President's Report - Vets Beyond Borders

Mission StatementMajor Sponsors:Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) exists to improve animal welfare and publichealth in developing communities.Core valuesVets Beyond Borders respects religious beliefs and is non-political;members respect the cultures within which they offer their veterinaryskills.Our missionVets Beyond Borders aims to provide sustainable veterinary services toimprove animal welfare and community health in Asia, Australia andthe Pacific.Our goalsWe aim to work in areas of greatest need to:establish, develop and support programs dedicated toimproving the welfare of stray and domesticated animals andwildlife, including Animal Birth Control and Anti-RabiesVaccination (ABC-AR) programs and programs targeting thecontrol of zoonotic diseases.provide veterinary support to local animal welfareorganisations in developing countries.co-ordinate the sourcing, placement and support of veterinaryvolunteers seeking to assist the work of animal welfareorganisations nationally and internationally.develop and promote best-practice protocols for animalwelfare work.develop and promote education programs designed toencourage respect, care and responsibility for animals in theglobal community.develop strategic alliances with similar organisations inAustralia and worldwide.develop and promote training programs to increase the skills oflocal veterinary and animal welfare staff.assist in the provision of volunteers and veterinary supportservices for disaster relief, where and when possible.promote veterinary input to wildlife conservation programs.secure ongoing funding for the governance of Vets BeyondBorders and the programs with which it is involved.Vets Beyond BordersPO Box 576Crows Nest NSW 1585AustraliaContentsMission StatementPresident’s ReportSARAH ProgramProject Vet-TrainLadakh Street Dog ProgramSera Monastery ProgramVeterinary Public HealthChina Companion Animal WelfareVictorian BushfiresPublic Health in VietnamMedia and CommunicationsGovernanceTreasurer’s ReportFinancial Report SummaryGifts/ Donations2457911121313141516181820Ph: + 61 2 9431 8616E: secretariat@vetsbeyondborders.orgwww.vetsbeyondborders.orgABN : 55 994 410 532Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 2

International Patron:His Holiness the 14 th Dalai LamaShort mission statement: Vets Beyond Borders is an Australian-based, incorporated, not-for-profitassociation. It was founded by vets committed to improving animal welfare in developing communities andfostering the spirit of volunteering amongst their profession.What your donation can do for animals: Ten dollars ($10) vaccinates 20 dogs in Indiaagainst rabies for a year. Forty dollars ($40) pays for a dog to bedesexed. Two hundred dollars ($200) pays for thesurgical equipment to desex hundreds ofdogs. Four thousand dollars ($4000) pays for amobile vet clinic to visit remote villages,providing health care for countless animalsthat have never seen a vet.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 3

Sikkim Anti-Rabies Animal Health (SARAH) Program, SikkimSummaryThe achievements and benefits of a state-wide ABC-AR program are now widely accepted in Sikkim.As a result, the SARAH program officially became a Division of the Animal Husbandry, Livestock,Fishery and Veterinary Services (AH, LF and VS) Department in May 2009. This will ensure that theSARAH program is a long-term initiative. The SARAH Division is a very significant development for India,as this is the first time an animal welfare project has evolved into a Division of the Animal HusbandryDepartment.The SARAH team continued working in the north of Sikkim. To date, 80 to 85% of towns and villages ofSikkim have had access to the ABC-AR program. SARAH will continue northward to Lachung andLachen as well as far-flung places at high altitude such as Katao, Bichhu, Thangu, Giagong, Bunkerand other cold desert localities. With recent completion of the new kennels at the Chungthang clinic,the total number of Government veterinary clinics mad available for use the SARAH program is noweight (Gangtok, Jorethang, Rhenol, Ravangla, Soreng, Dentam, Mangan and Chungthang.)TrainingTo the end of June 2009, a total of 15 Indian veterinarians have received VBB training – seven of thoseveterinarians are now employed by the SARAH project. Post-graduate veterinary education hascontinued during the year, with two seminars held. VBB volunteer veterinarians presented a range oftopics including: canine diabetes, treatment of common canine and feline eye problems and largeanimal anaesthesia. Seminars have been well attended by SARAH and Animal HusbandryDepartment government veterinarians.Veterinarians Dr Phurba Lepcha, Dr Beth McGennisken and senior vet aid Bucchu Bhutia wererecently invited to Delhi for four weeks to assist the new VBB Project Vet-Train. SARAH veterinarians DrJayanta Borgohain, Dr Shams Uddin Ahmed and Dr Mamitra Thapa each spent three weeks in Delhiundertaking further surgical training with Vet-Train.Dr Beth McGennisken was recently invited to China by ACT Asia to assist Dr Elaine Ong (VBB) with aCompanion Animal Welfare Veterinary Training program. Dr Beth presented a lecture on the‘principles of ABC surgery, using the ABC program in Sikkim as a model’. During the 14 day visit toShenzen and Beijing, a total of 28 veterinarians and 28 nurse received hands-on training in the surgicalsterilisation of cats and dogs.Clinical WorkThree units were in operation during this period: one based at the SARAH Hospital in Gangtok and twomobile units working throughout the state in Rhenock, Jorethang, Dentam, Tashiding, Mangan andChungthang. In the period July 2008 to June 2009, 4364 animals (mostly dogs and some cats) weresterilised and 7523 animals were vaccinated against rabies. Twenty-nine dogs had life-savingchemotherapy to treat transmissible venereal tumours (TVT).Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 5

