CBS Animal Hospital team packing their bags for Ecuador

By Mark Squibb/February 3, 2023

A trio of CBS Animal Hospital staff members will travel to Olon, Ecuador this spring in hopes of spaying, neutering, and providing medical care to over 500 animals in communities living below the poverty line.

Veterinarian Dr. Mitchell McIntosh, registered vet technician Vanessa Thorne, and exam room manager Oliver Drake will be heading for Ecuador in May.

“We’re working with a not-for-profit trying to give some veterinary assistance and services that they otherwise don’t have access to,” said Thorne. “The nearest veterinary is miles and miles away, so they don’t have a whole lot of resources like we do.”

The clinic sent a team to Costa Rica back in November, which was able to treat 447 animals.

“We’re definitely taking pointers from them, the ‘do’s-and-don’ts’, but it’s definitely going to be an experience for us,” said Thorne. “The three that just came back, it was the experience of a lifetime for them. So, it’s very exciting to know that we get to go and help people and have that experience.”

“I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” added Drake. “Especially knowing the experience that our previous team had, I’m really, really excited. These trips do make a big difference. A lot of people don’t realise the issues that other people deal with, it’s sort of out-of-sight-out-of-mind, so we’re really excited.”

Spaying and neutering animals not only aids control of animal populations, but also helps keep animals healthy and prevents certain sicknesses.

“There are a lot of risks that come with animals not being spayed or neutered,” said Thorne. “The animals have those hormones racing through them, so they’re more prone to certain types of cancers. Females are prone to what’s called pyometra, which is when an infection forms in their uterus, and that can be life-threatening if not dealt with. So, spaying and neutering can prolong animals’ lives. So, instead of living seven years, an animal might live 12 years.”

Drake noted the trio will also be treating animals for parasites, and will bring medical supplies that people in Ecuador can continue using to treat animals long after the group has returned home.

Working in their Manuels clinic, staff treat animals of all shapes and sizes day in and day out.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the vet field,” said Thorne. “I’ve bounced around from every position in the vet world, and I’ve found that I’m more of a ‘hands-on’ person, so that’s why I chose to be a technician. It’s definitely a position that you can’t do unless you love it. By no means do we do what we do for money. We do it out of passion and for the care that we can provide our clients.”

Drake, who grew up in CBS and continues to call it home, said it’s rewarding to be able to serve the community and it’s many pets.

“I’ve always had an incredibly strong passion for animals, and I knew I wanted to work with animals eventually,” said Drake. “I knew that through the jigs and the reels, that this is what I wanted to do.”

The vet clinic is fundraising for both travel expenses and medical supplies, offering nail trim clinics, bake sales, and an upcoming live auction of items donated by local businesses. You can even buy a sticker of the clinic’s cat in charge, Gloria (or Gigi to her close confidants), with proceeds going towards the trip. Businesses or residents who want to get even more involved can pay to sponsor an animal. The clinic has also set up a GoFundMe page.