HICKS

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE - GOA

MONTHLY REPORT – October 2017
Dr. Karlette Anne Fernandes
It’s the Anniversary Month for the WVS Hicks ITC in Goa – what a fantastic year it has been!

During this month the Hicks ITC team continued to work on their animal birth control and anti-rabies
mission, vaccinating and sterilizing dogs at two project locations in the Bardez and Mormugoa Talukas
of Goa.

A total of 999 animal birth control surgeries in OCTOBER 2017 and 3000+ dogs
vaccinated against Rabies in the Bardez Taluka during the first week of its Mission
Rabies Challenge – Well Done Team Goa!!!

WVS Hicks ITC Team Goa all powered up for the Bardez Taluka Mass Vaccination Campaign that
started on 23rd October 2017

HICKS ITC - GOA

WVS Hicks ITC – ABC Surgery Training Courses
In October 2017, we organised two ABC surgery training courses for Veterinarians, promoting best
practice techniques in animal welfare and humane dog population control.

• ABC Surgery Training Course for Vets

Ø 09th October 2017 – 5 Indian Vets + 1 Overseas Vet Assistant + 2 Indian Vet Students

Ø 23rd October 2017 – 6 Indian Vets

WVS Goa Team with the Hicks ITC Trainee Vets, Vet Nurses and Vet Volunteers during the course on
best recommended practice for Animal Birth Control Surgery

HICKS ITC - GOA

WVS Hicks ITC - ABC Projects

Our mass ABC programs at the Hicks ITC in Assagao and at the People for Animals Vasco shelter are
running successfully. The two teams have been working hard to achieve the numbers and high standards
in terms of surgery protocols.

October 2017 ABC figures:

WVS Hicks ITC ABC 736
WVS PFA Vasco ABC 263
Grand Total 999

WVS HICKS ANIMAL CARE CLINIC & KENNELS

• Animals rescued in October 2017

Dogs Puppies Cats Kittens Total

49 25 3 27 104

The WVS Goa Team treated 603 cases at the HAC Clinic this month. The team also performed 39 special
surgeries including cherry eye, amputations, tumour excision, and wound reconstructive surgeries.

• Clinic Vaccinations in October 2017

9 in 1 Tri cat
Anti-Rabies Grand Total
Canine Vaccine Feline Vaccine
113 107 3 223
.

HICKS ITC - GOA

WVS FOSTER CARE CENTRE & ADOPTION PROGRAM
The ‘WVS Foster Care & Adoption Centre’ along with its foster care volunteers has been working
continuously to facilitate the adoption of several abandoned puppies and kittens. This October 47
animals have found loving forever homes through the program. All animals were health-checked,
vaccinated against rabies and 9 infectious diseases, dewormed, received tick and flea treatments and
were given an appointment for free sterilization.

Spreading Happiness by Helping People and Animals

HICKS ITC - GOA

MR-WVS Rabies Response Team at Hicks ITC
The Rabies Response Team based at the WVS Hicks ITC, with Dr. Gowri, Dr Sanjay and Dr. Karlette, responded to
8 cases of suspected rabies, of which 1 tested positive for rabies on the rapid lateral flow test diagnostic kit on
post mortem examination. The suspected cases of rabies originated from Pomburpa in the Bardez Taluka of
North Goa.

A brain sample showing a positive line on the rabies diagnostic test

HICKS ITC - GOA

OTHER ACTIVITIES
• Mission Rabies and WVS Teams meet with the Chief Minister of Goa, Mr.
Parrikar, and the Director of Animal Husbandry, to discuss a mass sterilization
project to humanely control the dog population in Goa

Mass sterilization is the need of the

hour in Goa. WVS Hicks ITC has
completed an impressive 10,226
animal birth control surgeries in
2016-17. This is a great achievement
that has caught the attention of the
Government to avail of our services
through government supported
projects to control the dog population
in Goa.

