Lithuania

The Kismet Account has worked with the Lithuanian charity PIFAS since 2008 and our approach in offering assistance is somewhat different from elsewhere. Recognising the huge talent, skill, and animal welfare awareness of the Veterinary and charity sectors in Lithuania, we have been working to support the charity's own efforts to build their capacity in 2 cities, Kaunas and Vilnius, by helping with training workshops, field training, donating equipment and funding toward neutering. We have achieved major changes in muncipal attitudes and public policy toward street cats, and the techniques used during their veterinary care - long term changes which are far more reaching than simply sending our own vets to do the work.

Since our first meeting with the charity we have:

Classroom Trained more than 120 State and private veterinarians, charity staff and municipal staff

Field trained more than 10 charity volunteers in feral handling techniques

Donated more than 25 traps, cages and other equipment for animal rescue work

Provided hands-on surgical experience for 20 vets and technicians in feral handling, flank spay and early neutering techniques, teaching final year students from the country's veterinary and veterinary nursing degree courses.

We are grateful to SNIP International, WSPA, LiSPA, the Lithauanian Vet Academy and the Vet Med faculty at Vilnius for supporting the work of PIFAS in various ways.