Job well done
Team returns home, leaving successful plan in place.
By Michael Rinker, Best Friends Senior Editor
The four remaining members of the Best Friends team returned to Utah this week after successfully completing the set-up phase and initial operating period of our mission to aid the animal victims of Peru’s devastating earthquake.
Our plan was to initiate a program of vaccinations and spay/neuters, and to provide food, in an effort to stabilize the situation, then put into place a self-sustaining operation staffed by in-country veterinarians and vet techs.
Shari Artadi, who has been working closely with us, will be the logistics/volunteer coordinator handling site set-up, supplies and communications with local stakeholders. Shari, formerly of the Peruvian Association for the Protection of Animals, played an integral role in coordinating rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
The veterinarians will follow protocols established by Best Friends medical director Mike Dix, who is one of the four returnees, along with rapid response manager Rich Crook, and staffers Keith Cliver and Pam Crook.
Rich will travel back to Peru next month to monitor the on-going operational phase and determine if any fine-tuning is needed.
After 14 working days in the field, we performed 163 spay/neuter surgeries, 2263 vaccinations and distributed 2800 pounds of dog food. At this point, those numbers meet or exceed our expectations.
Rich said the local vets and vet techs have done a great job and all levels of government officials have been extremely cooperative and supportive, as have the residents where the teams have conducted operations.
He is submitting a report to Peru’s Ministry of Health.
Our assessment team arrived early last month as the government was considering mass euthanasia because of fear about the spread of rabies. Reports said that people had been bitten by hungry animals roaming the streets and there was concern that the longer the animals went without food, the more aggressive they would become.
Our overall goal was to show the country’s Minister of Health and his directors that we’re helping provide a safer, healthier environment in the areas most affected by the earthquake. We presented our plan to government officials in mid-September and they signed on.