PAC News

Search through the archive of past monthly newsletters, which together reveal the ongoing trials and tribulations of a charity veterinary clinic on a beautiful island.

March 2005 - PAC’s teaching programme is accepted as an official and permanent addition to the high school curriculum. The many volunteer positions at PAC get a full makeover with restructuring and detailed job description. A new position is initiated with the help of a locally based volunteer placement group Old and new staff arrive, and the new role of Administrator is successfully filled

December 2004 - Storms come and go, volunteers arrive and depart, but luckily for the island, PAC remains a constant

October 2004 - Lia departs for a long overdue rest and the road to recovery from a debilitating illness. PAC celebrates its 3 year anniversary, and the phenomenal development of being offered a permanent position to teach animal welfare at the island’s only High School! We celebrated in style and being as stylish as we were…….the local constabulary took notice!

August 2004 - James takes over as manager of the clinic, Amber and Roo leave for pastures new, and Caroline revisits and finds herself setting up a sister organisation on the neighbouring isle!

April 2004 - This Spring for PAC proved to be as productive as a good lambing season! Many hands make light work………..and all in the name of Animal Welfare.

September 2003 - Shevaun speaks at Asia for Animals conference in Hong Kong and PAC's staff finds a great distraction.

September 2002 - PAC celebrates their first anniversary, with guests from Koh Samui: Brigitte and Werner, and Dr Somsak. Shevaun stays until the end of the month, to help Chris to train in the new “nurse”, Louise (actually a vet). Shevaun also speaks at the local high school to promote respect for animals.

August 2002 - Shevaun visits this month for a phenomenal surgical load, thankfully with some help from volunteers. Helen gets dropped from a motorbike, but thankfully suffers only superficial wounds. Our bathroom gets renovated from concrete to tiles!

July 2002 - New nurse Helen joins the team to help Chris; new signs are painted for both the clinic wall and the roadside.

June 2002 - Neighbour Erica takes over the newsletters. Chris left on her own to take care of the clinic as Caroline leaves, but still finds time to help with the annual government visit for vaccination and neutering. PAC hires Por as a much-needed part-time cleaner, and finally purchases our own motorbike.

May 2002  - Dengue fever strikes the nurses, but the workload remains high. Many animals require hospitalisation for ongoing treatment, while a mobile clinic is organised to go to the more remote beaches to perform sterilisations. Chris returns to the clinic from Australia at the end of the month, coinciding with a meeting with the international RSPCA from England.

April 2002 - A very busy and very successful month. New nurse Caroline Auer from Canada joined Danya and Caz, who, with the help of 4 volunteering vets managed a record number of surgeries. Meetings were held with the District Officer, Mr Chananwat and the regional head veterinary surgeon, Dr Decha, regarding our work and our ideas to perform a TNR study on the island. The clinic became very well equipped with the arrival of the Hong Kong donations as well as presents from our volunteering vets.

March 2002 - Long-term nurse, Chris, moves on to pastures new, leaving the clinic in the hands of Danya and Caz Kim - Chris's replacement from Australia. They dealt successfully with many cases around the island, resulting in an expansion of the clinic's pack. Much needed donations of equipment were secured from Hong Kong.

February 2002 - New veterinary nurse, Danya arrives from Canada to take over from Chris, and her introduction to the island and all of its four legged inhabitants begins (not a small task!). The temples and local strays are rechecked, and the kennels are finally completed. Following our 6 month trial lease on the clinic premises, we are offered a three year contract - obviously our neighbours love dogs enough not to mind the occasional howler!

January 2002 - Dr Shevaun returns to assist Chris, and thankfully, two volunteer veterinary nurses from England, Tracey and Sally, also arrive to provide sorely needed assistance. Many surgeries were completed, the kennel blocks designed, and the first animal X-rays were taken at Koh PhaNgan hospital, followed by PAC's first orthopedic surgeries.

December 2001 - Kris returns to her life in Hong Kong, leaving Chris to handle the busiest month, exhaustingly, alone. She succeeded admirably through parvovirus epidemics and many road traffic accidents, and even just about managed a Christmas meal! 

November 2001 - fun and games with the next volunteering vets, a busier clinic and a successful postponement of a planned governmental poisoning. Further construction to make a yard and kennels is started. 

October 2001 - the first volunteering veterinarians arrive from overseas, and our nurses, Chris and Kris begin recording, treating and vaccinating the island's animals, starting with the temples.

September 2001 - the grand opening: Dr Shevaun, Heidi and Nira open Koh PhaNgan's first and only animal care facility, with nurses Kris and Chris to begin the work. Conversion is completed, an official opening party held, and Dr Shevaun, with Chris and Kris, managed a strong start on neutering and vaccinating the island's animals.

August 2001 - premises secured, a second vet nurse, Chris, volunteers and conversion begins. There's no turning back now!  

July 2001 - the realization of the vast amount of work required to succeed with such plans!

June 2001 - the early tentative stages when the idea of PAC has finally become more than just a dream. Volunteer vet nurse accompanies Dr Shevaun to Thailand to obtain permission from the local government.