Autumn 2002

Update on SPCA Nepal

Blind 8 month pregnant cow

You’ll remember from our last newsletter that GVH has established a relationship with the fledgling Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Nepal.   The donations of equipment, medical supplies and books that we made at the end of last year were gratefully received in Kathmandu and put to good use.

The organization has been busy over the past few months. A land parcel adjacent to the clinic has been rented for use as a cattle shelter and an isolation area for other animals. A high quality microscope purchased from donated funds last year is being put to use in running a faecal and skin sample testing service. A lot of effort is being directed towards a schools Health and Education Programme & Camp being run by clinic staff.

Large animal clinic

On a day-to-day basis, lots of stray animals have been treated in the clinic. The staff has acquired a temporarily resident black and white pup, Tara, who lost the use of her hindlegs but is improving to the level where she may be able to be rehomed.   Another long-term resident was Bhote, a Tibetan Mastiff who was suffering severe illnesses and has now found a new home with an employee of the British mission. At times, the problems they deal with in Kathmandu makes our routine treatments look a little mundane in comparison. In January, for example, two electrocuted monkeys were treated and after three days released back to their homes; apparently monkey electrocution is a relatively common problem in Nepal!

Add to this a blind, eight month pregnant cow; an owl with wing injuries; a calf with leg injuries; and lots of dogs with scabies (a disease which we virtually never see in Sydney). One cow has given birth to a female calf which will not only find a new home with a Nepalese family, but will provide an important source of milk for them.

If you’d like to make a personal contribution to the Society, you’ll notice that we’ve installed an SPCAN collection box on the front counter. Any donations made will be passed on directly to the team in Kathmandu, or used to buy equipment which they are unable to source in that part of the world. We’ll keep you updated on the clinic’s progress in each of our newsletters.