In addition to sterilisations and anti-rabies vaccinations, the program treated hundreds of medicaland surgical cases including: amputations, orthopaedics, eye enucleations, tumour removals,traumatic open wounds, pyometras and caesarians. Often animals were referred from distantlocations in Sikkim and owners travel many miles in share jeeps, over rough roads, to bring the animalsto the SARAH Hospital. Facilities such as x-ray, ultrasound and gas anaesthesia help SARAH to provideadvanced treatment to presenting animals, which included: dogs, cats, goats, pigs, rabbits and birds.Emergency Veterinary TreatmentFebruary 2009 was an unusually dry month for Sikkim and, as a result, forests and villages were veryprone to fires. On two occasions SARAH was called to help injured animals after fires burnt down cowand goat sheds. A number of animals were killed in the fires and others that were very badly burntrequired humane euthanasia. In the less severe cases, burns were treated. As these animals belongedto poor farmers whose livelihood depended on the daily sale of milk, a report was written andsubmitted to government authorities to assist with the granting of emergency financial relief.A recent landslide on the outskirts of Gangtok created another disaster for the animals living at thatlocality. Several cows and goats were killed when their shelter was submerged under dirt and debris.SARAH was called to help injured animals, including a cow that had fallen down a cliff onto the roadbelow.Feral Dog ProjectSARAH is assisting the Department of Forests, Conservation and Wildlife Management in its efforts tosave several critically-threatened wildlife species that are being predated by feral dog packs in theCold Desert and national parks. SARAH has begun ABC-AR work in villages, army and paramilitarycamps in the extreme north of Sikkim and is moving towards the Cold Desert region. These villagesand camps are contiguous to forests and national parks and feral dogs are originating fromabandoned and stray dogs. The SARAH team is utilising large capture pens and box traps to catchstray dogs for ABC-AR and to ultimately reduce the number of breeding feral and stray dogs in theregion.Public AwarenessThe State Institute of Education, in collaboration with SARAH, has published an animal welfare andanti-rabies chapter in school textbooks for Class 5 English and Class 4 and 5 Environmental Studies.These books are given free to all children at 800 government schools throughout Sikkim and arestudied as part of the school curriculum. The Fondation Brigitte Bardot has kindly written the chaptersand provided delightful illustrations.VBB VolunteersVeterinary volunteers have continued their support of the program and 20 international volunteersfrom a range of countries, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, generously donated their timeduring this period. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the Continuing Education Veterinaryseminars and to present a veterinary topic to their Indian colleagues.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 6