HICKS ITC - GOA

• The WVS Hicks ITC Team has taken up the challenge to support the
Mission Rabies Mass vaccination program in Goa, by vaccinating 21,000
dogs in the Bardez Taluka.

HICKS ITC - GOA

Four Teams consisting of 30 staff, 2 Project Managers - Dr. Karlette Anne Fernandes and Mr.
Nigel Otter, 4 team leaders - Drs. Vinod, Neeti, Surekha, and Mamatha, 1 Rabies response Vet,
2 Assistant Project Managers – Samvel John and Dawal Razvi, and several volunteers, have set
out on the mission to vaccinate all dogs, by visiting door-to-door for pet dogs and street-by-street
for free-roaming dogs, in six zones marked within the Bardez taluka.

The teams vaccinated 3000+ dogs in the first week of the campaign!

Dr. Vinod Dr. Surekha Dr. Sanjay

Dr. Neeti Dr. Mamatha Samvel at vaccinations

Dawal at Surveys Mr. Nigel Otter & Team

HICKS ITC - GOA

Great effort and Team Work!

HICKS ITC - GOA

Special Stories
• HERO – The Brave Heart
This dog was reported by a feeder in the Nerul Village area, who had seen the dog surviving for
about a month with a deep wound on the face that has scooped out its eye. The dog was
successfully caught by the A-Team and brought to the Hicks Rescue and Treatment kennels for
recovery. Intensive wound care has saved this dogs’ life – Our champion dog for the month!

Thank you Carol Asby for spending quality time with HERO during treatment

HICKS ITC - GOA

• BONES – The Acid burns
This dog was picked up from Nerul Village, with severe burn injuries on the frontal region of the
snout. The dog was brave… have vision in both eyes, was eating well, and could breathe
unassisted. The WVS Vets took on the challenge to treat the wound intensively and did an
amazing job to achieve complete recovery. The dog will be released and looked after by Ms.
Rakhi Puri on a feeding program in Nerul.

Thank you Lizzy for spending quality time with BONES during treatment

HICKS ITC - GOA

• SPECIAL ITC COURSE – FELINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY
A special training course was organised at the WVS Hicks ITC, in association with the Marchig
Animal Welfare Trust, where 20 Veterinarians from various parts of India joined in to learn
about Cat medicine, Surgery and welfare, from a visiting UK specialist Dr. Graham Parlane.

HICKS ITC - GOA

Dr. Graham Parlane & Team training ITC Vet Participants in Feline Surgery

WVS Vets demonstrating best recommended practices in feline surgery to participants

HICKS ITC - GOA

Special Thanks to our Donors & Volunteers
Thank you Mr. Amit Alphonso from Aldona for
your kind donation towards an SPO2 monitor.
This device will assist our Vets in monitoring
anaesthesia for critical patients.

Than You Drs. Michael and Lisa from

East Bentleigh Veterinary Clinic –
Australia, and ATX Veterinary
Solutions for their generous
donation of a DR system for Digital
Radiography. This incredible
diagnostic tool will assist our Vets to
diagnose conditions beyond the eyes
can see. Your kindness will benefit
the Veterinary community in Goa, as
our Centre becomes a referral clinic
for small veterinary practices in the
region.

HICKS ITC - GOA

Thank you Dr. Amy Luker, Dr. Olivia, Susan Crow, Sasha Pinto, Nikita Das and Luana for volunteering with us at
WVS Hicks ITC. Your efforts to improve the welfare of animals in Goa is much appreciated.

HICKS ITC - GOA

Wishing our WVS Vets all the best on their new ventures. Dr. Balaji will travel to the WVS Thailand ITC for a 3-
month internship program, and Dr. Surekha will pursue a Master’s degree in Veterinary Surgery ay Shirwal
Veterinary College.

Thank you for all your hard work, your enthusiasm, your motivation to service the community, your love for
animals, and above all your passion for the profession. We hope to see you’ll back in Goa soon!

We thank everyone who has supported us at the WVS Hicks ITC,

and cared for the welfare of animals this month!