Clinics and Events

Holiday Challenge Fundraiser

Deadline November 22, 2010

We DID IT!! Thank you all for your donations! We reached our holiday goal of $2010.00!! Please check out our other Holiday fundraiser - Ginny's ear nest earring holders!

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Bacalar Clinic

January 08, 2010

To start off 2010, our first clinic of the year will be in Bacalar from January 8-17th.

If you are traveling to the area, please consider bringing some much-needed supplies with you and visiting our clinic if you can. Our "wish list" can be found on our web site under the "want to help" tab. Contact us by mail or at info@vidas.org to obtain details.

Tax deductible donations can be easily made via Pay Pal or by mailing a check to our PO Box.

Keep checking in with us as we update the web site with current information regarding these clinics.

Want to help out? Read about how you can help us through donations or how you can become a VIDAS volunteer in our "Want to help" section.

Email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@vidas.org.

Playa del Carmen clinic summer 2009

This year's ViDAS clinic in Playa del Carmen proved to be our biggest and most productive clinic to date! Our amazing crew safely sterilized 595 dogs and cats in 6 days of clinic!
Big thanks to ALL our volunteers, both local and those that traveled from the US. Our US crew was: Dr. Ruth Parkin, Dr. Meghann Berglund, Dr. Grace Park, Dr. Erica Periman, Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Dr. Judy Reens, Dr. David Maloney, Dr. Laura Fredricks, Ashley Ackley, Meagan Hines, Stacie Summers, Melissa Beers, Holly Aubart, Erin Hickey, Heidi McDevitt, Kristin Halverson, Eric Berglund, Dorothy Parkin, John Parkin and Brian Smith.

This clinic would not have been possible without the invaluable help of our Playa "local ground crew": Sherry Stevens, Dra. Sandra Valdez, Laura & Carlos Raikes and all the volunteers from Coco's Cat Rescue, Kike Santos, Maureen, SPAP, Malix Pek, Andy, Jen and the Peanuts Pet Shelter crew, Diane and her helpers from Puerto Morelos as well as the countless other local animal lovers who volunteered their time to help us take care of all our patients. Thank you all so much!

A huge thank you to Liza Piorkowski of Playa del Secreto for generously donating a beautiful house for us to stay in and making us feel at home once again. You're the best! Please visit Liza's website at www.mexicovacation villas.com before your next vacation!

We're all looking forward to coming back and seeing all of you again!

-Ruth,
VIDAS president

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Cozumel Clinic 2008

November 03, 2008

Cozumel Nov 3-7, 2008: VIDAS partnered with the Humane Society of Cozumel Island www.humanecozumel.org for a well promoted sterilization campaign. 255 dogs and cats and 1 rabbit were safely spayed and neutered and one amputation performed. VIDAS' Cozumel team was made up of Drs. Lesli Groshong, Bruce McGinnis and Brenda Heyman; CVTs Pauline Eadie, Laura Cox and Hope Johnson; and recovery area volunteer Barb Shore. The Humane Society team coordinated the intake and discharge process, cleaning and promoting: President Monica Velasco, Dr. Alberto Rodrigo Cruz Salazar, Marvin Poot Tec, Denis Cesar Torre Rejón, Henry Cruz Couoh, Mario Venegas Anlehu, and Sarai Rendon Sanchez, volunteer coordinator Andrea Sekula and many local volunteers. The Humane Society staff was essential for the campaign and worked in addition to their regular duties of caring for the estimated 150 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens at the shelter awaiting adoption.

The Humane Society has ongoing education campaigns focusing on the importance of spay/neuter, vaccinations, heartworm, venereal tumors and general pet care. Campaign t-shirts were worn by shelter staff and volunteers and sold at cost to pet owners who brought their pets for free services----great marketing around the community! Additionally, TV, newspaper and radio stories covered the event resulting in 70 animals arriving for our last (exhausting) day. The Humane Society will continue to provide free sterilization surgeries to those animals we had to turn away. Because of the promotion of the VIDAS clinic, the Humane Society a spike in adoptions and more community awareness of their mission.

VIDAS wishes to thank local businesses who provided services to the volunteers: Rock 'N Java Cafe brought us lunch each day, La Cocay Restaurant, Cozumel Vacation Villas and Kathy Lassater who donated housing for the VIDAS team. Papa Hogs Dive shop treated the Colorado volunteers to a snorkel/dive adventure. If you vacation on Cozumel, we encourage you to support these local businesses and stop by the Humane Society. --



Lesli Groshong, DVM
581 N 76th St
Boulder, CO 80303
720 530 0918 c

READERS TO THE RESCUE

September 02, 2008

Each year the Ft. Collins Main Library sponsors a summer reading program for children. Kids are challenged to read as much as possible during the summer months, and they collect financial pledges for the number of books they read. Friends of the Library sponsors this effort and the Ft. Collins Library Trust contributes by matching the money that is raised. A portion of the proceeds are donated to an animal related charity. The program is called “Readers to the Rescue” and this year VIDAS was selected to receive the donation of $3000! It is wonderful to be supported by our local community, even though our work takes place so far from Ft. Collins.

On behalf of our volunteers and all of the dogs and cats that will benefit, VIDAS is thankful to the kids for their hard work and dedication, and to the Children’s Services Staff, Friends of the Library and the Ft. Collins Library Trust for making this generous donation possible.

Below is a photo of Brenda Carns of the Library (right), presenting a symbolic check to our treasurer, Dr. Lisa McCarthy (left).

A Day at a VIDAS Clinic

Volunteers wake to another beautiful day in Akumal. The birds are singing the waves are gently crashing on the beach and off everyone goes to enjoy breakfast at Turtle Bay Café. Supplies are packed and after devouring a delicious meal, or eating it in the car, we leave to go to the clinic. Today’s clinic may be held in any number of places – from a school room in a pueblo, to a hotel room, to any empty space that is available. Supplies are unloaded and the space is set up to accommodate intakes, waiting areas, surgery and recovery. Often the waiting area becomes the recovery room at some point during the day.

ViDAS announces dates for 2011 Bacalar clinic!

We have set the date! ViDAS will be returning to Bacalar on January 7th for a 5 day clinic! Donate now and help us make it another successful clinic!