Worldwide Vet Award
Hi Lester
I want to offer you a huge congratulations for being nominated for the Worldwide Vets Golden Star Award 2023. It has been wonderful to find out more about your work and spread awareness of your cause.
I am delighted to award you with the attached medal, which is a representation not only of the great work you are doing, but also a symbol of verification, which can be proudly displayed on your website or documentation. This image signifies that your commitment to animal welfare has been thoroughly vetted and recognized by our ethics committee. In a world where authenticity is paramount, this serves not only as a badge of honor, but is also a testament to your transparency and high standards of professionalism. It is a mark of trust and confidence that collaborators can rely upon. If you place this image on a website we recommend you put a hyperlink to our site, so people can check the authenticity of the award and even nominate you again in the future. You can use www.worldwidevets.com.
Again I want to congratulate you for this nomination and wish you all the best going forwards.
Kind regards,
Estelle
NEW 2025 Volunteer Dates Posted!!!
Check Out the Volunteer With Us Section
AproVets Contributing to Veterinary Education in Guatamala
Since last July, Dr. Marcos Sánchez, director of educational projects and animal welfare of AproVets, has been in Guatemala on an academic exchange opportunity. During his stay, Dr. Sanchez will be supporting the training of Veterinary Nursing students at Galileo University.
Animal welfare
In addition, AproVets will coordinate various activities with APRODERCH Guatemala, a non-governmental organization that benefits the most vulnerable sectors in Guatemala, including direct help programs for animals with the One Health approach. Aprovets has a formal agreement with this institution to support initiatives that benefit communities and animals, taking into account the experience in Nicaragua.
AproVet: Veterinary Association for Animal Protection and Welfare
Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.…quoted by Karen Davison…
AproVet update
Over the past two months, we have undertaken two exciting and enriching teaching projects. These initiatives are organized remotely by our volunteer coordinator and led by either a credentialed veterinary technician or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) as well as the founder Dr. Lester Tapia. Our projects aim to support animals in need while fostering the growth of the veterinary community by teaching high-quality veterinary medicine. We invite veterinary students, DVMs, credentialed veterinary technicians, and animal enthusiasts to regularly check our website for upcoming teaching projects and High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) opportunities that we will soon have for 2025!!!
AproVet and Geovets
Partnership is Teamwork
Dr. Joe Zulty and Dr. Lester Tapia have known each other since their days working with World Vets. Since then, over the last 10 years they have maintained contact. Just recently GeoVets joined AproVet to accomplish a four day spay/neuter clinic in Nicaragua (see Blog entry). As a result the connection has grown into a collaborative effort to benefit pets and people in Nicaragua with the goal of such partnership helping facilitate better exposure and donation opportunities. When you donate to AproVet through GeoVets PayPal please designate that your donation is to go to AproVet.
https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=PT2gO_-cIVJB9Ifo6J9N9xm0qAGN9Yezw0HFMKhJ2ROwGfxeEWHIjewbuw3X_3lyrb3RaG0gNo_MHjGQ
Collaboration is Key
Working Together to Making a Difference
What a remarkable accomplishment! With the collaboration of GeoVets International, AproVet's dedicated medical team, and the support of administrative staff, a total of 440 successful surgeries were performed during Holy Week in Granada, Nicaragua and at Universidad Central de Nicaragua.
This event not only addressed the urgent need for quality veterinary services but also underscored the importance of pets as cherished family members. AproVet's commitment to education was evident through the involvement of aspiring veterinary professionals, highlighting the excellence of UCN's educational program.
Special thanks to UCN's leadership for their support and collaboration, as well as to the logistics team at UCN El Doral compound for ensuring comfortable transportation, infrastructure, and amenities for all involved. This successful endeavor sets the stage for future impactful projects benefiting society at large.
What's New in the News?
Making a difference by collaborating with fellow organizations.
APROVET and UCN have officially signed an agreement, solidifying their partnership. APROVET Nicaragua has recently formalized a significant academic and scientific cooperation agreement with the Central University of Nicaragua. Although both institutions have collaborated on joint projects in previous years, this recent agreement reinforces and strengthens their ongoing efforts. As an association dedicated to animal protection, conservation, and welfare with an educational focus, this collaboration strengthens the human resources training systems in both institutions. Together, they will develop activities benefiting the community, animals, professionals, and future experts in the field. Additionally, UCN's academic endorsement will enhance the quality of APROVET Nicaragua's courses, seminars, workshops, forums, and training programs. We express our gratitude to UCN for spearheading this initiative, anticipating its significant societal benefits. These projects not only contribute to our commitment to providing quality services but also underscore our dedication to becoming high-level institutions with international support. Our organization remains committed to continuous improvement and growth. Collaboration between two entities with common interests and goals can result in positive impacts in the future of science and education.
In the News
Relevant, Important Pupdates
Our December student volunteer trip had dogs that were mixed with so many different breeds. From Huskies, Dobies, Doodles and Labs... Oh My!!!
Over 30 pets were spayed and neutered a day by our eager and ready to learn students and DVMs!
Two compassionate students discovered a brown, malnourished dog named Pollo during community outreach day. Fortunately, he not only enjoyed a bus ride to the AproVet clinic but is also set to fly to the US soon, where he'll find a loving home with these kind-hearted ladies.
GOOD LUCK POLLO!!!