Volunteer Contributions Twenty volunteers (18 vets and two nurses): total 97 weeks of work Twenty volunteers with $3000 of travel expenses: total $60,000 Twenty volunteers with donated wages of $1500 a week for 97 weeks: total $145,500Future AimsSARAH will continue to improve animal welfare and veterinary services throughout Sikkim. Once thenorthern region of the state has been visited, the majority of villages will have had access to SARAH’sservices at least once. This does not mean the task is completed – it is critical that SARAH teams returnto each location on a yearly basis to vaccinate all dogs and sterilise any new dogs.It is pleasing to note that several other Indian states are currently considering the establishment ofABC-AR projects based on the Sikkimese model. The SARAH Division will offer all possible assistance toDepartments of Animal Husbandry to enable the establishment of similar, carefully co-ordinated,state-wide initiatives, which will contribute greatly to the ‘Rabies-free India’ campaign recentlyannounced by the Minister of State for the Environment and Forests.AcknowledgementsThe continued progress of the program was made possible by the generous support of theFoundation Brigitte Bardot and the Government of Sikkim.Dr Beth McGennisken, Program Manager, and Dr Thinlay Bhutia, Local Co-ordinatorProject Vet-Train, DelhiThe pilot phase of Project Vet-Train, a ground breaking animal welfare initiative, took place fromFebruary to July 2009. It was made possible as a result of funding provided by the Marchig AnimalWelfare Trust, RSPCA International and the Maria Norbury Foundation.The goal of Project Vet-Train is to improve the health and welfare of animals through a progressiveand sustainable improvement in the availability of appropriate veterinary care.Its objectives are: To refine and develop the clinical skills of veterinary graduates and ancillary personnel To improve and standardise the quality of veterinary services provided by animal welfaregroups in IndiaIn addition, significant secondary public health benefits are a likely consequence of this work.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 7

The pilot phase of Vet-Train, an collaboration between VBB, the Animal Welfare Board of India andthe Ministry of Environment and Forests (Government of India), was at the National Institute ofAnimal Welfare, Ballabhgarh, Haryana State. A total of 178 veterinarians, paraveterinarians andanimal handlers received training from the VBB faculty, significantly greater than the 120 originallyanticipated under the terms of the project description. The majority of trainees were employed byanimal welfare Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and in Government facilities; the Army andthe private sector were also represented.Course ContentThe tailoring of curricula to the needs and requests of participants was a continuous process. Thesyllabuses will now be reviewed and finalised, with the expectation there will be few changes duringsubsequent phases of the project.Teaching MaterialsThe Vet-Train website and on-line forum is now operational. Resources will continue to be uploadedto the site on an on-going basis. he veterinary manual compiled for the project is beingcomprehensively revised to include the extensive range of resources compiled by the VBB faculty. Ahandbook for paraveterinarians will be produced, translated into Hindi and possibly Tamil and madeavailable to participants.Clinical CaseloadIn 18 weeks of clinical work, a total of 454 street dogs were surgically sterlised. Anti-rabiesvaccinations were administered to 485 street dogs. Additionally, 53 non-sterilisation procedures wereperformed by the VBB faculty, including ophthalmic and orthopaedic surgeries, tumour resection,Caesarian section, episioplasty and herniorrhaphy. Trainees were encouraged to assist with andobserve these procedures. Twenty-nine cases of TVT were diagnosed and treated using standardchemotherapeutic protocols.ConclusionsThe pilot project has provided high-quality and much-needed surgical training, which has beenexceptionally well received by trainees, participating NGOs and Government departments ofanimal husbandry. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has indicated that there is a waiting listof more than 100 aspiring trainees and that this number is increasing rapidly.It is highly significant that the vast majority of participating NGOs and government departments ofanimal husbandry have made major improvements to their clinical protocols as a result of theknowledge and skills gained by staff who attended Vet-Train. This will undoubtedly promotereduced morbidity and mortality in their patients and confirms that the stated objectives of theproject are being attained.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 8

We have been informed that the report on the project inspection, undertaken by a team ofveterinarians from Indian university veterinary faculties at the request of the Animal Welfare Division,(Ministry of Environment and Forests – MOEF), was very positive and supportive of the continuation ofVet-Train.It is also encouraging to note that Sh. Jairam Ramesh, the new Minister of State for Environment andForests (Government of India), places a high priority on the ‘Rabies-free India’ proposal announcedin July. Project Vet-Train is well positioned to be an integral component of this initiative, in view of therequirement to increase the numbers of veterinary personnel involved in ABC-AR activities. The AWBIhas recommended that an additional 200 veterinarians, 400 paraveterinarians and 100 animalhandlers will be required to enable this scheme to proceed.As project director, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the VBB teachingfaculty. Their commitment to the project and its trainees was integral to the success of this first stageof Vet-Train.Dr Ian H DouglasProject ManagerLadakh Street Dog Sterilisation ProjectThe Ladakh Street Dog Sterilisation Project, a collaboration between VBB and the Ladakh AnimalCare Society (LACS), is continuing to operate from June to September each year. As with all ABC-AR programs, the aim is to sterilise and vaccinate at least 70% of the street dog population tomaintain a stable (or decreasing) healthy population of dogs.Until June 2009, efforts focused on Leh town and the Leh valley, including army camps in the area.These places will continue to be targeted but the summer of 2009 will also see the first foray of theproject into regional Ladakh. One important aim for the next 12 months is to have Ladakh AnimalHusbandry Department vets trained in ABC surgery so they can carry about the ABC-AR work inLeh and regional Ladakh. This will, of course, lead to the long-term goal of LACS, the Administrationof Ladakh and the Animal Husbandry Department taking over the project, with VBB taking more ofa backseat role.The project continues to employ five local staff as shelter manager, vet aides and dog catchers,with a sixth staff member employed at the start of the 2009 season.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-09 9

