Animal
Welfare for almost a year now. During this time, GVI has been able to
meet volunteers from other organisations or just those who have giant
hearts for helping animals in the community. One of which happens to
be a giant organisation named ViDAS.
ViDAS is a non-profit organization founded by made up of veterinarians, veterinary students and other animal lovers dedicated
to improving the lives of animals and people through veterinary medicine and education 1. For six years, ViDAS brought together vets, veterinary students, volunteers and organisations including Cocos Cat
Rescue and IFAW annually for one enormous sterilization program 2.
For 6 days, ViDAS takes over a large space to provide the locals free
veterinary service, including rescuing stray animals for spay or neuter.
GVI has been very lucky to be able to be involved in this campaign for
Figure 1. Our volunteer Megan looking the very first time. Four volunteers, one intern and two staff members
after cats in the recovery area
covered all 6 days of surgery assistance, preparation and recovery
from 8am-7pm, including set up and pack up. This year, a local school
in the suburb of 28 Julio, Playa del Carmen donated their entire building and its furniture to host the
2014 ViDAS campaign; in which 6 classrooms plus its courtyard were utilized. It has been astonishing
to see how many sponsors and donation and just general assistance this campaign received.

http://www.vidas.org/index.php viewed in September 2nd 2014

2
http://www.vidas.org/history.php viewed in September 2nd 2014
GVI.2014.2

There were approximately 100 people involved and local companies donated generously all the food (hot lunches and snacks),
drinks (bottled water, soft drinks, juices, power drinks), towels, surgery supplies, and
much more. Our volunteers involved were
pre-vet students, or vet tech students and
found the campaign to be the toughest but
most rewarding work they have ever done.
They have gained valuable experience,
gained skills after assisting in the procedures
of 1613 3 cats and dogs over the course of the
6 days (which broke the ViDAS record). GVI
would like to thank our partners Cocos Cat
Rescue for the training, their patience and
involving us in one of their biggest campaigns
of the year.

Figure 2. A glimpse of the dog recovery room

It has been an achievement for the GVI Community hub to be

able to work and meet passionate people in the community. It has
been an achievement to be a part of a successful campaign for
the benefit and welfare of cats and dogs and animal lovers in Playa del Carmen. For our volunteers and interns and staff specifically who were involved, their achievement lies in the knowledge and
experience
they
have
gained from their work.
The aim of ViDAS was to
raise awareness to the
Figure 3. Our intern Dani with an arm full
public about the necessity
of puppies
of animal care, to promote
being a responsible owner and to understand the importance of
spaying or neutering your pets and also to work with local veterinarians and municipalities on sustainable and humane solutions to overpopulation 4 . With the help of all the people who
they have had help volunteer, all owners who brought in their
pets, and to all the rescued stray animals, the campaign
achieved its goal and the GVI Playa Community hub cannot
wait to be a part of the next one!
If you would like to find out more about what we do:
http://www.gvi.co.uk/programs/veterinary-project-mexico/

Figure 4. S asha, our volunteer, assisting in

surgeries

Or about our partners Cocos Cat Rescue:

http://www.cocoscatrescue.org/
Or about ViDAS:
http://www.vidas.org/index.php

http://www.vidas.org/clinics.php?category=5 viewed in September 2nd 2014

http://www.vidas.org/history.php viewed in September 2nd 2014

GVI.2014.2