At WVS, we support over 200 charities in more than 70 countries with parcels of medical supplies, equipment, and sending volunteers. One of them is the Carriacou Animal Hospital in Grenada, and we caught up with Katherine Lupke, the Founder, to find out how this support is helping animals in this beautiful part of the world.
How it all began
Veterinary care for animals in Carriacou, a Caribbean island belonging to Grenada, was slim before Katherine and her team founded the hospital in 2003. Katherine’s drive for setting up the hospital was sparked by one puppy for who Katherine was unable to find veterinary assistance for in the local area. A fellow local charity, the Grenada SPCA, based on the island of Grenada itself, was overrun with outreach work and unable to assist sick and injured animals on surrounding islands. That's why the Carriacou Animal Hospital was born.
Five years later, in 2008, our Founder and CEO Dr Luke Gamble visited Carriacou, and that's when our partnership began. Ever since, we've been sending aid parcels, as well as recruiting vets and veterinary nurses to assist the team on the ground in treating animals in Carriacou.
Helping animals in Carriacou
As the only domestic animal veterinary services on the small island, the Carriacou Animal Hospital team is a busy one. They run spay and neuter services as well as provide emergency care to over 3,500 of the island's cats and dogs every year.
The aid parcels we send - containing flea treatments and deworming tablets, as well as other medication to help treat the animals on Carriacou - support this life-saving work. “Because we live on such a small island, it’s easy to see how much of a difference the parcels make,” Katherine explained.
Mermaid the dog
One recipient of their expert care is a little homeless puppy, called Mermaid, who had been hit by a car. The kind people who found Mermaid notified the hospital and even tried to bandage the injured limbs before the team arrived to help. Sadly, all four of Mermaid's legs were damaged, with three broken.
Thankfully, Mermaid was a fighter, and she had the support of the team from the Carriacou Animal Hospital. After careful treatment and five long weeks of rehabilitation, Mermaid was back to full health and adopted by a local family.
Mermaid’s tale just shows the difference being made to the lives of the animals and community of Carriacou. Something that we, and our incredible volunteers, are proud to be part of.
What is even more amazing, is how the community assists the hospital. The kind strangers who rescued Mermaid became regular helpers, often finding injured animals and calling the team to help! “It just makes my day,” Katherine said.
How you can help
With your support, we are so grateful to be able to support the Carriacou Animal Hospital and other charities like them all over the world. You can help by donating what you can, supporting in other ways, or volunteering to join the team on the ground. However you are able to support, you will make a real and lasting difference to an animal in need.