KSPCA

    For the past 2 weeks I have been interning at the KSPCA (Kenyan Society for the Protection and Care of Animals - http://www.kspca-kenya.org/), which has been a truly unbelievable experience.  

     They have tons of animals including horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats, and while the shelter has a nice piece of land (donated by a wealthy British family many years ago), they have many many animals (especially dogs) and are often subject to overcrowding.  Being in a developing country, there is an extreme overabundance of stray (and abused) animals seeing as pets are certainly not the norm.  While I know that issues with humans take precedence (especially in a developing country), it is still upsetting to see so many animals in such poor, abused conditions.  The KSPCA is making a remarkable effort though to help them and to change the way animals are treated in Kenya.  Here are a few pictures of some of the animals in the shelter right now waiting for homes (you can see the poor condition of the first 2 dogs that are relatively new to the shelter).

   While it was certainly difficult to see the sad conditions of so many animals, I also received SO much hands on experience while at the shelter (as you can imagine, there is not a lot of liability at a Kenyan animal shelter so they really let me do a lot).  I was able to be the veterinarian's primary surgical assistant and scrubbed in for surgery every day (on average we did about 8 spays and 8 neuters every day).  The vet let me make the incisions, stick my hands inside the animals' abdomens to search for the ovaries/uterus, snip things, do the stitches, etc.  It was really unbelievable!  I also conducted several vaccine clinics where we would administer 50+ vaccines in one day (to both animals at the shelter and animals in the surrounding towns).  After so many years of shadowing veterinarians and watching them, it was amazing to actually get to DO the procedures! 
     Here is a picture of the tiny clinic at the shelter with a very limited supply of medications and materials, poor lighting (there are frequently blackouts during surgery), and 2 shaky surgery tables (the white ones on the side) that are rusting and off balance.  While they certainly are in need of new/more materials, they still manage to accomplish so many surgeries and treatments every day.  It's really amazing.

    In addition, there's a workshop at the shelter that makes humane, comfortable harnesses for donkeys (one of the most commonly owned animals in Kenya used for farming, carrying water, etc.).  The KSPCA sells these harnesses to people in local towns, but if someone cannot afford them they are handed out for free (which is the more frequent case).  Here is the head of the workshop who started this donkey harness project about 22 years ago.

     So all in all my experience at the KSPCA has really been remarkable, and I just feel so fortunate to have been able to assist there and get so much hands on experience.  It really is something I will never forget.

     And just for the sake of showing something cute, here is one more picture of an adorable little puppy (who was being treated for worms).  Definitely wish this little guy could fly home with me... hehe