Clinical AchievementsSurgeries finished on September 26, 2008 and re-began on June 1, 2009. During the long wintermonths, the LACS shelter remained open to receive and treat approximately 45 sick, injured andstarving dogs and puppies. Spalgon, one of the LACS staff members, lived on-site to feed and carefor these patients and the 10 or so resident dogs.The end of the 2009 financial year saw 942 dogs sterilised, vaccinated against rabies and releasedand 83 pet dogs receive rabies vaccinations. Pamphlets handed out during these rabiesvaccination mornings, with information about rabies and the project, have proved popular.Twenty-seven dogs were treated during the summer months of a wide range of conditions,including injuries caused by being hit by cars, cherry eyes, mammary tumours and fly-blownwounds.A University of Queensland (UQ) veterinary student, Ben Porter, came to Ladakh in June 2009,following the 2008 visit by UQ veterinary parasitologist Dr Rebecca Traub. Dr Traub’s groundbreaking research on parasites in Indian dogs and how these impact on the human population is athree year study. Ben’s visit to collect more blood, faecal and ectoparasite samples from the dogswill contribute to the study.LACSstaffwiththeMedicineBuddhaStatuerecentlybuiltattheclinicVolunteersDuring the financial year, 15 vets and three nurses from Australia, UK, USA, South Africa, India and NZvolunteered for the project for periods from 10 days to four months. A total of 37 weeks was workedby these vets and 18 weeks by nurses. The project is reliant on these volunteers to perform thesurgeries and their skills, enthusiasm and hard work make them indispensible.Site ImprovementsNotable improvements to the LACS site where the ABC-AR work is performed were the completion ofthe new clinic in August and the installation of the solar-powered refrigerator. The light and spaciouspurpose-built clinic with dedicated operation, patient preparation and storage rooms has made aworld of difference to staff and volunteers alike. The fridge has allowed for on-site storage of rabiesvaccine and vincristine to treat dogs with TVT.Donations and FundingGenerous donations to the approximate value of $AU3000 from Provet, Heart of the Earth, BrisbaneRSPCA, Worldwide Veterinary Services and VBB volunteers and supporters have been gratefullyreceived and put to good use. The Indian Army supplied the project with slightly more than $AU1000worth of medicines and disposables. However, the Fondation Brigitte Bardot has continued to providethe lion’s share of funding to the project and its commitment, financially and otherwise, has playedan enormous role in the successes so far achieved.Dr Ruth PyeProject ManagerVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0910

VBBVolunteerscyclingdownfromKardongLatheworld'shighestmotorablepass,LadakhSera Monastery Dog Program, KarnatakaSera Monastic University, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, IndiaSera Datsang (Monastery), set in the southern sub-tropical region of India, is one of the world’s largestteaching institutions for Buddhism, housing and supporting approximately 4500 Tibetan monks.In April, VBB collaborated with Tibet Volunteers for Animals (TVA) to run a short pilot program aiming tosterilise many of the dogs with the monastery and to determine the suitability and probability of alonger, more sustainable program. This involved temporary surgical set-ups within the current humanhospital and clinical facility (the Sermey Social Service Health Clinic) on the edge of the monasterygrounds. The Fondation Brigitte Bardot generously sponsored the pilot program.While there are not a huge number of dogs with the immediate area of the monastery - around 300 –there are extensive populations in the surrounding districts in approximately 23 Tibetan ‘camps’ orrefugee settlements, five other monasteries, three Tibetan schools and the neighboring Indian villages.This area holds the largest population of Tibetans outside Tibet, all living as refugees. Rabies,aggressive behavior, parasites and (scabies) mange are major problems in the dogs and thesetransmissible diseases threatened the community as a whole. Therefore, this program and its publichealth benefits were welcomed by the Tibet Government Health Department, monasteries, schoolsand the entire community.As part of the program, discussion and education of management officials and the population of themonastery was carried out. This involved personal discussion and presentations to management,discussion and presentations to gatherings of monks, distribution of information leaflets and a posterdisplay. It is estimated that up to 4000 monks attended the presentations.Four experienced VBB veterinarians and two experienced VBB veterinary nurses attended theprogram voluntarily. The VBB President initially coordinated the program. The TVA President and threeTVA members (including one monk) worked for the duration of the program. From Sera Monasteryand the nearby Tibet Children’s Village, a total of 112 animals were sterilised: 69 females and 43males. Seventy-nine were street/community digs and 38 were owned animals. In addition, 41 animalswere seen as outpatients (or admitted) and treated for various conditions including parasites, skindiseases, rabies vaccinations, coughing, dehydration and ill health.The pilot program was considered a success, with full community support and participation.Discussions are now ensuing between the different organisations involved, with a view to developingan on-going, sustainable animal and community health care program at Sera Monastery.The partner organisations - VBB, Tibetan Volunteers for Animals, Sermey Social Service Health ClinicVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0911

