Beautify CNMI! and PAWS are posting the adventures and experiences of Vet Ventures, a non-profit organization that operates out of Oregon. The organization is comprised of volunteer veterinarians and assistants, who visit rural or remote international areas and offer low-cost or free veterinary care. Dr. Joi Sutton is president of Vet Ventures and narrates her experience weekly.
Beautify CNMI! would like to host a low-cost or free veterinary clinic here in Saipan so low-income families could afford to experience life with healthy dogs that have been spayed and neutered.
By posting her stories, we hope to inspire some of Saipan's residents to help us with this effort.
For more information on how you can help, please contact Katie Busenkell at busenkell@gmail.com.
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Dated: February 25, 2007
We've arrived back in American Samoa. The trip (for most of the volunteers) went very smoothly. Hawaiian Airlines and TSA gets big kudos for managing 2100 lbs of supplies (42 32-gallon bins) in such an efficient and courteous manner. Hawaiian Airlines without a doubt provided Vet Ventures with the best customer service I have ever received from an airline. They were amazing!!!
Cheryl and Esther (welcome faces from last year) and a bunch of big strong Samoan men met us at the airport with leis and vans. It took us probably 8 hours to set up hospital between yesterday and today, twice as long as last year but then again we've got well over twice the amount of supplies. Our hut got a paint job and even some gravel out front. After building up a decent sweat these last 2 days in the Tropical Medical Hut (setting up hospital) we've come back to Sadie's by the Sea for R and R: hanging out in their fancy-smancy new pool, lounging on the beach, playing in the ocean, some much needed sunning of pale and pasty skin. Our hotel-in-progress from last year is now altogether snazzy! And lemme tell ya, the weather is perfect!!! I've had a smile on my face for much of the last few days. I think our volunteers (some repeat offenders, some new faces to Vet Ventures) are great. Tomorrow we head north to Tisa's Barefoot Bar. Monday we start surgery. And now I'm about to head to the pool area for Fia Fia night. ;)
The best news of all is that there is a noticeable difference in the number of strays wandering the streets compared to prior to our first campaign. Thanks to many of you for helping to make these campaigns possible. I'll keep you posted as the adventure begins.
xoxo,
Joi Suttun, DVM
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