BLJohnson 10 years, 12 months ago on Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
The VMAB is being called upon to reverse the decision to cancel Operation Potcake. We cannot reverse a decision that we did not make. The people planning Operation Potcake decided to cancel their own project based on a letter from the VMAB that simply voiced the concerns and suggestions of our veterinary body. By no means were these suggestions set in stone, and the VMAB hoped to negotiate the terms and conditions of our services for the program with the organizers of Operation Potcake. That opportunity was not afforded to us before the project was scrapped. There was no further communication from Operation Potcake to the VMAB as it related to the project except a letter stating that the project was being cancelled to focus on other smaller projects, followed by an article in the newspaper. OP 2014 was a way forward for the local veterinary community to cement their dedication to helping the animals of this country. We are however, being criticized in the media about our decisions as a group to want to completely and wholeheartedly provide these services for our country by exclusively doing the work for OP. There is and never was ill will towards foreign vets coming in. We are being criticized for wanting to have a say in the acquisition of medical, surgical and anesthetic supplies that WE would use to spay, neuter, medicate and vaccinate these animals. We are being criticized for requesting reimbursement for those said supplies. We never suggested that OP is taking money away from our businesses. This is by no means a request for payment and should not be misconstrued as such. To think that people regard the veterinarians in this country in such low regard is shameful. The time that we are donating and the assistants that we are providing to ensure quality surgical care mean nothing? Is it so difficult to understand that a group of professionals wanted to discuss their surgical and medical preferences before delving into a project of this magnitude? Not to do so would be a huge misstep and negligent on our part. Miscommunication and innuendo are not the answer to this situation. We have to find a way to bring the welfare of animals back to the forefront instead of focusing on what people view as greed and xenophobia. What you see is dedication, love for animals and love for country. It is a sad day indeed.
Zags 9 years, 4 months ago on Baha Mar workers march in support of project developer Sarkis Izmirlian
Baha Mar workers march in support of project developer Sarkis Izmirlian
I hope that the Government of The Bahamas makes the right decision by allowing Mr. Izmirlian and his attorneys to proceed under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Cutting off one's nose to spite one's face is senseles...
Go Baha Mar!!!
Zags 10 years, 12 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Unfortunately, the premise of this question is incorrect.
Neither the first statement: "As they did last year, foreign volunteers should be allowed to operate for free"; nor the second: "Local vets should undertake the project at a cost of $50 per surgery" is a true statement.
First of all, last year both local and foreign vets volunteered their time free of charge. No vet was paid for his or her participation. Secondly, last year all the surgical material used for the spays/neuters was supplied to the participating vets for their use. These supplies which cost approximately $50.00 per animal were bought with funds raised locally.
There is no such thing as a FREE SPAY [or NEUTER]. A spay [or neuter] may be performed at no cost to the owner, but the materials used have to be purchased - whether with funds raised through contributions, or by the vets purchasing them from their suppliers.
The question posed was: "Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?"
The correct choice of options should have been:
As they did last year, local and foreign veterinarians and their staffs providing their services free of charge and being supplied with all necessary surgical material paid for with funds raised locally at a cost of $50.00 per animal?
OR
Local veterinarians and their staff providing their services free of charge, but being reimbursed for all surgical material which they supply and use for the spays and neuters at a cost of $50.00 per animal?
In each case, the cost per animal is $50.00.
The mistaken idea that the foreign vets' surgeries are free is ridiculous. They are coming into a situation to assist the local veterinarians and everything that they need is provided. When local vets carry out spay/neuter projects throughout The Bahamas they take along their own supplies.
Unfortunately veterinarians in The Bahamas get a bum rap. This may be because they do not go around tooting their own horns and also because few people know how much pro bono work they actually do.
No other medical school graduate is treated with such disrespect in The Bahamas, and it is in stark contrast to the way that they are revered in other countries. I have never experienced the the way my fellow lay people and animal lovers feel that they are as qualified to make decisions regarding animal welfare as a veterinarian who has been through years of medical school.
As lay people we should be embarrassed by our own behavior and comments. We would never dream about disrespecting our physicians in this manner.
Learn more about a topic before you vent, there are always at least two sides to every story.