Coconut Island Clinic Report 29th March - 2nd Apr 2010 - Gill Dalley Writes...

A very difficult clinic, all equipment had to be driven to the pier then carted the full length of the pier, on to a boat,then off loaded on the island and transported to the labour camp. The canopy was inadequate and electricity had yet to be supplied. We managed to sterilise 4 dogs before the heavens opened & we had a huge storm & everyone got absolutely drenched as can be seen in the pictures.

We packed it in for the night at 8:30 due to the storm. I spoke to Mark the next day & told him we needed to be moved if they wanted us to carry on, they moved us to the staff canteen area which had open sides providing us with adequate cover from the rain on the 2nd evening. I had also requested transport for the dog catchers & this was not provided until lunch time on the 2nd day, when we were given "Big Foot" (see pictures) Nok had a 2 minute lesson on how to drive it, lord knows how he managed to learn in such a short space of time as it has so many levers & knobs.

The labour camp dogs were all done by 9pm on Tuesday night when we finished. Then on Wednesday we started the task of trying to get the wild ones & boy were they wild. The day time temperature was way above that on Phuket & I can't sing the praises of Nok & Sanae enough. At mid day I got Nok to go to the few houses behind the staff canteen & pick up cats so Dr Yim had sterilisations to do whilst the others were out in the afternoon dog catching: they picked up nine. When we left the clinic all the cats were locked in cages & there was also an owned dog in a cage.

Thursday morning, we arrived to find all the cats baring one & the dogs had been let out, after investigating, I found out that the night time security had let them out as they were making too much noise (probably disturbing his sleep!). After sorting this out we continued with catching and sterilization.

Friday morning we packed up & moved to the village school where people brought in owned cats, we sterilised 21 cats, but disappointed all bar 4 were males, they did not seem to want the females sterilized, (Gill banging her head on the wall time!) Whilst myself, Dr Yim & Dr Jen were doing this, the boys were out catching dogs, we moved back to the staff canteen at the village & started on the dogs the lads had caught that morning. There were only 3 females, 2 of which were pregnant and one was a puppy but old enough to sterilise. I sent the dog catchers out twice again, 1st time nothing second time 2 more bitches. These were sterilised. Then we packed up & moved all the gear in the rain & darkness, not an easy task. Got the boat off loaded then to our house for a beer at  9PM.  Long days and a lot of work by all.