Veterinarian Dr. John Earle visited St. Anthony with his mobile clinic for a week.
Dr. John Earle, veterinarian from Zurich/Ontario (Photo Calonego)
Dr. Earle, you live and work in Zurich/Ontario in a vet clinic. What made you come here?
My family is from Labrador, from Forteau and L`Anse aux Loup. Nine years ago, I did a vaccination clinic in Labrador. I advertised it in the newspaper and people from St. Anthony called.
You came to St. Anthony a few years later, didn`t you?
Yes, six years ago, we did 75 surgeries in the five days we were here. We were very busy. I did not come back right away because there were too many bureaucratic obstacles.
What has changed since then?
Each year, I came to Labrador and it was always busy. People said, I should come to the Newfoundland side. Then I was approached by your group. I thought about making this more regular. With a mobile clinic, I could go to several locations along the Labrador coast and the coast of Newfoundland.
How did you have the idea with a mobile clinic in a RV?
I applied for a loan from the Canadian Business Development Cooperation about a proposition for buying a mobile clinic. They were very helpful. There are fully equipped mobile units in the United States but I could not get them here in Canada. So we went with outfitting and equipping our own mobile clinic.
How has it worked out so far?
It is a learning experience. We will change things and move them around. My sister Bonnie and I are sleeping and eating in here!
Now that I have a mobile clinic, I don`t need to be sponsored anymore by a veterinarian in Newfoundland.
Bonnie Earle Harris, manager of the SPCA shelter in Gander, assisted her brother in St. Anthony (Photo Calonego)
How was the response in St. Anthony and area?
The response has been good. We`ve been busy. We were well received. We had a lot of interest. Word gets out.
Maurice Simmonds (the owner of the Irving gas bar) has been more than excellent to assure that everything worked fine over here.
Apart from spaying and neutering, what cases did you have to deal with?
There was a kitten with a deformed paw that had become infected. The only cure was to amputate it.
We had a few benign tumours in the skin of a dog. We had to remove some lumps and bumps.
We had to euthanize a 13-year-old dog.
What kind of experience did you have with the people here?
It amazes me how people here love their pets. We had a sweet old black lab who probably had an abdominal tumour. We had to put it to sleep. These things can bring me to tears.
What challenges do animals face in our area?
For strays, it is a hard life and the mortality rate is high. The cold is cruel to animals.
Also pets get old and sick and they can`t get the vet care they need. People worry about getting stuck in the middle of winter when they need vet care.
Are you coming back to St. Anthony?
Yes, probably in May or June 2013.
Thank you, Dr. Earle.
Read also the article about the vet visit in the Northern Pen. Click here.
