Animals like this little girl need our help.

Seven Weeks and Counting......

In just seven weeks we will be in the midst of our second clinic. There is so much to get done in such a short amount of time. I have managed to get a few major tasks accomplished. The IRS form 1023 has been submitted. We are awaiting our determination letter. Our first appeal letter went out last week and donations are coming in. Supplies have been ordered and are stacked all over the house. Surgical instruments have arrived but need to be taped for identification, organized, put in sleeves and autoclaved. Surgical drapes need to cut, packaged and autoclaved. Roddrigo has offered to transport some supplies to Holbox for us, including the autoclave. This will save extra baggage charges. Supplies must be packed and shipped to his home in El Paso.

Our most pressing need is for funds to cover the costs of the surgical packs and supplies. Please consider sending a donation to:

Isla Holbox Spay Neuter Project

33925 Eglon RD NE

Kingston WA 98346

Our Logo

Thank you MaryAnn Davis!!

Wish List for 2009 and Beyond

Isla Holbox Spay Neuter Project is now a Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Washington. This will allow donors to receive tax credit for donations.

Wish List for 2009

Non-disposable supplies to remain on Holbox

· Endotracheal Tubes: 3 each of sizes 3 mm to 11 mm (.5mm increments) $2-$6 each
· Canine Spay Packs: 1-20 $100-$300 each (depending on quality)
· Feline Spay Packs: 1-10 $100-$400 each (depending on quality)
· Oster A5 Turbo 2 Speed Clippers: 2 pairs $160 each
· #40 Blades for A5 clippers: 6 blades $21 each
· Thoracic positioners: 2 sets $86 each
· Assorted Carriers and cages

Disposable Supplies

· Nolvasan Solution
· Nolvasan Surgical Scrub
· Syringes 3cc, 10cc, 20cc
· Needles 22 gauge
· Gauze squares
· Surgical gloves size 6– 7 ½
· Alcohol
· Scalpel blades
· Suture material (absorbable, synthetic, monofilament 2-0, 3-0 like Monomend MT)
· Towels
· Frontline Plus
· Revolution
· Ivermectin
· Surgical Tissue Adhesive

Clinic Dates 2009

Our plans for 2009 are well under way. The clinic dates will be May 8, 9, 11 and 12. May 10 is Mexican Mothers Day so we will not hold a clinic that day. Morelia would like to see us concentrate on the towns on the mainland. Having just returned from Holbox and having seen more cats then ever before I hope also to target TNR on the island. Please contact me if you would like to help in any way.

We Have An Autoclave!!

Dave Shipe, General Manager of Les Wilkins and Associates, donated an electric autoclave to the Holbox Spay Neuter Project. No more using the pressure cooker on a hot plate at midnight to prepare for the next days clinic. No more burning of instruments in a heat only sterilizer. No more cancellation of surgeries due to a lack of sterile packs. Thank you Dave and Les Wilkins.

Time to plan 2009

It is time to start planning next year’s Holbox clinic. I am tentatively planning the first week of May for the clinic. April might be cooler but April is high or middle season and May is low. Also Easter is in April this year and that is a busy time in Mexico. So it is looking like May again.

This next year I hope to:

• Increase the number of animals treated


• Have teams alternate days (1 or 2 days of surgery, 1 day off)


• Encourage technicians to accompany vets


• Target free roaming cats on Holbox


• Try to treat for parasites and erhlichia before clinic


• Better utilization of volunteers


• Purchase autoclave


• Better stock of basics (syringes, fluids, antibiotics)


• Purchase trach tubes for clinic to be left with supplies on Holbox


• Again provide basic veterinary care and surgery for surrounding Mayan communities

I will plan on using same anesthetic protocol.
Flea / tick control and rabies vaccines will be given.
Everyone will be responsible for their own expenses again.
Morelia will be our contact person. She is a vital asset to the success of the clinics.

Funding is an issue. Expenses last year were over $4000 (many items were left on Holbox and will be used this year) and so far I have received $2690 in donations. This year expenses should be considerably less assuming the suture and supplies left on Holbox are still usable (I expect them to be as long as there isn’t a hurricane!). I had hoped to be able to purchase instruments to be left on Holbox but I don’t see how that will happen this year. I haven’t pursued a 501c3 status. I would really like to become a “chapter” of a existing group rather than set up another 501c3. I’m not sure this will work but seems like the easiest (and cheapest) approach right now. There is another group Spayucatan (www.spayucatan.org) that is active on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula that I have recently contacted.

Please offer any advice or help that you can.