LAKEFIELD VETERINARY GROUP AND WORLD VETS TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND VETERINARY AID TO RESIDENTS ON SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
Lakefield Veterinary Group is excited to announce the official launch of their first-ever free of charge veterinary hospital, World Vets Galapagos, Conservation Medicine Program on the Galapagos Islands alongside international veterinary aid organization World Vets. Several years in the making, this ambitious program will work collaboratively to help protect the vast biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands especially as it relates to the unique challenges brought about by the interface of wildlife populations, domestic animals and humans. In recent years, the need for year-round access to veterinary care has become an urgent priority in the Galapagos, particularly on San Cristobal Island, which lacks consistent access to veterinary services. To keep the local dog and cat populations healthy and manageable, year-round veterinary services will be provided free of charge to the local community. As the primary donor and sponsor for the new hospital, Lakefield is thrilled to launch this groundbreaking project to bring aid to an underserved community as well as provide training and mentorship for new veterinary graduates.
Led by Dr. Tom Parker of World Vets, a team of five doctors, three licensed technicians, and seven assistants from Lakefield made the inaugural trip to the Galapagos in November 2021. In the span of a week, the team achieved 271 spay and neuters, distributed 300+ leashes and collars, and administered general wellness care for 60+ community pets. For many, this trip made a lasting impression.
“Coming down here, you don’t know what you’re going to see. In the United States, people’s pets are taken care of, loved, and have access to regular medical care. Down here, you have the same love and passion from the owners, but they don’t have access to that treatment. In San Cristobal, this will be the place for owners that want to do best by their pets,” said Lakefield owner Madeleine Desmarais.
In recent years, Lakefield and World Vets have worked together on several successful veterinary outreach trips to South America. “We are honored to partner with World Vets and Dr. Cathy King to bring permanent veterinary services to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. Not only are we helping the local community with their pets, we are helping to preserve the unique ecosystem that exists in the islands,” said Lakefield CEO Mollie Hoff. In February 2022, three Lakefield team members packed their bags full of leashes, collars, and supplies for a second trip to the new hospital, accomplishing another 150 spay and neuters over three days.
World Vets Conservation Medicine Program will work in close cooperation with local agencies and NGO’s including the Galapagos Conservancy, Galapagos National Park (Parque Nacional Galapagos), Animal Balance, Galapagos Biosecurity Agency (Agencia de Regulacion y Control de la Bioseguridad para Galapagos) and the Municipality of San Cristobal (Municipal de San Cristobal Galapagos) and will include efforts in a variety of areas including work on marine animals and other native and endangered wildlife species, as well as domestic animals at a separate location.
Programs will include:
- Veterinary response and support for sick, injured and entangled marine animals as well as native terrestrial wildlife, primarily in instances related to human interaction-caused conditions.
- Invasive species monitoring and control
- Building capacity for stranding response and veterinary support for marine animals throughout the National Park.
- Research related to understanding and protecting marine species as well as other native wildlife, including health and disease monitoring.
- Education and training programs for new veterinary graduates and local assistants.
- Working to maintain healthy and manageable local populations of domestic cats and dogs through sterilization programs and year-round veterinary services.
