A volunteer group from the South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) is offering free veterinary services in Tongatapu at the end of this month from August 27-31, 2018.

SPAW is urging all locals to take advantage of this valuable opportunity and ensure their pets are checked at the veterinary clinic at Tokomololo where they will be based, from 8.30am to 5:00pm daily.

The group of volunteers include five vets, five vet nurses, and an assistant vet nurse who will provide a variety of services including de-sexing dogs and cats, parasite (fleas and worms) care, parvovirus vaccines, surgeries for injured animals, ear and eye infection treatments, general health check-ups and consultations for illness, and livestock assistance and advice.

Although SPAW provides the services and treatments for free, any donations are welcomed. SPAW does not receive any government funding and relies on fundraisers in New Zealand to be able to offer their services throughout the Pacific, including Tonga.

Earlier this year, SPAW launched a fundraising project, Charlie’s Fund [2], named after a badly injured stray dog that was treated by them at the end of last year in Tonga. The dog, named Charlie, lived out the last months of his life pain free before passing away in May.

The funds raised through Charlie’s Fund will go directly to SPAW to help them better the lives of pacific island animals through their services.

According to SPAW’s 2018 mid-year report, their visit to Tongatapu in May resulted in 79 dogs and cats de-sexed, 898 parasite treatments, and 200 parvovirus vaccines, among other services.

SPAW visits Tonga (Tongatapu and Vava'u) on an annual basis to provide much needed veterinary services.