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“Utila Pet Project”
Animal Clinic At Utila, Honduras.
An Idea....
As the population on Utila increases, so does the pet population. Dr. Potts arrived here as a guest at Utila Lodge. On her excursion around the island, she became very aware of the overpopulation of dogs running loose in the streets. She asked if there was anything she could do to assist with the problem..... our “Utila Pet Project” was born!! Kisty E, Utila Lodge, arranged for the Pet Project temporary clinic to be set up at the Bay Islands College of Diving conference room.
To Reality..
CALIFORNIANS HELPING UTILA’S CANINES AND FELINES
By Jerry Winokur
All of the Bay Islands have been noticing major changes in the last few years. Growth has been a concern for Roatan and now Utila is also feeling the influx of international investment. One major problem facing all of the Bay Islands, but especially Roatan and Utila, is the explosion in population not of humans but cats and dogs. Few of the residents who own pets spay or neuter. When females give birth the pups are weaned and then given away or just tossed out onto the street to survive on their own. In fact, the general mind set is that it isn’t “macho” to cut your animals. To control the population on Utila a few residents have begun setting out poisoned food to kill these unwanted animals and unfortunately some pets were also killed because they couldn‘t discern between good food and bad. There is no veterinary care on this small but quaint island.
Dr. Loretta Potts began coming to Utila six years ago and recognized the problem. Dogs, looking starved, wandering down the street turning over trash, fighting for the scraps that could be unearthed. Both dog and cat fights raging trying to control territory. Other injured animals lying on the sides of streets slowly dying, unattended. Dr. Loretta, as the locals call her, began bringing supplies to the island to care for the animal population three years ago. She started by coming to island with a couple of scuba diving friends. The goals: inform the population of the improvement in quality of life for the animals by spay and neuter, performing the surgery for free, providing shots and wellness checkups, and if there was time get in a couple of dives in the warm, tropical waters of the Caribbean. The hardest part was convincing the islanders that their animals will live a longer and healthier life if they were “fixed,” and that they can control the animal population without poisoning the “wild animals.”
During the last full week of January Dr. Potts and her husband Rodger Mehrer brought a crew of fourteen people with them to run the clinic. Most are residents or work in Paso Robles, California. It is a city two hundred miles north of Los Angeles and equidistant from San Francisco. However, if it weren’t for Jim and Kisty Engel, owners of the Utila Lodge and Resort, and Utila College of Diving the project may never have gotten off the ground a few years ago. He provided air conditioned space for the surgery and clinic as well as housing for the crew of workers. Jim made sure the local television station came by which provided air time to advertise the event and flyers were put up around the island informing the locals of the event. Joining Dr. Loretta on the trip were two other veterinarians, Dr. Julie Smith and Dr. Lisa Miller. The backup crew consisted of Tami Boeddeker, Niki Van Horn, Jutta Thoerner, Jackie Fee, Dr. Cynthia Douglas, Robin Schroeder, Carol Soffietto, Dawn Wittig, Mary Winokur, Lynn Davies, Marty Halldin, and myself Jerry Winokur. Each of the people paid their own expenses and donated their time for the clinic.
During the four day clinic more than fifty cats, dogs and one bunny were spayed or neutered. All were given a complete spectrum of shots and a full physical. Ears were cleaned, hundreds of ticks removed, wounds were cleaned and dressed, and medicine was provided free of charge. On the wellness check day another sixty animals were brought in as mentioned earlier. Some of these animals also required more extensive procedures. The final day of the clinic is to provide post operative checkups for the animals. Many times, however, a local will come in and ask for care during non-surgical times. One of the doctors always finishes the task at hand and then provides the necessary surgery for the “drop in.”
It’s been a long week but very rewarding. We feel that a dent has been made and some good information is circulating. We hope we have made a small impact on a growing problem within this beautiful little island.
If you would like more information about the Utila Animal Clinic or to make a donation to this worthy cause please contact Dr. Loretta Potts at lp.paradisecove@ gmail.com.
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