Spayathon for Puerto Rico
Published on February 01, 2019
Spayathon for Puerto Rico is a high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter campaign addressing the U.S. commonwealth’s stray animal problem after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September 2017. Conducted in four rounds at locations throughout the island, the spayathon has a goal of sterilizing 20,000 cats and dogs by the time the campaign ends this May. During the second round of the spayathon, held Nov. 3-9, 2018, several members of the Puerto Rico VMA volunteered at the Animal Control Center in the municipality of Carolina. (Photos by R. Scott Nolen unless otherwise stated.)
Read the accompanying JAVMA article “In Puerto Rico, time measured before and after Maria.”
A home and car damaged by Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $91.6 billion in damage in Puerto Rico—the costliest hurricane in the history of the U.S. commonwealth—and resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Angel Ramos
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Jayuya
In the mountain town of Jayuya, the Category 4 hurricane leveled trees and caused severe flooding, downing power lines and making roads impassable for several days.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Angel Ramos
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Veterinarian prepares to vaccinate a dog
Veterinarians fanned out across Puerto Rico in the days and weeks following Hurricane Maria, vaccinating thousands of animals to prevent outbreaks of rabies and leptospirosis. The deaths of at least two people were attributed to the bacterial infection.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Elven Reyes
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Shattered villa in Humacao
A shattered villa on the coast of Humacao, Puerto Rico, where Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, 2017
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Surgically sterilized stray cat
Pet overpopulation was already a problem in Puerto Rico, but Hurricane Maria left further untold numbers of animals homeless. The tip of this stray cat’s left ear has been removed, signifying the animal has been surgically sterilized.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Pet owner and dog
A woman waits with her dog in the lobby of the Animal Control Center to see one of the Puerto Rico VMA volunteers.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Animal Control Center lobby
Pet owners fill the lobby of the Animal Control Center, waiting to be called to an examination area where animals are evaluated to determine whether they are healthy enough for surgery.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Puerto Rico VMA member
Members of the Puerto Rico VMA wear bright-red surgical shirts to identify them as veterinarians.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Feline patient
Feline patients are sequestered away from where dogs are examined to minimize the cats’ stress.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Anesthesia and shaving
Animals healthy enough for surgery are anesthetized and shaved before being ushered into the operating room.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Dr. Carlos Mongil
Dr. Carlos Mongil, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, shepherds a newly catheterized canine patient to the anesthesia area.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
AVMA President John de Jong
AVMA President John de Jong spent his early years growing up in Puerto Rico. In November, he returned to the island to lend a hand during the spayathon.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Patient monitoring
Two veterinarians monitor a feline patient in the recovery area. Once the animal is awake, it is returned to the owner along with food, a new leash, and collar.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Download High Resolution
Please provide credit as indicated with each photo.
Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $91.6 billion in damage in Puerto Rico—the costliest hurricane in the history of the U.S. commonwealth—and resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Angel Ramos
Slide 1 of 13
In the mountain town of Jayuya, the Category 4 hurricane leveled trees and caused severe flooding, downing power lines and making roads impassable for several days.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Angel Ramos
Slide 2 of 13
Veterinarians fanned out across Puerto Rico in the days and weeks following Hurricane Maria, vaccinating thousands of animals to prevent outbreaks of rabies and leptospirosis. The deaths of at least two people were attributed to the bacterial infection.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Elven Reyes
Slide 3 of 13
A shattered villa on the coast of Humacao, Puerto Rico, where Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, 2017
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 4 of 13
Pet overpopulation was already a problem in Puerto Rico, but Hurricane Maria left further untold numbers of animals homeless. The tip of this stray cat’s left ear has been removed, signifying the animal has been surgically sterilized.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 5 of 13
A woman waits with her dog in the lobby of the Animal Control Center to see one of the Puerto Rico VMA volunteers.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 6 of 13
Pet owners fill the lobby of the Animal Control Center, waiting to be called to an examination area where animals are evaluated to determine whether they are healthy enough for surgery.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 7 of 13
Members of the Puerto Rico VMA wear bright-red surgical shirts to identify them as veterinarians.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 8 of 13
Feline patients are sequestered away from where dogs are examined to minimize the cats’ stress.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 9 of 13
Animals healthy enough for surgery are anesthetized and shaved before being ushered into the operating room.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 10 of 13
Dr. Carlos Mongil, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, shepherds a newly catheterized canine patient to the anesthesia area.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 11 of 13
AVMA President John de Jong spent his early years growing up in Puerto Rico. In November, he returned to the island to lend a hand during the spayathon.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 12 of 13
Two veterinarians monitor a feline patient in the recovery area. Once the animal is awake, it is returned to the owner along with food, a new leash, and collar.
Photo credit: Photo by R. Scott Nolen
Slide 13 of 13