Our first year in China
SPANA is the first British equine charity to have a programme in China, where we work in the field on a daily basis with the local vets.
International co-operation in the field of animal welfare is a new concept in China, but the SPANA team has been able to draw on many years of experience with similar projects.
With our mobile team up and running we have now been able to see where the problems are and the best solutions for dealing with them. We are not just helping to treat immediate problems, but are also improving the skills and knowledge of the local vets.
In the past, veterinary work in China concentrated on vaccination and breed improvement programmes, so local vets often only have a basic understanding of how to deal with these animals.
Pichan vet station
Our staff, led by vet Dr Bahati, are able to show the best way of dealing with each case. With the skin disorders, a good understanding of what might be the
common causes and how to identify them is central to treating the animal correctly and advising the owner on how to prevent future problems. Similarly, for cases of tetanus, often a very difficult disease to treat, advice on vaccination and prevention through prompt and effective wound care is essential.
And our programme is growing - by word of mouth, neighbouring communities are learning about the project and are asking to be involved.
This shows that we are having an impact, even after a relatively short period of time. It is exciting to think of what we might be able to achieve in the future.
SPANA’s project in co-operation with WSPA was fully funded by WSPA in 2008 and will be funded by both WSPA and SPANA in 2009.
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