Spay Day is an annual campaign of Humane Society International  to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets, street dogs and feral cats.



Fundacion Spay/Panama, Spay Panama's Animals Yes, USA and Los Angeles de los Animales joined the cause with the goal to sterilize 500 animals in 40 hours.  The Panamanian Olympic Committee and the Civil Defense also supported the effort

The plan was to go to the east side of Panama and start by sterilizing the strays at the maximum security prison of La Joya, then go to two locations in Chepo.

Unfortunately, the Panamanian Government modified the mining laws and the Indigenous Groups were in an uproar to protect mother earth.  The road to the prison and Chepo was blocked.  Civil Defense and a small part of the staff went up to meet with the Ngöbe-Buglé to let us pass.  It was a startling sight -- the Ngöbe-Buglé were armed with bows and arrows and were blowing horns.  The leader said the veterinarians could pass but not the volunteers.


We came up with plan B at the spur of the moment with the following results:



As soon as people heard about the sterilization campaign they brought their pets and helped bring the strays dogs and feral cats



Volunteers made the work possible


Volunteers give their time to work in horribly hot conditions, having to clean poop, pee, vomit, fight the fleas and ticks.  They all do it gladly to help the less fortunate animals



The animals have their ears cleaned, sprayed against fleas and ticks, injected with vitamins, dewormed, the dogs over 3 months get the rabies vaccine.  The sterilized dogs are identified with an "S" tattooed in one ear and the cats get one ear notched.  If needed, they go back home with medication to treat a condition.


Veterinarians


Spay/Panama's veterinarians use the Quick Spay Method which includes small incision, early sterilization and use of stainless steel suture because it is strong and non-reactive.


Dr. Lissette Trejos, Dr. Augusto Barragan, Dr. Isis Johnson-Brown, Dr. Raquel Fuster, Dr. Andres Bailey, Dr. Letty de Guajardo, Dr. Gloria Fonseca, Dr. Cornelia Heine


The highest quality and standards are maintained, including sterile gloves, gauze and surgical drapes.  Spay/Panama has 44 spay packs and no instrument pack is used in an animal before being autoclaved



Fundraising
Two fundraising events netted over $2,000 for Spay Day:

Sylvia a play directed by Aaron Zebede


Photo Contest


Help us put a stop to the suffering of innocent dogs and cats by supporting our spay/neuter efforts.  Click here to find out how you can make a difference

This dog's name is Bola and he was brought back with us from Loma de Naranjos for transmissible venereal tumor treatment