and the Sera Monastery – thank the Fondation Brigitte Bardot for its support for this pilot program.Dr Catherine SchuetzeProgram ManagerVeterinary Public HealthVBB continues to place emphasis on a public health approach to our work. Veterinary public health iscentred on the principle that human health and animal health are intimately linked. Preventiveanimal-based interventions can improve and protect the health and welfare of animals, as well as ofpeople. VBB promotes the implementation of simple, cost-effective measures such as vaccinatingdogs against rabies to prevent disease within animal populations and, consequently, within humanpopulations. Our on-going activities in Sikkim and Ladakh and, more recently, in Bylakuppe, focus onvaccinating dogs against rabies, and surgical sterilisation to humanely control dog population sizes,complemented by intensive community education strategies.VBB is a collaborating partner in an epidemiological research project led by the University ofQueensland, funded by Bayer Animal Health. The research team visited VBB’s projects in Sikkim andLadakh in India in 2008 and 2009 to collect samples from street dogs, with the aim of identifying keygastrointestinal parasites and vector-borne diseases of dogs in India and assessing the risk that thesepose to humans. Hookworms were found to be the most common gastrointestinal parasite followedby Taeniid species, Strongyloides and Toxocara. In some instances, the genus and species ofgastrointestinal parasite cannot be differentiated from eggs in faeces using microscopy. It is,therefore, essential to utilise molecular-based diagnostic tests that will allow full comprehension of theveterinary and public health significance of theseparasites. Dog tapeworms, for example, are ofnegligible veterinary significance; however, if theeggs are found to be Echinococcus species, thisbecomes an important public health issuebecause ingestion of these eggs by humans maylead to hydatid disease (cysts throughout internalorgans), which can be potentially fatal if leftuntreated. VBB looks forward to publication of theresults of this intriguing study later in 2009, as it willgreatly improve our understanding of zoonoticdiseases (diseases transmissible between animalsand humans) in India and facilitate a moretailored and informed approach to diseasecontrol efforts.IntestinalwormsfromthepupinajarA knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP) study about rabies in Sikkim began early in 2009. The SikkimAnti-Rabies and Animal Health (SARAH) team aim to survey 1000 households across the state of Sikkimto gain a better understanding of the community’s perception of rabies. This will allow assessment ofVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0912

