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ISSUE 1,138 Friday 7th June 2024
LOCAL VETERINARIAN PROVIDES LIFELINE TO ANIMALS IN TONGA Beato Lenoa, a veterinarian who works with both livestock and companion animals in the Canterbury region, has just returned from a week-long veterinary clinic in early May with NZ-based charity South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW). SPAW was founded 14 years ago, and now delivers around 1.5 million dollars in veterinary aid to the South Pacific islands each year. The charity’s programme ensures that animals are desexed, injured animals are given appropriate treatments, and that dogs and cats are vaccinated and provided with parasite control. A team of eight vets and vet nurses volunteered their time and skills to the programme treating just under 400 animals for free during the week-long field clinic. Originally from Fiji, Beato says, “There are not that many Pacific islanders who are qualified veterinarians or vet nurses and as I am a Pacific person I wanted to contribute to improving animal health and welfare and inspire fellow Pacific Islanders to consider veterinary science as a career choice.”
Beato previously worked with the Fiji government as a veterinarian for five years after graduating from the University of Queensland (Brisbane) Veterinary School. He hoped to address whatever animal health/welfare needs that would be presented, whether via surgery or through medical consultations and to raise community awareness on animal welfare. Of his time in Tonga, Beato says, “My Fijian culture has a great many similarities with the Tongan culture, so it was easy for me to interact with the pet owners and livestock farmers. Respect for elders and not speaking out of turn, which can come off people being shy, was a general observation for most of the locals and the team learnt to navigate these as the days progressed.” On several occasions, he was mistaken to be Tongan, which he thought was hilarious, because the locals would usually explode in laughter when he told them he was Fijian. “A number did comment they were surprised and happy to see an Islander veterinarian with the team.”
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Local veterinarian Beato Lenoa during his time volunteering in Tonga. He travelled there under South Pacific Animal Welfare, a charity that offers veterinary aid programmes to help animal welfare in South Pacific islands.
Dance Duck Pond at the
2024 Black Tie Ball
Saturday 6th July, 7:30pm Darfield Recreation Centre Music by: ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Nibbles provided. Courtesy Van Entertainment Available from 8:30pm R18 | ROAR
Limited Tickets | $60 each FREE DRINK ON ENTRY