Dr Claire’s Animal Trip To Fiji

For two weeks during October, I went to volunteer at Nadi Animal Shelter in Fiji.

After seeing an article on Bondi vet TV show of Poppy, a Fijian dog who was attacked by her owner, I decided that it was time to work with animals that were less fortunate overseas.

The staff at Nadi Animal Shelter were warm and welcoming, with the policy of  ‘no animals are turned away’.

Consultations were performed in the one air conditioned room, which was also the surgery. When animals were having surgery, consultations were performed outside the building under a verandah, with animals examined on top of the bar fridge! Above is a picture of one of the staff, Eddie, bathing a dog. I treated many of the animals in this area.

All animals that went for adoption were free of charge. Their desexing and basic treatment is subsidised by donations of money and expired medication from Australia and other countries.

Most people wanting to adopt a dog or cat only wanted a male. The concept of a desexed female not producing puppies was difficult for the people to understand. Most dumped puppies were also females.

Another hurdle with adoption was explaining responsible pet ownership and basic health care of the animals. Most people had never heard of intestinal worms, parvovirus or heartworm, and the risk of intestinal worms to people. These are diseases that most of us in Australia are aware of.

In the middle of my trip, I also travelled with the volunteer vet group ‘Vet Ventures’ which is run out of the US. We went to some towns outside Nadi to provide free veterinary services and treatment, including desexing, surgery and medication to the animals of the Western region. This part of the trip was very interesting as I came across diseases that I have never seen in Australia.

Me with one of the clinic cats, free for adoption also, and a very affectionate young kitty!