the impact of VBB’s work thus far, and perhaps highlight any gaps in community knowledge andpractices towards disease prevention.Dr Anna Dean’s assignment with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam, as an AustralianYouth Ambassador for Development, focused on bringing together human health and animal healthsectors to tackle zoonotic diseases. VBB acted as an Australian Partner Organisation for thisassignment. VBB supports such collaborative approaches, as this is the most effective way to preventand control these diseases and protect public health.Dr Anna DeanChair of Veterinary Sub-CommitteeChina Companion Animal Welfare ProjectIn April-May 2009, VBB members collaborated with Act Asia to deliver clinical training courses toveterinarians and veterinary nurses directly involved in protecting and promoting animal welfare inChina. Instruction was delivered through lectures and practical classes in Beijing and Shenzen,including: animal handling, principles of surgery and anaesthesia, appropriate administration ofanalgesia and antimicrobials, and effective use of internet resources. This initiative, sponsored byNaturewatch and Humane Society International, facilitated skills exchange between VBB memberveterinarians (Dr Elaine Ong, Dr Beth McGennisken)and veterinary nurses (Ms Robyn Ireland, Ms AnnLetch) and those in China and, as a result of mediaattention, also served to strengthen the growinginterest in animal welfare in China. VBB hopes tofurther its linkages with animal welfare groups inChina in the future and extends thanks to allcollaborators for their contributions to this pilotproject. Grateful acknowledgement is also due toBox Hill TAFE, for kindly sharing their veterinary nursingtraining materials for teaching purposes.SurgicaltraininginChinaVictorian BushfiresIn February 2009, bushfires ravaged the state of Victoria, in south-eastern Australia. Towns werecompletely destroyed, nearly 200 people lost their lives and thousands of native wild animals wereinjured and lost their habitat.VBB members, Dr Elaine Ong and Dr Chris Barton, played a central role in the relief effort as keymembers of the six person taskforce, the Australian Veterinary Association’s Veterinary EmergencyTeam (AVA VET). They worker in collaboration with Zoos Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and local veterinaryhospital to capture injured wildlife by darting, establishing and managing triage centres, coordinatingmore than 100 volunteer veterinarians and veterinary nurses and organising transport anddelivery of supplies and medicines. Elaine, Chris, and all of the volunteers worked selflessly long hoursduring the crisis, day after day. As a result of their commitment and dedication, wildlife in bushfireravaged areas received much needed food, shelter, medical and surgical treatment, andrehabilitation.Elaine and Chris are now involved in the development of preparedness plans for future emergencies.Unfortunately, summertime bushfires are not uncommon in Australia, so adequate preparation forthese and other natural disasters is critical to an efficient response. VBB strongly advocates protectionof Australia’s precious wildlife and gratefully acknowledges the tireless work of all of the volunteersinvolved in the February response effort.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0913

CapturinganinjuredkangaroousingdartgunandtrackingdogsPublic Health in VietnamAustralian Partner Organisation – AYAD ProgramVBB is honoured to be recognised as an Australian Partner Organisation (APO) of the Australian YouthAmbassadors for Development (AYAD) Program. This program selects skilled young Australians between18 and 30 years of age to live and work in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on capacity building and skillsexchange. The initiative is supported and funded by AusAID, the Australian government’s overseas aidagency. The role of the APO is to build linkages with local organisations in host countries and providesupport to the AYAD.VBB Board member, Dr Anna Dean, spent a fantastic 12 months living and working in Hanoi, Vietnamworking for the World Health Organisation (WHO), the health agency of the United Nations. As the onlyveterinarian working for WHO Vietnam, Anna was responsible for supporting the Vietnamese governmentto strengthen their capacity to prevent and control zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmissiblebetween animals and humans). Working at this level with key decision-makers in Vietnam gave Anna theopportunity to assist in the development of national policy relating to rabies prevention and control, thedesign and implementation of research projects investigating priority zoonotic diseases, and the training ofhealthcare workers across the country.Anna’s assignment provided an interesting insight into a different culture, political system, and scope ofdiseases. VBB was pleased to act as an APO for Anna’s assignment and looks forward to furtherpartnerships with the AYAD Program in the future.For more information about the AYAD Program, visit www.ayad.com.auVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0914

Media and CommunicationsDuring the financial year, the Board resolved to have a Board member oversee the Communicationsportfolio following the resignation of Rhonda Prentice due to work commitments.Happily, Rhonda was able to complete the development of a new brochure for VBB prior to herleaving the Board and VBB has been able to print the brochure in larger than usual numbers, thanksto a small grant from WSPA. We will be distributing the brochure through our networks and if memberswould like to assist with distribution so VBB’s membership grows, please contact the secretariat.Increased membership involvement will certainly help strengthen VBB and extend our support base.Some of the splendid volunteers who have helped VBB in the Communications portfolio this yearinclude Faye Kingston and Jilea Carney in the media area. Some of VBB’s successes such as Vet-Trainare picked up by Australian media, while others like the integration of the Sikkim Anti-Rabies andAnimal Health Program (SARAH) into the Government of Sikkim get most coverage in India.Matt Young has been working with volunteer co-ordinator Colin McCool to upgrade the architectureof the website and Harrie Phillips has taken over Forum communications. Gabrielle Smith recentlyretired from the role of website content manager after doing a great job for many years managingmost of VBB’s electronic communications. We thank Gabe for her years of service to VBB and wish herwell in the future.Christine Empson has volunteered to put quarterly newsletters together and Jodie Guest is managingVBB’s Annual Report this year.Many VBB members will know of the photographs of dogs produced by David Darcy. This year David,with support from Bayer Advantage, has published a new book, A Little Help for Our Friends and adollar from the sale of each of those books is being donated to VBB. David is a great friend andsupporter of VBB and has been chasing after dogs with a camera for a decade, portraying ourfriends with respect without props or gimmicks. You can support David to support VBB via his website:www.mongrel.com.au .Numbers of VBB members and supporters have made very welcome financial donations to supportthe work of VBB this year and have been able to access gift deductibility through our communitypartnership with the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP). Listed onour website are organisations that have made donations-in-kind: we thank them for their generosityand encourage members to support all our donors whenever possible.All VBB members with skills, experience and enthusiasm for communications are encouraged tocontribute to raising our profile so that more and more Australians hear about VBB and support ourwork.Margaret ConleyCommunications Portfolio ConvenorDavidDarcy'snewbookVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0915

