b'World Vets.When It Comes To Helping Animals,There Are No Borders.Text and Photographs by Dr. Elizabeth BairdWorld Vets isarelatively Alocalrescuegroup,young,non-governmental Animals Need Me, appliedU.S.basedorganization to World Vets for assistance(NGO)thatprovidesvet- andhelpedorganizetheerinarycareanddisaster projectlocally.Ourteamrelief throughout the world. consisted of a field serviceEstablished in 2006, World vet leader, five veterinari-Vetsprovidesservices ans, three veterinary tech-through multiple programs nicians,severalveterinarysuchasveterinaryfield students,andvet-techserviceprojects,civil-mili- assistants from all over thetary humanitarian aid, train- world, most of whom hadingprogramsanddisaster never met.relief. Their mission state- We flew into the capi-ment is simple and direct: tal of Albania, Tirana, thenToimprovethehealth drove a few hours north toand well-being of animals, Shkodr,neartheborderpeopleandcommunities of Montenegro. The driv-byprovidingveterinary ing in Albania is interest-aid and training in devel- ingasmanydriversareopingcountriesandby relativelyinexperienced.providingdisasterrelief Dodgingbicycles,goats,worldwide. and pedestrians is quite aAsaveteranoffour sport here. We stayed at theoverseas field service proj- historic Hotel Tradita Gegects, I am impressed both & Tosk, first established inwiththebreadthofthe the1600s.Ourfirstdayveterinaryservices World was spent recovering fromVets provides and the ded- ourlengthytripandication of the many volun- (Top): World Vet Team in Albania. (Bottom): Stray cat on the streets. Stray pup- exploringShkodr.Weteerswhoparticipatein pies brought in for surgery. (Opposite page): A woman brings her dog to the pop- visited the ancient Rozafathese projects.up clinic for medical attention. Castle which rises impos-Fieldserviceprojects inglyabovethecityare typically oriented towards a small animal or large animal betweentheriversBojanaandDrin.In1967,thethenfocus and occasionally a mix of both. Volunteers join these proj- communistregimeoutlawedreligion,declaringAlbaniaanects based on their experience, interests and possession of the atheiststate.Followingthedeclineofcommunism,religionsskills needed for a specific project. Projects are most often locat- includingMuslim,OrthodoxandCatholicfaithshaveed in underdeveloped areas with limited veterinary resources, resurfaced, all peacefully coexisting.and in communities that suffer from animal over-population. We enjoyed a lovely lunch our second day, during whichWorld VetscurrentlyservesSouthandCentral America,the wefoundaterriblyinjured,fragilekittenwithaninfectedCaribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa. North America has many partiallyamputatedlimb.Heobviouslyhadsufferedsomeresources and organizations to provide veterinary services, so horrificinjurydaysearlierandappearedtobestarving. WeWorld Vets limits its activity to disaster relief here.rescued and christened him Odie, administered antibiotics fromI recently traveled to Shkodr, Albania for a typical small a local pharmacy,then fed him baby food and tinned tuna.animal field service project providing spay/neuter clinics and There was no cat food at the local grocery and we only saw amedical care to dogs and cats. This was World Vets first trip to few small bags of dog kibble for sale anywhere. Two other vol-Albania, but likely not their last.unteers found several stray dogs that also needed care. 64THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'