Getting Vets Help
A responsible animal charity’s main task is to sterilize the animals under its care, to prevent the uncontrollable proliferation of even more miserable stray animals.
Overseas veterinarians
This is also Siem Reap Pagoda Cats’ mission, which has been made possible thanks to the generous collaboration of veterinarians from all over the world who have spent a little of their time in Siem Reap to come spay and neuter the pagoda cats at Josette’s home clinic.
Cambodian people routinely don’t have their pets sterilized, out of financial constraint or ignorance. Coming from France, Australia, America and Japan, these volunteer vets have been helping Josette since the beginning of Siem Reap Pagoda Cats. My heartfelt thanks to all of them!
Dr. Arthur Frauenfelder is an Australian veterinary doctor who helped us in January 2014 by neutering four cats at the nun’s house and spaying another four at Josette’s home vet clinic, all of this in a single day!
Dr. Seigo Yoshimura traveled from Japan to Cambodia exclusively for Siem Reap Pagoda cats, arriving on a Sunday and leaving the next Wednesday! He brought along a suitcase full of medicine and surgical instruments and spayed six cats in one morning!
Several of my generous volunteer veterinarians at my home clinic…
Australian vet nurse Jessi Leigh
British vet Liz Law
Dutch vets Bass and Jessica
French vet Timothee
American Vet Catherine Wood
American vet Don Gillespie
World Vets in 2015
In November 2015, a group of American veterinarians spent 3 full days at Wat Damnak pagoda to treat and sterilize Cambodian people’s owned dogs and animals for free.
Three of Josette’s pagoda cats were spayed on that occasion.
World Vets in 2016
In October 2016, another group of veterinarians from World Vets came to Wat Damnak pagoda again for the same intensive 3-day long clinic.
A staggering 224 surgeries were done and countless consultations were made during this time!
Five of Josette’s pagoda cats were spayed on that occasion.
Local vet professionals
Vet nurse Katie Russel In the first years of Siem Reap Pagoda Cats, there was not a single Western-trained veterinarian in Siem Reap. Only Australian vet nurse Katie Russel was able to provide the help needed by the pagoda cats during her time in Cambodia.
Dr. Hoksy Votha is a Cambodian veterinarian who has been helping the pagoda cats from the very beginning, treating them for their external injuries (broken leg, wounded paw) both at the pagoda and at Josette’s vet clinic.
Vet Trish Johanssen The situation has much improved with the arrival, in 2015, of New Zealand vet Dr. Trish Johanssen, who has restored many of the pagoda cats back to health. She has also sterilized a number of them. She has also treated several of the pagoda stray dogs.
Before-After photos of rescued pagoda cats
“Miracle” kitten found at the pagoda with a head trauma early 2016. Blinded for a while and unable to stand up, he was treated by Dr. Trish Johanssen and is now living in a loving home in Siem Reap
“Lalabelle“, found in March 2015 with a terrible case of mange. She was successfully treated by vet nurse Katie Russel and, she too, is now living in a happy home in Siem Reap.
“Sir Tom Cat” found in May 2013 at Wat Athvea with a mouth ulcer preventing him from eating, as well as a wound on his hip. Two surgeries later by Dr. Don Gillespie, he was returned to the pagoda and has become the Abbot’s mascot!
“Mr. Diamond” mange-ridden male cat found at Wat Po in November 2015. Amazing transformation with the right treatment! Has been returned to the pagoda, where he is bossing all the other furries…