December 2013 Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Vet programme started at Cocos Cat Rescue

Summary GVI started collaborating with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Coco s cat rescue, a local organization with a no kill policy dedicated to reduce the cat population in Playa del Carmen. GVI volunteers will be helping out with the daily activities at the vet clinic where they have spay/neuter programmes. Such programmes, along with raising awareness, are of extreme importance as they will contribute towards controlling stray animals populations which represent a health risk for people and their pets.

Report Cocos Cat Rescue is a nonprofit organization with a no kill policy, dedicated to reduce the cat population in Playa del Carmen through the TNR (trap spay/neuter and return) program for feral cats, and the rescue, treat, spay/neuter, and tame program for kittens under 3 months, finding a permanent loving home for all the rescued kittens in care 1. Cocos Cat Recue provides free or low cost spay/neuter Figure 1 Socializing with kittens surgeries and basic pet care to those on a low income. While the primary focus is on cats, Coco's clinic also provides spay/neuter services for dogs. IFAW was founded in 1969, the International Fund for Animal Welfare saves individual animals, animal populations and habitats all over the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW provides hands-on assistance to animals in need, whether it's dogs and cats, wildlife and livestock, or rescuing animals in the wake of disasters2. GVI supports international charities, non-profits and governmental organisations around the world. Through financial support, international recognition and volunteer support their critical goals can be realised.
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http://www.cocoscatrescue.org/ http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw

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In partnership with IFAW, GVI staff and volunteers started supporting Cocos Cat Rescue centre in December 2013. To date 3 staff, 2 volunteers, and our 3 new interns have been assisting in the running and maintenance of Cocos. Cocos have 2 vets per day working t irelessly to neuter, fix and spay all the cats and dogs that come through the door. As volunteers/assistance we have been aiding the vets with minor surgical procedures such as removing drips and administering care in the pre and post operation phase. Whilst still under anaesthesia, volunteers take the opportunity to clean them up a bit by cutting their nails, cleaning their ears and brushing them. So when they are released they look like new cats and dogs. It is a very busy clinic, this is symptomatic of the acute nature of the problem Cocos innovative programme is tackling. It is not all clinical however as our volunteers assist in cleaning duties and the immensely pleasurable socialising of kittens and puppies. Not only is this gratifying and enjoyable to humans and animals alike, but also helps the chances of finding them a home successfully. The more used to people they are the less frightened they will be of strangers who come to adopt a kitten or puppy. This is also the volunteers favourite time of day. There are over 30 million stray dogs in the whole of Mexico. It's an exponential problem that urges us all to become part of the solution. Two dogs can ultimately be responsible for up to 4,000 puppies in 7 years!3 Stray animals have become a health risk all over the world as their faeces carry organisms that can cause problems not only for humans but also for other pets.

Figure 2 Volunteer looking after a kitten in recovery

Cocos is doing fantastic work in attempting to reduce the stray dog and cat problem in Playa del Carmen. GVI are proud to be working alongside such dedicated individuals. We hope to see quantifiable results within a few years, but in the meantime we are confident that Cocos is improving the lives of animals within Playa del Carmen. To find out more about the Vet Project in Mexico visit: http://www.gvi.co.uk/programs/veterinaryproject-mexico

http://www.rescatemalix.org/

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