Ukraine

Destination	Kiev, Ukraine
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 hire car)

What This Trip Offers

WVS has established a good working relationship with the Kiev Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA-SOS) and several teams have already visited the shelter this year.

VetAdventure teams will consist of 4 new graduates / senior veterinary students with 2 experienced WVS small animal vets and one or two experienced WVS qualified vet nurses. The teams will concentrate on continuing the neutering campaign of dogs and cats at the shelter, treating long term patients in a progressive manner, and also helping the shelter staff advance in relation to wound management and other topics. A typical day will start at 10am and will continue on until 6pm.

Although a dedicated working space, surgical instruments and medical supplies will be made available, volunteers should be aware that facilities will be very basic compared to UK small animal hospitals and adaptation or improvisation may at times be necessary. This trip is hardcore and volunteers need to be prepared to adjust to conditions which may be challenging.

You will stay in a local hotel, within easy reach of the city centre and transportation will be organised for the four of you in the form of a minibus allowing you safe transport to and from the shelter each day.

General Information

You will be volunteering to join the WVS team to work with the Kiev Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA-SOS) at their dog shelter located outside of Ukraine’s capital city Kiev. The shelter was originally the site of horrendous animal cruelty with dogs being skinned alive for fur in the compound. Following SPA-SOS’s valiant efforts this practice was exposed and the site was donated to the charity by the local government for 49 years, rent free. The charity survives on donations alone and this year is coping with record numbers of animals.

The shelter deals with the ongoing problem of stray dogs (and cats) in Kiev. They have a neutering programme for feral and stray animals and provide treatment for any animals in need. Where possible, dogs are re-homed following sterilisation and treatment. The shelter houses about 600 dogs and 120 cats, most of which still need to be neutered.

Cost

The cost of this week is £500 per applicant. This excludes the cost of flights, but includes all accommodation and a hire car. You will be responsible for transport to and from the airport in the UK and your own insurance.

Applicants will be required to pay a £200 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.

Flights

Flights will be to Kyiv Borispol, in Kiev where you will be met on arrival by an SOS Kiev representative, along with the WVS team. These trips are exclusive of flights but the VetAdventure Team are happy to help you with the organisation and booking. Any information you give us in relation to this will only be used to book flights and will not be retained or passed to third parties.

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.