Wednesday 19th December 2007...
After dropping all the dogs to the clinic for their neuter/spay operations we all travelled together in the minibus onto an area near to Sri Lanka’s main airport.
The army were in the area doing house to house checks to make sure that no-one was hiding Tamil Tigers or weapons.
At this point we split into 2 groups, Antony, Ralph and Janice went onto Ja-Ella slaughter house. Sue, Andrea, Ishan, Gamini and myself (Liz) set up all the dog treatment on a table provided by a lady who runs a little shop.
Dogs were brought to us a few at a time by their owners – we wormed and treated against fleas approximately 50 dogs. We gave out collars and milk powder, also some shampoo.
Even though the area was badly flooded; some houses surrounded by water (one man was doing his best to dig ditches and lay piping to drain the water from his land) believe it or not the village had a severe shortage of water. People had to walk a very long way for their drinking water. For this reason we only gave shampoo to the most in need and told the people to do their best.
There were a family of stray dogs sheltering under an old shop roof; a mum and 3 pups. They were all wormed but not easy to get near to. One of the pups had rope tied around its neck. Luckily I was able to catch this one and cut the rope off. I explained to all who were watching what I was doing and that it was to stop the rope becoming embedded as the pup grew.
One boy dog came to us with possible TVT (transmitted venereal tumour) and another with a swollen foot. Both were taken to the clinic for treatment later that day. The family who owned the dog with the swollen foot were kind people – they were upset as they showed me a wound on the dog. About 4 weeks before the dog had been stabbed in the leg.
Just as we were finishing our work, Antony, Ralph and Janice arrived to pick us up. I was delighted to see who they had brought from the slaughter house – Hugo!!
Ralph and Hugo the cockerel
Ralph and Hugo the cockerel
Ralph had felt sorry for the beautiful cockerel that was about to be killed at the slaughter house and bought him to take home and live in his garden along with his other rescued chickens. Hugo travelled back to Negombo in the minibus with us – Ralph said later that he had settled well – lucky Hugo.
On the way back to Negombo all eyes were peeled; looking for a poorly looking dog that we had previously seen on the side of the road. She was spotted lying in the road and we stopped the minibus. She was thin, looking like she had not had a good meal in a long while. She had mange covering every inch of her sore body. Worst of all were the infected maggot filled holes covering her back along with sores and wounds.
Janice and Ishan went to see if they could catch the poor soul. She stood as they approached – I even saw her wag her tail a little. They tempted her with food which she ate with much urgency. Janice wrapped a towel around the dog and picked her up. She did struggle and seemed to be in pain, which was more than understandable. She settled in the back of the minibus as we set off.
The dog was named ‘Clemency’ and taken straight to the clinic. Her wound was cleaned; she was given food and water. Clemency was given a bed in one of the kennels that we have in the back of the clinic. She liked to curl up and sleep on a towel.
Clemency was checked and treated again in the evening and then settled down and left to sleep in peace in the clinic kennel for the night.
Clemency
Clemency
Clemency's back
