Comment history

BLJohnson says...

The VMAB is being called upon to reverse the decision to cancel Operation Potcake. **We cannot reverse a decision that we did not make**. The people planning Operation Potcake decided to cancel their own project based on a letter from the VMAB that simply voiced the concerns and suggestions of our veterinary body. By no means were these suggestions set in stone, and the VMAB hoped to negotiate the terms and conditions of our services for the program with the organizers of Operation Potcake. That opportunity was not afforded to us before the project was scrapped. There was no further communication from Operation Potcake to the VMAB as it related to the project except a letter stating that the project was being cancelled to focus on other smaller projects, followed by an article in the newspaper. OP 2014 was a way forward for the local veterinary community to cement their dedication to helping the animals of this country. We are however, being criticized in the media about our decisions as a group to want to completely and wholeheartedly provide these services for our country by exclusively doing the work for OP. There is and never was ill will towards foreign vets coming in. We are being criticized for wanting to have a say in the acquisition of medical, surgical and anesthetic supplies that WE would use to spay, neuter, medicate and vaccinate these animals. We are being criticized for requesting reimbursement for those said supplies. We never suggested that OP is taking money away from our businesses. This is by no means a request for payment and should not be misconstrued as such. To think that people regard the veterinarians in this country in such low regard is shameful. The time that we are donating and the assistants that we are providing to ensure quality surgical care mean nothing? Is it so difficult to understand that a group of professionals wanted to discuss their surgical and medical preferences before delving into a project of this magnitude? Not to do so would be a huge misstep and negligent on our part. Miscommunication and innuendo are not the answer to this situation. We have to find a way to bring the welfare of animals back to the forefront instead of focusing on what people view as greed and xenophobia. What you see is dedication, love for animals and love for country. It is a sad day indeed.