GovernanceThe VBB Board is comprised of nine directors and is accountable to the membership of Vets BeyondBorders (VBB) for the business of the Association. VBB is incorporated under the NSW AssociationsIncorporation Act 1984. The functions of the Board include:Policy Development Setting the strategic direction Approval of the annual budget for VBB as a whole Consideration and approval of financial policies Creation and dissolution of committees and taskforces Approval of strategies, business plans and operational policies Establishment of delegations, and Review and monitoring of a Board Code of Conduct.Monitoring Ensuring solvency Adherence to the annual budget and related fiscal matters for VBB as a whole Achievement of strategic direction through the annual business plan Recommendation to the Annual General Meeting for appointment of the external auditor Consideration of reports from both the internal and external auditors The employment and performance of the Executive Officer The state of health of the Association Overseeing the management of business risks, insurance risks, environmental issues andoccupational health and safety, and Ensuring that the company acts legally and responsibly on all matters and that the highestethical standards are maintained.Composition and Operations of the BoardThere are nine non-executive directors on the Board, and following the constitutional amendment inJuly 2009, a third of the Board will be elected each year. Board members are able to nominate foradditional three year terms of office.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0916

The Board elects the office holders from amongst their number at the first meeting following theAnnual General Meeting. Additionally, all Board members are asked to sign onto the Board Code ofConduct at that time. The President chairs meetings of the Board and general meetings of themembership. Each VBB project has a nominated Board liaison person, to ensure information flow. TheBoard also has two main sub-committees: Veterinary and Communications. Each is chaired by aBoard member and members of VBB are able to nominate for the committees following theiragreement to a Code of Conduct for sub-committee members.Veterinary Sub-CommitteeDr Anna Dean chairs the Veterinary sub-committee which develops and recommends veterinarypolicies to the Board. Portfolios in that sub-committee include: epidemiology and public health;volunteer screening; overseas projects; wildlife conservation; resources and training; large animal.Communications Sub-CommitteeDuring the year, Rhonda Prentice stepped down as Chair of the Communications sub-committeeand Margaret Conley took on a role as coordinator of that portfolio until a new Communicationschair is found. Portfolios within the sub-committee include: website development; website contentmanagement; e-newsletter; promotion and publicity and fundraising.Board OperationsVBB has contracts with two organisations which provide accounting and secretariat services on apart-time basis, and plan to employ a part-time Executive Officer in the coming financial year. Muchof the work of an Executive Officer has been undertaken by Board members and other volunteers.However, as VBB grows, it has become clear that executive support is required, both to support theBoard and to continue to grow the Association.The Board holds most of its face-to-face meetings in Sydney, with those Board members living in otherlocations joining via Skype.Directors’ Fees and IndemnificationVBB directors perform their roles voluntarily and VBB provides basic liability cover for directors andofficers.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0917

