Across the world, stray cat and dog populations are spiralling out of control. To combat the problem, the authorities in places such as Egypt are shooting strays dead in the streets. WSPA offers a more humane solution: mobile vet clinics. These specially built vans offer free care for animals in addition to spaying and neutering services.

To date, there are eight WSPA-funded mobile clinics in operation, each run by local member societies, in countries as far afield as Mauritius, Peru, Sierra Leone, Grenada and Indonesia. The ambulance-like vans, which are fully equipped for routine surgery work, travel to villages and urban communities where few vets have ever ventured. One of the key aims of the clinics is to spread awareness of the importance of neutering of dogs and cats to prevent the growth of unwanted stray populations.

The groups operating the clinics often encounter problems persuading owners to understand why sterilisation is so important. This is understandable, considering that most of the pet owners they encounter have never heard of the proceedure, and find it hard to see why someone should operate on their perfectly healthy animals.

Rosario Quintanilla, president of AAA (Asociacion Amigos de los Animales), WSPA's member society running the Peruvian clinic explained: "When we introduced the sterilisation programme it was very hard to convince people to get their animals spayed.

"As more people brought their pets to us and we explained the need for the programme, word of mouth soon ensured that the message about stray control was understood. Now we are in the second year of the programme, many more owners are bringing their animals to the mobile clinic to be spayed or neutered, making the long-term aim of reducing the stray problem in these areas look achievable."

For the clinic in Mauritius, sterilisation is certainly the priority with around 20 operations being carried out on each visit.

First aid in Peru

In addition to sterilisation, all five mobile vet clinics also treat sick animals, brought to them by owners who cannot afford, or are unable to reach, veterinary facilities. In Peru's sprawling capital city, Lima, first aid accouts for the majority of the clinics work. Only eight years ago the government poisoned stray dogs with strychnine to reduce overpopulation.

The member society in charge of the day-to-day running of the clinic is AAA (Asociacion Amigos de los Animales). WSPA became involved with the AAA's mobile vet programme in January 2002. The clinic concentrates its operations on the underprivileged areas of the city about 45 minutes drive from the society's headquarters.

Here, sterilisation takes second place to healing the sick animals and the poverty-stricken locals are offered free veterinary care for their pets. Although the clinic operates only in Lima and its surrounds, this urban area encompasses some 8 million people. This huge population leads to the Peruvian clinic's biggest problem - being overstretched financially.

This shortage has serious implications - sometimes money is so scarce that procedures cannot take place because there simply isn't enough medicine.

WSPA's funding has already made a great deal of difference to the project, enabling the clinic to be equipped with four removable metal kennels, an operating table, first aid cabinet and generator.

Mobile clinics funded by WSPA

Antigua
Greece
Grenada
India
Indonesia
Mauritius
Peru
Sierra Leone