A few months after I arrived on-island I was recruited to join the American Samoa Humane Society. As a member of the humane society I got to go to Western Samoa for the Commonwealth Veterinary Association Australasia/Oceania Regional Conference. It was actually pretty cool because in addition to the usual country reports and scientific papers, they had integrated a heavy animal welfare component into the program. We had various humane societies from all over Oceania and several vets gave presentations on the campaigns they had done in their own countries where they would go door to door in Australian Aboriginal villages or travel out to remote islands (like in the Cooks) to spay and neuter dogs and cats as well as provide desperately needed vet care. It was great to get to network with the other animal welfare groups and learn what they are doing to better their islands for companion animals.The Prime Minister of Western Samoa even came to speak:
The Reverend, however, wasn't as interested:
Here are Cheryl & Clif out on the balcony at our dinner banquet:
Me & Clif soaking up our last night in Western:
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