Treasurer’s ReportThe 2009 year has been a great year for Vets Beyond Borders. We have seen growth in all aspects ofour financial activity, which has meant we can invest more in our projects.I have outlined below how the organisation has performed against the prior year across a few keyfinancial indicators which will demonstrate how much we have grown financially in the 2009 year.Memberships are up on the prior year by more than 110%, helped by the increase in membership feesduring the year but mostly due to an increase in the actual number of members of the organisation.Due to our generous sponsors and supporters, general donations have increased by more than 105%from the prior year.Overall income levels have increased on prior year by more than 230%. This is mostly due to thesignificant increase in grant funds provided during the year, which have increased by more than200%. Project Vet-Train, in its first year, has been the driver of this increase, accounting forapproximately 57% of the total grants received during the year.Eliminating the Vet-Train grants, the remaining figures show an increase of approximately 30% acrossour Ladakh and Sera Monastery programs.Overall expenses have also increased by more than 130%, which is consistent with the increase inproject activity we have seen over the year. Again eliminating the Vet-Train expenses, the remainingexpense items show a comparable result with the prior year.In summary, we have a small surplus of funds at year end. A surplus of funds is a favourable result for aNot for Profit Organisation, as it enables the organisation to meet unanticipated commitments thatmay arise in the future.Laura BlaineyTreasurerFinancial Report SummaryStatement by Members of the BoardIn the opinion of the board, the financial report:Presents a true and fair view of the financial position of Vets Beyond Borders Incorporated as at 30 June2009 and its performance for the year ended on that date in accordance with Australian AccountingStandards, mandatory professional reporting requirements and other authoritative pronouncements ofthe Australian Accounting Standards Board.At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Vets Beyond BordersIncorporated will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.Anna DeanBoard memberVets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0918

Committee MembersCatherine Schuetze (President)Sue Schreiner (Vice President)Peter Howe Leanne Ayres (appointed 7/12/2008)Margaret ConleyIan Douglas (resigned 4/11/2008)Anna DeanJohn Skuja (resigned 17/9/2008)Laura Blainey (Treasurer)(appointed 7/12/2008) Jilea Carney (to 7/12/2008)Jan Cullen (appointed 7/12/2008) Rhonda Prentice (resigned 4/04/2009)Audit OpinionIn Our Opinion:The financial report of Vets Beyond Borders Incorporated is in accordancewith the Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) including:i. giving a true and fair view of the Association’s financial position as at 30 June2009 and of their performance for the year ended on that date; andii. complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian AccountingInterpretations) and the Associations Incorporation Act (NSW).Owen HoustonHOUSTON & CO PTY LTDIncome Statement for the Year Ended 30 th June 20092009 2008REVENUE Au $ Au $Operating activitiesDonations 22,436 4,048Membership 3,002 1,418Grants 519,730 185,879Non-operating activitiesInterest income 784 569Miscellaneous income 2,040 939TOTAL REVENUE 547,992 192,853EXPENSESAccounting 3,513 3,975Advertising & promotion 0 2,662Audit fees 1,022 3,000Bank charges 254 896Computer & website expenses 0 1,092Insurance 3,770 3,741Management fees 10,385 0Postage & courier 146 220Printing & stationery 2,549 3,748Project costs 460,444 204,808Seminar/session expenses 400 222Staff overheads 27 0Subscriptions & donations 100 0Telephone 86 672Traveling expenses 46 0TOTAL EXPENSES 482,742 225,036Operating Surplus/(Deficit) $65,250 ($32,183)Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0919

Gifts/DonationsYes, I would like to make a gift so Vets Beyond Borders can help developing communities byproviding veterinary services and training. More than 80 percent of Vets Beyond Borders’ total budgetgoes directly to animals in need.Please find enclosed my gift of: $25 $50 $100 My choice of $______Please find enclosed a: Cheque(payable to AFAP for Vets Beyond Borders) Money orderTo: The Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP)For: Vets Beyond BordersPO Box 12Crows Nest NSW 1585Title ……… First name …..........…..................................... Last name .........................................................Street address ………………………………………….....................................................................................Suburb/city ……………………………..……………….....................................................................................State …………………...…....................................................Postcode .........................................................Email ………………………………………………………....................................................................................Daytime telephone ( )………………………………......................................................................................By completing the details above you are giving permission for Vets Beyond Borders to contact you by mail, phone or email toupdate you on our work. If you would prefer not to receive such updates from us, please just email us atinfo@vetsbeyondborders.org .*Donations are tax deductible through our association with AFAP.Vets Beyond Borders Inc is a registered, incorporated, non-profit association.*The Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP) and VBB are working jointly to deliver aid tocommunities overseas. AFAP has deductible gift recipient status (DGR) endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office. VBB doesnot have DGR status in our own right and so relies on AFAP’s endorsed status to provide VBB’s donors with tax deductibility.AFAP does not charge VBB for this service and has the ultimate discretion to distribute donated funds for benevolent activitiesundertaken by VBB in accordance with the preference expressed by the donor.VBB is an AFAP community partner and AFAP closely monitors the work of VBB to ensure the delivery of relief and developmentprograms in terms of project outcomes.Vets Beyond Borders Annual Report 2008-0920