NDSR Vet Nurse Helen's Greek Cat Mission
5 years ago 
1901 views
A veterinary nurse at a Surrey animal hospital has just returned from a charity mission to help control stray cats living wild on a tiny Greek island.
Helen Wright, who works at North Downs Specialist Referrals, in Bletchingley, volunteered to join a feline neutering scheme organised by the Greek Cat Welfare Society UK (GCWS).
Her dedication to animal care saw her travel to the Southern Mediterranean to work on the island of Kastellorizo, which has a population of less than 500 people but is home to more than 800 cats.
Helen, from Billinghurst in West Sussex, explained: “On Kastellorizo, there are around 800 cats but not a single vet, let alone a veterinary practice.
“I teamed up with veterinary surgeon Adrian Caunter, a fellow volunteer from the UK, and, working out of a temporary clinic in a tent, we neutered 51 cats and performed dental treatment on another four.
“Each cat was treated for fleas and worms, we assessed their general health and carried out other treatments as necessary such as cleaning ears.
“We also carried out health checks on some owned cats, a puppy and even two donkeys!
“It was hard work but I’m keen to go back. There is still lots to do, both on the island and all over Greece, to get control over the cat numbers, especially as kitten season is now well under way.
“It’s been a very rewarding trip and I must thank everyone at North Downs for their support and their kind and generous donation of much-needed drugs and supplies for the campaign.”
Terry Emmerson, Hospital Director at North Downs, which is part of the Linnaeus Group, was full of praise for Helen’s charity work, saying: “We were more than happy to give Helen our full support and encouragement with this project.
“Of course, May is Vet Nurse Awareness Month and this sort of project perfectly highlights the amazing work Helen has done, going above and beyond her normal duties to care for animals abroad in her own free time.”
Helen, who is a trustee of the charity and has been working with them since 2014, was accompanied on the trip by photographer husband Alan, whose images will now be used for next year’s GCWS calendar.
For more details on the charity, visit greekcats.org.uk or search for them on Facebook.
For more information on North Downs Specialist Referrals, visit www.ndsr.co.uk.
More from North Downs Specialist Referrals
14 hours ago