Tuesday 18th December 2007
It poured with rain!!!
Benedict and Phoebe went to the clinic for their spay and neuter operations today. We split into groups for the day and worked in the pouring rain.
HAAAW's new positioner being used
My group went back to the funeral area to carry out blood tests. Seven male dogs and one female dog were all found to have heartworm. Only one boy dog was clear and lined up for his operation the next day.
At the clinic with dogs for blood tests
It is important to pick up on the heartworm and treat it as it can eventually kill the dog. It is something that can re-occur and is very common in Sri Lanka so we check as many dogs as possible on each trip.
Mangy Tommy was also taken in for the start of another set of mange treatment injections. He had improved a lot since August and I could feel on his body that his family had been using the oils that we had given them. He is a funny dog who growls and barks at you when you approach him, but as soon as you have taken him from his owner and into the tuc tuc he is a lovely chap and seems to enjoy having a run out!
Mangy Tommy
Generally the people living in the funeral area are very poor. One family that we visited asked us for help. Their little boy had a sore patch in his nappy area. They had been to the doctor’s and been given a prescription to buy some cream, but they couldn’t afford the cream. I asked for the prescription and went to a chemist on our travels and bought the cream which they were pleased with. Their father was also suffering; he only had half of his legs and crawled around the floor.
All Ishan’s dogs also needed blood tests, so they were the nest lot to go to the clinic. Rex who Ishan found whilst he was playing Volley Ball and took in himself (now sponsored by HAAAW) is looking very well and is a bit of a bugger!! He was thin and mangy in August but now he is a healthy chap. He was fine and lined up for neutering tomorrow. (Giving the anti-biotic injection after the op was fun! He nearly took my hand off when we offered him food as a distraction. Ishan said “he gets on well with all other dogs, he just doesn’t like people”)
Volunteer Sue with Jessie
The lovely Jessie came for a ride to the clinic and we had her blood tested as a matter of course – Over the past 2 years she has continually had heartworm and the test came up positive once again. She was treated and lined up for her Rabies injection in 10 days time. She is looking well and happy.
Jessie
Ishan had taken in a new dog which he had called Sheeba – he was put onto calcium treatment and mange treatment before he could be neutered. The other white street dog that Ishan’s family look after was given treatment at home after we left Sri Lanka as she is a very bad patient.
