Exercise offers veterinary outreach to Palau community

By Sgt. 1st Class John Etheridge / 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Sgt. 1st Class Aldolfo De Leon, with the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, prepares a kitten for surgery to be spayed at a veterinarian outreach program at the Palau Animal Welfare Society(PAWS) April 15, 2019 in Koror, U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class John Etheridge)

Koror—-- Palauans of the of the four-legged variety are

receiving some special attention during a four-day veterinarian health

outreach program that started April 15, 2019 in Koror, Palau. U.S. Army

veterinarians and the Palau Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) teamed up to offer

routine animal care including vaccinations, spays and neutering as a part of

Exercise Palau.

Exercise Palau is part of Pacific Pathways, an annual U.S. Army Pacific

(USARPAC) operation, demonstrating the U.S. Army's commitment to the Palau

nation, and security cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"Not only will we be doing the routine spays and neuters, but we will be

doing surgeries on animals that need it, and any other sick pets that need

treatment," said Capt. Shareen Burton, a veterinarian with the 445th Civil

Affairs Battalion.

The veterinarian outreach clinic will help satisfy the high need of animal

health care throughout the island country.

"Unfortunately, there is no veterinarian on the island, so the need for

veterinarian care - whether it is vaccines, or sick pet exams, or surgeries

- is very valuable here," said Burton.

The high need for animal care has caused a large response from the

community.

"We are overwhelmed," said Lori Colin, founder and volunteer for PAWS. "We

have a wait list. I think the vets could work ten days here easily."

Burton agreed, "Unfortunately it is only four days, but it is an

action-packed four days. We are trying to see as many pets as we can."

Burton also said that she will be recommending that on future Army missions

to Palau, the veterinarian health care clinics should last longer to help

satisfy the need of the community and to get the most out of the medical

training for the Army.

Although the clinic is only four days, the participants hope to leave a

legacy of their service. Burton said that the spaying and neutering that is

done will help prevent overpopulation of animals on the island and the other

medical care will aid the pets and their families. The team of Army

veterinarians will also be leaving behind medications when they leave the

country to help local animals after they are gone.