Field surgery units vs.

static ABC centers

with focus on
CNVR
catch-neuter-vaccinate-release

INDIA PROJECT FOR

ANIMALS AND NATURE
(IPAN)

Dr. Ilona Otter, DVM

Veterinary consultant
Field surgery units vs. static ABC centers
with focus on
CNVR
catch-neuter-vaccinate-release

1. Field surgery unit

2. Static ABC center

 CNVR, fast release

 Prevent complications by
professional surgical standards
CNVR – Effective ABC

- Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release
- Efficient ABC is not limited by kenneling
space & kennel labor available
- Spay/neuter surgery is a routine veterinary
operation where complications should not
be a routine consequence
CNVR – Effective ABC

Complications can occur BECAUSE of kenneling

- distress and boredom in captivity
- wet kennels
- diet of based on liquid milk not suitable

No rationale in saving in quality surgery supplies

when performing a veterinary intervention and
then having to pay for the cost of complications
CNVR – Effective ABC

ABC program is often confused with running a

shelter for rescued animals

“Template for change”, ABC manual by the Dogs

Trust & Battersea dogs and cats home

Sick and injured animals are not fit for surgery and
therefore do not belong to an ABC clinic
Field surgery unit

 Temporary set up
 Rural villages, hill areas, difficult road
conditions
 All equipment from the AWO and transported
to the field unit
 Cost-effective
 For trained teams
Field surgery vs. static center

 Field surgery unit – what is required?

 Electricity
 Water supply
 Lockable room
 Access to a fridge
 Instrument sets, 1 set/dog operated/day
 Autoclave
 Surgery tables
IPAN field surgery work
Field surgery unit

BENEFITS OF A FIELD SURGERY UNIT

-Community involvement;
 volunteer dog catchers
 non-monetary support
 Sustainability, awareness, education

Cost-effective, good option for small/ new

organizations and rural areas
Field surgery unit

Disadvantages

1. Rainy season
2. Poor visibility to possible donors from outside
the community
3. Need to arrange the care of seriously
sick/injured animals somewhere if not
possible in the community
4. Unreliability of electricity supply
Field surgery unit

Field surgery is not a place for a

new and un-experienced team
to start work.

Protocols have to be learned in a

static center and then they can
be applied in the field
Static ABC center

•Open 7 days a week

•ABC surgeries performed daily
•Attract people; visitors, donors, school groups,
volunteers
 attractive visual image of the organization
 works well in metropolitan areas, big cities
Static ABC center

 Easier to employ vets; more vets  more

dogs operated

 Advertise animals needing re-homing

 Transparent and continuous efficient work

clears doubts of misused funds
Static ABC center

 A static ABC center – what is required?

}
– “Template for change”
– www.spay-usa.org

 Separate room for surgery

 Good light
 Easily cleanable walls and floor
 As many instrument sets as dogs operated/day
 Dispensary in a separate room & fridge
Static ABC center

- Besides of the operation theatre;

- Space to scrub hands & put on gloves sterile

- Preparation room to give pre-medication,
shave & scrub the dogs
- Office open – visitors need to be able to visit
and see the work
Static ABC center

Disadvantages
– high initial capital & maintenance cost
– not suitable for small or new groups with limited
funding capacity
 Do not waste funds in custom-built
hospitals if no money to employ a full
time team to work there!!!
Combination of static center and field
surgery unit

– Excellent option in big cities and for

organizations with capacity to run a static center
and will & skills to do field work, too

– Improves ABC efficacy, release from field unit

more accurate in the outskirts/ slums

– Donors can visit the static center

– IDA India, Animal Rights Fund,

Blue Cross Chennai examples
of AWOs using the combination
in India
Combination of static center
and field surgery unit

 IPAN model
– Small static clinic in a village open 7 days a week,
24 hours a day
– Regular intensive ABC field camps in surrounding
municipalities and villages, 150-200dogs/week/ field camp
– Dog catchers from IPAN
– IPAN vet, volunteer vets, free-lancer ABC experts
– Demonstrations and help for other AWOs in their
ABC programs
Field surgery unit vs. static center

 In rural areas also…

– Private veterinarians (trained by qualified ABC
teams) operating owned dogs for a small fee in
field surgery conditions
 Opportunity for self-employment with minimum initial
capital investment
 Covers areas where AWOs not operating
– Stray dogs won’t be done but population
control can still take place
– ABC with zero-administrative cost
Field surgery vs. static center

 Conclusions

– Quality, safe surgery can be performed in both

systems
– Static center is more efficient model in attracting
donations and in providing education and
awareness to school groups etc.
– Field surgery unit is cost-effective when ABC
earmarked funds are irregular
Training opportunities (India)

 Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) and the International

Training Center (ITC) is to be established in Ooty this year, 2010

 Help in Suffering arranges veterinary training in Jaipur, Rajasthan

 Vets Beyond Borders and AWBI arranges Project Vet Train in

Delhi

 India Project for Animals and Nature

– Individual training, demonstrations

for AWOs
Thank you for your attention!