Hi everyone

Well, this is my first blogg. Excellent to finally have this sorted. The main reason for this blogg is to document, to those of you that are interested, the new project we are engaging in, up in the Kingdom of Tonga and Nuie.

As you can imagine developing a new charity that involves setting up a new animal clinic on a rather isolate island that has absolutely NO animal welfare legislation and resourcing this initiative is a huge task that is taking up every spare minute of my time. Not only do I have to inspire and recruit really valuable board members, there is the organisation of NZ charity status, writing deeds, developing a website, branding, researching funding and revenue streams and sealing local on-island buy in of our ideas within Tonga. This is just some of what is required in the initial phase of Project Tonga and although I know that I will succeed through pure passion and tenacity, it sometimes seems like I have bitten off more than I can chew. Oh well, we just have to get on with it, which brings me to this blogg.

On 22nd May, I fly up to Tonga with our good friends at the WSPA and a kind veterinary friend who will act as an advisor, to meet with stakeholders and animal welfare advocates in the Kingdom of Tonga. We are making great progress with booking in meetings with various agencies that have a vested interest in our offer to help the dire situation with overpopulation and uncontrolled breeding of companion animals in Tonga.

What we need help with at this point, is the provision of basic pain relief, mange and flea/worm treatments to take up. We will not be peforming any surgeries, that is not the point of the trip, however, we have a vet with us and want to help where we can. By simply providing relief from irritating and sometimes debilitating skin diseases, we can make all the difference to the day in the life of a homeless and sick street dog or cat during our Visit.

Can you help by providing us with any of the following products ... if so, we will be grateful and some of the thousands of animals we know are suffering in Tonga from parasites, skin disease and painful ailments will be grateful.

PRODUCT WISH LIST – Tonga Visit, 22nd May to 28th May
Drontal, Milbimax, Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, Advantix
Syringes, 21 gauge needles, Dectomax/Ivermectin, Metacam, Norocarp
Amoxy Clax, Clavulox, Augmentin, Dog Collars

Thanks everyone and we will be keeping you informed of our journey, as it rolls out, over the months ahead.

We have a huge job ahead of us.

Karen