Sicily

Destination	Sicily
Suitability	Veterinary Students (VS) and New Graduates (NG)
Dates	Watch this space - 2009 dates coming soon!
Number of places
Cost (per person)	£500 (excluding flights but including accommodation and materials)

What This Trip Offers

The aim of this project is to provide assistance to Catsnip with their feral cat catch/neuter/return (CNR) programme. There are approximately 160 cats to be neutered on this one week project. The WVS veterinary team will consist of 2 vets and 3 veterinary nurses.

Accommodation will be provided in a pleasant local hotel, with a palm filled garden situated just across the road from the beach. Accommodation will include bed, breakfast and an evening meal. The rooms are clean, linen is changed every day and all rooms are en suite.

The food is typically Sicilian / Italian and the restaurant will cater for any special dietary needs e.g. vegetarian. (If you would like to have hot drinks in your room it is suggested that you take your own kettle). You should be prepared to pay for the rest of your meals and should take spending money if you wish to eat out.

The clinic is situated a short car ride from the hotel or half an hour if walking.

General Information

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also a geographical and political region of Italy, famed for its beautiful beaches, cuisine, and fascinating history.

Catsnip was set up in 2002 by Jennifer Pulling. With funding raised from organisations and individuals, Catsnip has conducted several CNR trips in Sicily with vets from America, Germany and the UK.

The main aims of Catsnip are to run a CNR programme for the feral cats on Sicily; to alter the mind set of locals (particularly young people) to respect animals as sentient beings and to address the running of kennels and catteries in tourist areas where animals live in often atrocious conditions.

The veterinary clinic is situated in Mascali, a small town in the province of Catania. It offers all the usual facilities of a small town such as supermarkets, pharmacists, cafes, restaurants, doctors and dentists.

The veterinary clinic belongs to Doctore Davide Trefiletti who has nearly 25 years experience as a veterinary surgeon and has a team of several vets and nurses. A large room is made available for the team to work in which is easily converted into an operating theatre with the provision of a table, shelving and storage for drugs, as well as a fridge, space for cages and animals awaiting surgery. A separate room is available for recovering animals. The operating theatre adjoins the kitchen which provides water, refrigeration and tea/coffee making facilities. Bathroom facilities are also available.

There is an animal refuge nearby manned entirely by volunteers who have been taught to trap and to administer medication.

Cost

The cost of this week is £500 per applicant. This excludes the cost of flights, but includes all accommodation and materials needed. You will be responsible for transport to and from the airport in the UK and your own travel insurance. Applicants will be required to pay a £200 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.

Flights

Flights will be to Catania in Sicily. You will be met by representatives of the charity at the airport, and driven by car to the clinic which is situated about half an hour away. You will also be returned to the airport by car on your departure date.

You are asked to pay for your own flights (cost approx £200). Air Malta often provide very good flight deals online.

Insurance

We recommend that you book travel insurance prior to your trip with VetAdventure. Please specify that you will be working with animals as this may be a limiting factor with certain insurance companies. VetAdventure frequently use Go Walkabout Insurance (www.go-walkabout.co.uk). Volunteers will need to contact the company directly to clarify that veterinary work will be involved in the trip.

Health

Please check with your local doctor or travel clinic for details of which vaccinations are required for travel in this area . More information can be found at www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel, just click on the "Country Guide". You may need to allow several weeks before travel in order for immunisations to be effective so don't leave this to the last minute.

How to Apply

To apply please complete our downloadable booking form and return to the office by e-mail (please ensure the form is signed), fax or post. If you cannot download the booking form please contact the office via e-mail at bookings@vetadventure.com and we will be happy to send a copy to you.

The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust

The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust has awarded WVS with a grant which is aimed specifically at funding the development of Marchig Trust / WVS support teams over the initial trial period of 12 months. These teams will be deployed with a focus on sustainable input, education, training and objective assessment of the impact of animal welfare work that the teams undertake. Thanks to the generosity of Jeanne Marchig and the Marchig Trust, it is hoped that these teams will make a genuine difference to animal welfare in places where there are few vets and the need for help prohibits the assistance from other animal welfare organisations.