Donkey Health Clinics
I volunteered with two local animal welfare foundations and we organized a mobile equine health clinic. The donkeys and horses all work for “feraterias” which are businesses which sell construction material and the animals are the delivery vehicles for the goods. Association Seinekan, one of the charities, is very involved in animal welfare education and was distributing copies of the welfare code in Colombian law to the drivers of the carts and the owners of the “feraterias”. They explained the owner’s obligation to the welfare of the working animal.
In Colombia, there is good animal welfare law on paper but it is rarely enforced and few people are aware that it even exists. The aim of the project was to treat any ill animals, give some preventative fly and parasite treatment as well as replace painful, chain mouth bits for welfare friendly mouth “bits” kindly donated by SPANA, an English based equine welfare charity. In addition advice was given on cheap preventative deworming treatments, hoofcare and shoeing techniques as well as a reminder of their obligation under law not to work malnourished and sick animals.
The response to the project was positive with the majority of both “feraterias” and drivers willing to listen and over a hundred animals were examined and treated. Ideally, this will not be a one-off scheme but will continue if the staff and funds are available. I hope that follow up visits every three months would be possible to monitor improvements in the animals examined and to examine more animals. This project would suit skilled persons such as: vets, vet students, farriers or people with good horse or donkey knowledge and experience to help participate in future clinics.
Patio Grande
Myself and another volunteer ran a weekly health clinic for animals of all species in the Patio Grande community of displaced Colombian campesinos. We obtained rabies vaccines via a local animal foundation (FRAD) of Cartagena and the local health authority. There are a large number of vampire bats (which can carry rabies) in the region and it is a common site to see cattle and donkeys with bat bikes on their necks or flanks. We vaccinated a mixture of dogs, cats, horses and donkeys totaling over 70. 
We examined all the animals before vaccination treating any concurrent disease and gave preventative medicine for common problems such as fleas, ticks and intestinal worms.
I also gave some instructions on best practice for hoof trimming in donkeys and cattle, worming and
parasite treatment advice in informal practical classes for the campesinos. The project was really worthwhile and enjoyable as I was able to spend time in the village for two days a week over a period of two months and start to build a relationship with the campesinos, which felt useful to be able to answer some of the animal (and some human) health related questions.
Fund Raising for an Animal Health and Sterilisation Clinic
I spent a lot of time trying to raise funds from foreign and Colombian sources to enable a dog and cat health education and sterilization program in four of the poorest districts of the city to take place. It involved a lot of time preparing a lot of application forms, email correspondence and numerous meetings with various officials in Colombia. At the time of writing, we have had some luck in having boxes of medicines being sent out by UK charities (WVS - Worldwide Veterinary Services, IAR – International Animal Rescue) but as yet direct funds have not been sourced. There are other applications pending from foreign charities and local health organizations, so we keep out fingers crossed.
It has been a big learning experience in dealing with the tough application process of foreign NGOs and also working within the Colombian system, which differs very much from the English situation of which I am accustomed.
We carried out a door to door census in three of the districts in which we wanted to work. We found only two out of three hundred animals were vaccinated for rabies and all animals, owner by poor people or stray, were infested with fleas, ticks and worms and a large number have venereal tumours and mange. There is a real need for help and education in this region and I hope that someone else can help continue the search for resources and participate in the project itself when it is established.