A Rossland resident who works as a Trail vet will soon be putting her skills to use as a volunteer in Mexico.
Elaine Klemmensen will be heading south in November to volunteer her time, along with her 11-year old daughter, with the Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue group.
The group works with another volunteer organization called PEACE Mexico to provide free spay and neuter clinics to communities in the Bahia de Banderas area of Mexico.
Klemmensen said there is a real need there for these clinics.
“There’s a different culture compared to the way we view our pets in Western society,” Klemmensen said. “People just don’t spay or neuter their pets.”
There is also no SPCA-type organization to help with the overpopulation problem.
Klemmensen said it costs $1,500 US to bring the PEACE Mexico group in to a community for three days to run a spay and neuter clinic.
Klemmensen is planning to donate $1,500 to cover the cost of one of the clinics.
She would like to engage the community to get involved and donate as well.
Donations can be made via PEACE Mexico’s website or to Klemmensen herself and she will present the organizers with the funds raised in person.
The group also needs medical supplies, so if any local clinics, pharmacies or hospital would prefer to donate actual supplies she can provide a list of what is needed to put on a clinic.
The supplies are needed because although most animals are being spayed or neutered, many come in with other afflictions.
“Animals come in infested with ticks or with heart worms or heavily parasitized,” she said. “We’re trying to take down supplies so we can treat those conditions as well.”
Klemmensen works at the West Kootenay Animal Hospital in Trail.
Peace Mexico’s website is www.peacemexico.org. The Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue website is www.tomplattenberger.com.