SRI LANKA (BPT) – SPAY/NEUTER PROJECT

(3rd/4th/5th YEAR VET STUDENTS)

We are very privileged to work with the Blue Paw Trust (BPT) which was set up in 2003 to provide free or low-cost spay/neuter programs and other services based on population control efforts towards eradication of rabies from Sri Lanka.  Subsequent to the Tsunami of December 2004 the fear of rabies outbreaks spread throughout the affected coastal areas and BPT – in collaboration with WSPA – operated two mobile veterinary clinics to sterilize and vaccinate dogs in these regions.

Due to the success of these projects, in 2007 WSPA invited the BPT to carry out a landmark 5-year dog population management and rabies control program within the city of Colombo under the ICAM coalition guidelines.  From 2007, 6 veterinary surgeons and 3 animal control operatives plus 1 community liaison officer made up the field team under the supervision of Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere. 

BPT ACTIVITIES JUNE 2012 – PRESENT

The Main BPT ‘s Colombo project with WSPA ended successfully. But they decided to continue with student training which is aimed at continuing the rabies control programme plus the sterilizing of the animal population as a follow up of the previous project in the Colombo Suburbs in under-serviced communities. This project work is wholly funded by the money paid by the students to supplement the deficit in public funding, plus any donations received along the way to assist with this work. BPT is actively looking for outside sponsorship for this programme.

BPT STERILIZATION TECHNIQUE 

The mobile clinic lorry is set up.  Every dog presented to the clinic is thoroughly evaluated to check whether they will be fit enough for surgery.  This is done by means of history taking and clinical examination.  If deemed fit for surgery the animal is then sedated and given the appropriate pain medication.  The surgical site is disinfected.  Intravenous anesthetic protocol or gas anesthetic protocol is used depending on the dog’s status.  Every animal is intubated before surgery. Preoperative antibiotic, post-operative antibiotic, pain killers and fluid therapy are given during the surgery.  All surgical packs are sterilized in the autoclave.  Sterile gloves, surgical packs and new scalpel blade are used for each surgery.  Three clamp technique is used to remove the ovaries and the uterus.  Subcutaneous suture pattern is used to close the skin of the sterilized dog and the animal is kept in the post-operative recovery area until it is in sternal recumbency and is calm.

Before the animal is handed back the owners are given post-operative care information verbally and by means of a handout with contact numbers in the event of post-operative complications.  Tattooing the inner right ear and notching of the upper margin of the left ear as a U shaped incision makes it easy to identify sterilized dogs.

STUDENT PROGRAMME

BPT’s mobile veterinary clinic is of particular interest to 3rd, 4th and 5th-year veterinary students who have the opportunity to practice their skills under the guidance of a qualified veterinarian.  It is a hands-on experience and each student can learn and experience as much as he/she wants to.

Students can select from different areas of training:

• Cat – male castrations and female OHEs
• Dog – male castrations and female OHEs
• A holistic approach of rabies management project

Only 2 students are taken at any one time to ensure high-quality personalized training. Each student is assigned to a highly competent veterinary surgeon during the entire period of training. The student is first guided (depending on his/her abilities) to do surgeries and towards the latter part of training is allowed to perform surgeries under direct supervision. Students will do a minimum of 3 surgeries per day depending on time availability and efficiency.

Students with no previous experience should book for two weeks.

WORKING HOURS

Monday to Friday 6:30 am – 3 pm (may vary according to mobile clinic site locations)

ACCOMMODATION

The BPT has its own residential accommodation in a very safe area in Colombo.  It has two air-conditioned bedrooms, bathroom, comfortable lounge and an outside terrace. There is a kitchen where students can self cater with a microwave, fridge, toaster and cooker. A washing machine is available for laundry.

FOOD

Food is NOT included in the price of this project and is at the students’ cost.

Packed lunch can be taken with you and in the evenings students can choose to eat out at a local restaurant or cook in by using the self-catering facilities.

COURSE DATES

This project runs all year round except for the following dates:

• few days prior to first Monday of January (project work starts on first Monday of January)
• last week of the year (from Xmas until December 31st)
• these can vary depending on government holidays so please check with us directly

ARRIVAL INFO AND TRANSFERS

Students should fly to Colombo International Airport where they will be met by a representative of BPT and transferred to the BPT.  At the end of the project, students will be transferred to Colombo airport.  During the project, students will be transferred as necessary to their place of work.  Students need to start work at 06:30 am on a Monday morning, therefore, we suggest students arrive on Saturday to get used to the heat and get over the jet lag!

DAYS OFF

Work starts early and finishes early at around 3 pm. Students then have free time.

On weekends students can visit, the Southern Beaches (Benthota and Hikkaduwa), Archeological sites (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla), Hill capital Kandy (Temple of the Tooth Relic, Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and University of Peradeniya), Wildlife Reserves (Yala National Park) and the list is endless. All these excursions will be at the students’ own cost and should be arranged by the students.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

Accommodation, transport to and from the airport and to the project each day, training and support from BPT staff during the project and any project materials.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

Flights, food, travel/medical insurance (please check links for Insurance information), vaccinations (rabies IS compulsory), visas, excursions on days off, luxury items such as alcohol or chocolate etc.

COSTS 2020

£1580 PER PERSON based on 2 STUDENTS SHARING for a minimum of 30 surgeries in 2 weeks.

£790 PER PERSON 1 week based on 2 STUDENTS SHARING for a minimum of 15 surgeries in 1 week.  This option is only available if students can already neuter male cats and dogs before the project starts.

VIDEO

Have a look at this video, which was done by one of our students:

PLEASE READ OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Book now! • View the gallery