I came across a really interesting group of veterinarians at last week's Western Veterinary Conference.
World Vets is an international animal aid group. Kind of the animal version of Doctors Without Borders, if you've ever heard of them. I spent some time talking to their representatives and came away very impressed.
World Vets currently works in 12 countries on five continents. They have a team scheduled to go to Haiti soon.
They work with local authorities, community leaders and organizations to establish sustainable veterinary aid programs in developing countries. They also provide donations of veterinary medications, equipment and other supplies. They provide training for local animal welfare advocates and promote cross cultural ties among their volunteers and participants in partner nations.
They also provide much needed public health assistance focusing on
zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from animals to people and are common in some developing countries.
World Vet CEO, Dr. Kathy King, has a
sweet blog accessed via their web site, that you should visit. The most current post has lots of photos from a recent trip to Loreto Mexico. You'll get a real feel for what they do by checking out the blog.
World Vets is a volunteer organization funded by members and donations. The Veterinarians, Technicians and Vet Students that volunteer for these trips actually pay a fee to cover their travel expenses. If you think they do good work and feel like making a donation fire away.
Lots of animals in developing countries benefit from their time and expertise.