Atiu Vet Trek 2011 (Part III)

Day 5- Back to School

Disappointingly, after a fantastic first few days, business at the veterinary veranda has slowed to a trickle. With only three patients this morning, the constant sight of other male dogs roaming past us down the street, balls jangling away, was a source of great frustration that I suspect only other vets will understand.

After some consideration of the situation, a career as a dog-napping testicle-thief was (probably wisely) rejected. Instead Fenna and I opted to try a more mature approach of trying to address the underlying issue- a resistance within much of the community to dog neutering based on the premise that only entire dogs are good for pig hunting (wild pigs being a significant issue on Atiu).

So, packing up shop, we headed where no sane person really wants to go- back to school to talk to a group of teenagers. Standing in front of Mr Ross’s class of senior students for the last lesson on a Friday afternoon, with Fenna taking paparazzi shots in the background, I suddenly realized that perhaps I should have thought about what I was going to say.

Overcoming mild panic, I’m happy to report the kids were actually great. Not a single paper aeroplane flew my way as we discussed pet-care in general and desexing in particular, plus a little about potential careers working with animals. They even took notes! Although this was probably solely because their next project is going to be based around these subjects.

Hopefully however, a little of what we talked about sunk in, because it is by educating this next generation that community attitudes will change, and this is what is really needed to improve the population control and the welfare of the local dogs.


Day 6- Returning to Raro

With our work on Atiu completed (twenty-seven operations in total, consisting of nine female dogs, thirteen male dogs, two female cats and three male cats), today’s biggest challenge was managing to fit all our equipment back into the two crates we’d brought over with us. A process slightly complicated by our rather shady state … the end result of a Friday night spent at the local Tumunus drinking homebrew bush beer.

Our new friends on the island have made sure that it hasn’t been all work and no play during our week-long stay. We’ve gotten covered in mud walking through the forest, we’ve been swimming in an underground pool, we’ve had a lovely local dinner, and we’ve even managed to fit in some snorkeling at the coral gardens.

So as we walked towards the plane feeling slightly glum at the thought of leaving, it was only appropriate that the Atiu people gave us one last laugh. On a sign above the airport doorway (and I quote):

ATIU AIRPORT

Voluntary Security Check
Would passengers please hand their AK47s, bazookas, grenades, explosives, and nukes to the pilot on boarding the aircraft.
Airport management thanks you for your cooperation.

Love it!