Week 3- The Home Stretch


With one week remaining ere the return of our regular clinic director, volunteer departures had depleted the clinic crew down to four this week (myself included). Outnumbered more than six to one by the resident animals, we had our work cut out for us. Feeding and cleaning, medicating and assessing, consulting and operating … it was lucky that we were such an awesome foursome. I owe a great deal of thanks to the team (Petra, Kathleen and Justin) for all their hard work and long hours- their dedication kept the clinic running smoothly.

As the days blurred in a haze of work, there were a few special patients that did stand out. Delivering a dog to the airport for export in the middle of the night was certainly a new experience; stitching up a piglet after a dog attack, only to have it remodel part of our backyard was also entertaining; but my personal favourite would have to be the dog that presented with a can stuck on its’ tongue. No two days are the same when you work at a vet clinic!

As the week wrapped up and Gregg’s return drew nigh, it was time to celebrate the small victories … the successful replacement of our defunct clinic computer (many thanks to the Computer Man for donating our new machine!!); the safe arrival of little Rico (our export Chihuahua) in New Zealand; and the happy rehoming of another 3 kittens and one dog from our menagerie. And so it is with a sigh of relief I return the reigns to our official clinic director, and leave to him the job of keeping the clinic standing …