Photo by Sgt. Walter Lowell

Two U.S Army veterinarians who were in Tonga last month, evaluating the state of animal health care, urged Tongans to be more caring of their animals. 

 Lt. Col. Howard Gobble, director of veterinary services for the U.S. military’s Public Health Command Pacific  and Maj. Kimberly Yore, said while it was supposed to be an evaluation visit, but they couldn’t help but treat the sick animals at a local animal clinic.

While in Tonga, the team also attended to the Royal Guard’s cavalry, treating the King’s horses and teaching animal care procedures. Lt. Col. Gobble hoped that the King’s concern for his stable would inspire the rest of Tonga.

"If the people of Tonga see the King taking steps to care for his horses and pasture, perhaps they will realise the importance of proper care for the other animals in Tonga,” he stated. "It's a baby step, but it's a step in the right direction," he added.

Health concerns

In a press statement, Major Yore recognised the importance of animals to Tongan families but expressed her health concerns with animals being allowed to walk freely around.

She stated, "Everywhere in Tonga, one sees horses, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, goats and sheep. Although the animals appear to run free, they are all owned by a family who relies on them."

"Animals running freely leaves lots of potential for disease and injury, including parasites, the spread of infection and trauma. Some diseases can spread between people and animals.”

The veterinarians were working as part of the Nevada National Guard State Partnership Program with Tonga. 

Major Yore stated "The Nevada Guard saw the huge role that animals play in the lives of the Tongan people and Tonga's lack of veterinary services. I was invited to assess how veterinarians could help fill the gap in veterinary care and public health in Tonga as part of future SPP engagements."

"You can't disclose the fact you are a veterinarian in a land so desperate for veterinarians and then not treat anything, so I did that, too.

"I mostly treated dogs and cats for internal and external parasites and made recommendations to their owners to improve the health of their animals."

"There is no veterinarian in Tonga, so the veterinary nurses who work at the clinic have to do the best that they can, working with limited training, supplies, medicines and equipment."

The team of vets stated that overall goal of the Nevada National Guard was to build Tonga’s capability in Animal Care and that Tongans needed to want to improve the state of animal healthcare in Tonga.

"The SPP is not looking to come in and just perform veterinary care for Tonga. There is too much need even to scratch the surface," Yore said.

"The SPP is in the business of building capabilities within Tongan society. That starts with Tongan citizens having the desire to improve their situation and seeing that improvement is indeed possible."