A volunteer’s view – Mayhew in Georgia
Chele from Georgia in the USA spent a month volunteering with our team in Georgia. She had visited Tbilisi last year and befriended a street dog at her hotel so decided to come back to help and after researching organisations working in Georgia, Chele contacted Mayhew.
While Chele is not a vet nurse or veterinarian, she was an invaluable asset to the clinic team. Chele worked tirelessly, supporting the team by performing a range of tasks including: cleaning the pre and post-op recovery cages, disinfecting surgical instruments, looking after the dogs post-surgery and packing the instrument kits to be autoclaved (sterilised) for the next days’ surgery. Here, she reflects on her experience both in the main treatment centre and assisting with the pop up clinics:
“A 5:00 AM alarm does not feel too early when your To-Do List for the day reads: Live your passion!
Head Veterinarian Dr. Ana is picking me up at 6:30 this morning. It is my first Mayhew Mobile Clinic Day and I am filled with positive anticipation! I know the objective of the day is to spay/neuter and vaccinate 25 dogs. Surrounding that objective, I know little else.
Big picture: End the suffering.
THAT is my passion! End the suffering. Beginning with population management, work to end suffering for all animals everywhere. Of course, the results of “all” and “everywhere” are only possible starting with “one” animal in “one” place. That is why I chose Mayhew and Georgia to volunteer: Mayhew’s mission aligns with my passion.”
Letting sleeping dogs lie
“It is an honour to keep watch over and care for these vulnerable creatures as they come out of anaesthesia. A responsibility I enjoy and take very seriously. Of course it can be messy, as their bodily functions are involuntary while sedated. There is often urine, faeces and vomit to clean up around their bodies in the recovery cages.
It’s my privilege to do so, as maintaining their dignity at all times is part of our human responsibility. As each dog begins to awaken, some quickly and others slowly and promise that from this moment forward their life will be healthier and a little less burdened than before.
Dr. Ana returns me to my hostel at 8:30 that evening, concluding a 14-hour day. I fall asleep knowing we are 25 dogs closer to our mission. She will pick me up again tomorrow at 6:30 AM. Mobile Clinic Day Two: 25 more dogs!
Angels at Work
“Days in the permanent clinic are equally as remarkable! Functioning as a veterinary training clinic to impart best practices and standards in animal care, while providing no-cost spay/neuter/vaccinate services to all, the pace is slower with fewer dogs each day but with no less focus on the mission.”
“Because of the slower pace, there’s wonderful engagement opportunities with the owners who bring in their dogs – a chance to speak with them (and their children!) about their responsible decision to spay/neuter and vaccinate their dog and encouragement to spread the message. The clinic is a brick-and-mortar gateway to a better future for animal welfare!
Who doesn’t want to work alongside angels? Likely I will return.”