We bonded during our days off and were able to get some much needed rest and relaxation!
Friends forever. Even from afar.
AproVet and the Equitarian Initiative
Making a Difference
This past October, AproVet partnered with the Equitarian Initiative and held a week-long equine clinic providing medical care to working horses throughout Nicaragua. A team of 7 veterinary professionals from the USA, Mexico, and Colombia worked tirelessly with the AproVet team to service over 500 horses in need. They brought their services to the cities of Rivas, Jinotepe, Diriamba, Masaya, Sandino, and Granada. These dedicated men and women worked endlessly to provide hoof trimming, dentistry, castrations, vaccines, deworming, and wound care.
Each horse was provided with a free physical exam.
Many of the horse's had health concerns to address such as tick infestation, masses, Habronmiasis, and much more.
The students were able to take the knowledge that they learned in school and apply it hands-on.
Local Empowerment
AproVet has an ongoing commitment to support the working horses of Nicaragua and their families.
Local families depend on working horses for their livelihood. These horses are hard workers and have vital roles in their communities. They transport goods, work in agriculture, and pull carriages for tourists. The health of working horses is essential to many communities in this country.
Educating The Future
Making Change Possible
The clinic also provided an opportunity for 15 local veterinary students from four different schools to come and expand their knowledge of equine medicine. It is our hope that the knowledge they gained will continue to serve them and their patients for years to come.
Expanding Our Wings
Traveling to other countries to make a difference
Dr. Lester Tapia explored a different country early October to gain new friends and new experiences in Suriname!
He was able to work with people from Brazil, Suriname, the US, Canada and the UK. Here, he helped perform the amazing number of 733 spays and neuters within 4 days!!!
Erin CVT also went on this trip.
This makes Suriname the 4th country that Lester and Erin have worked together in by providing spays and neuters to help control the pet population.
The volunteer team consisted of a variety of people from all over the world.
It was definitely a fun, busy and successful trip to remember.
In the News
Penny and Nikki were rescued by our amazing summer volunteers Samantha and Katie in the first June session. They travelled all the way to the United States. Since they’ve arrived they’ve been able to enjoy playing in the grass with more toys than they could count ! Along with healing their health issues, they’ve flourished emotionally in their devoted and love filled furever homes.
Nikki is spunky and silly! She loves to cuddle next to her mom and grandma. She loves long walks and meeting new puppy friends!
Penny is so sweet and gentle! She loves running outside with her human brother and parents! Penny loves her cat brother, bootsie, as her mom says she acts more like a cat most of the time!
Gaia was the name of a dog that our volunteers called this emaciated and dehydrated beauty after rescuing her from Outreach Day in June. Sadly, she was tied to a tree her whole life with barely any food or water and unable to fend for herself. While our volunteers were hard at work with their surgeries, they came up with a plan to go back to the community and bring this sweet soul safely to the AproVet Clinic. Here, the staff was able to take care of her by giving her the care she needed to get healthy. When she was able to get a clean bill of health, a loving family adopted her and brought her home where she will now live a good, happy, healthy life. She is now called Negrita. Congratulations Negrita, we love you, and we heard your call for help!
AproVet is aware of how much veterinary services are needed for working animals and works hard in order to provide the help.
Many pet's have been adopted and now live in loving homes
A total of 23 pets have been trapped, sterilized and put up for adoption.
Our volunteers are here: this summer AproVet hosted two international groups. We welcomed our amazing team of volunteers from the USA and Canada. DVM’s, veterinary technicians, and vet students from different states.
Volunteering with AproVet helps us create a huge positive impact on the community. Our main goal is to sterilize as many pets as we can. This is all possible with your support.
Pre-vet and veterinary students from all over were able to learn how to place catheters, intubate, and prep patients for surgery.
Partnership
Our Roots
AproVet -Nicaragua (Veterinary Association of Protection, Conservation and Animal Welfare) knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by, but most importantly through the actions of our initiatives. We realized that by working together we could overcome our challenges and accomplish much more, and that is why we ultimately decided to partnership with another NGO called FNEinternational. Meet Michael Cipoletti, executive director of FNE. Their organization provides projects in Latin America with education, health assistance, and building homes. We believe that the One Health concept will make a huge impact in the health of people, the environment and animals. Stay tuned for our upcoming projects!
What's new in the News
Free Veterinary Services
We work hard to get our efforts noticed by the media and are so proud when this goal comes to fruition. A well-informed community is an empowered one as well, so take a look at some of the latest coverage we’ve received below and help spread the word about all the amazing developments at ArproVet-Nicaragua.
AproVet has an ongoing commitment to support the working horses of Nicaragua.
AproVet will be providing free veterinary services to working horses for the whole year!!!
Working together can accomplish a common goal.
Come see what we have to offer
Education is the passport to the future
Students from de Faculty of Veterinary medicine of the Universidad Central de Nicaragua and the amazing Dr. Dave Turroff teamed up in Buenos Aires, Rivas and performed physical exams, dentistry and hoof care under the supervision of the Licensed Veterinarians. Educating the young will help them to improve their education teaching them Equine medicine.
Experience ArproVet-Nicaragua
ArproVet-Nicaragua wants to spread our message of compassion, volunteering and educating. We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community and that collective action can greatly impact the world. Through advocacy and outreach activities, our team works tirelessly each day to contribute their part to the greater good.
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
