Utila Animal Rescue and Pet Care
*This article was first posted in November 2009. The Preface has been updated in January 2017*
Second Update: February 1, 2017: Veterinarian Dr. Oscar Servellon has, for the time being, established a weekly clinic on the island of Utila on Tuesdays or Thursdays at the BICA building. Bring pets for vaccines, checkup, medical care, spaying, neutering or to get supplies such as tick and flea prevention, de-worming etc. and check the Facebook page of Utila Animal Rescue and Pet Care for weekly updates.
Currently (January 2017), there are no certified vets living and working full time on the island.
There have been amazing volunteers at the Utila Animal Rescue and Pet Care who have been opening up a ‘clinic’ every second Tuesday of the month from 10 am to noon for puppy vaccines, puppy de-worming, nail trimming, ear cleaning and similar basic care, and limited advice.
If you have an emergency with your pet while on Utila you must take it to the vet in La Ceiba: Dr. Calderon: 9995 2260
The volunteers at the clinic are pleased to find out that Dr. Oscar Serveillon, a veterinarian from San Pedro Sula will be in Utila the third week of January and will be working on Thursday January 19 from 8:00 am in the BICA building, the same place where Dr. Loretta and more recently, the volunteer team worked.
It is possible that Dr. Servellon will establish a regular weekly clinic on the island of Utila-we will update this page with information as we receive it.
Bring your animal for spay, neuter, vaccination, treatments or for any other pet care needs. The current team of volunteers will be there to help until the new doctor gets established.
The Tuesday volunteer clinic will no longer be operating.
To find the BICA Building, follow the road up the hill from the centre of town – it is located at the top before the left turn to the ball fields.
Refer to this page for updates as more information becomes available.
*Begin original Post*
The idea for Utila Animal Rescue began when Dr. Loretta Potts and her husband, Rodger Mehrer, visited Utila for the first time on a scuba diving vacation. They were not only struck by the beauty of the island, its magnificent reefs and its wonderful people, but also by the desperate need for care of the local animals.
There was no veterinarian on the island of Utila, and the starving, stray animal population was controlled only by poison placed in garbage cans. Unable to ignore the obvious need for humane animal control, Loretta and Rodger chose to return once a year to the bay island, and with the help of Jim and Kisty Engel of Utila Lodge, opened an annual Utila Animal Rescue week long spay and neuter clinic.
Utila Animal Rescue continued this practice until 2007, when the couple decided to retire and move to Utila permanently. The spay/neuter clinic thereafter operated once a week, and its success was soon noticed. This regular service, in addition to providing high quality veterinary care, greatly reduced the amount of stray and unwanted animals scavenging the streets of the island.
Loretta and Rodger are now a vital part of Utila life, and there is no islander, pet owner or not, who is not aware of their selfless hard work and dedication to the community.
With the over population of stray animals at bay, Utila Animal Rescue evolved into Utila Animal Rescue & Pet Care. With the help of donations and volunteers, free bi-monthly spay/neuter clinics are held, and numerous animal maladies are treated. Utila Animal Rescue & Pet Care remains free in order to keep the pet population of Utila under control, and the animals of Utila healthy and happy.
The pet services are free, but donations are welcome. High quality veterinary care is expensive to provide; much of the equipment and medicines are imported from the USA. Every cent donated goes directly to helping another Utila animal in need.
Find Utila Animal Rescue and Pet Care on Facebook
*Also, PLEASE encourage your Utila neighbors to bring their pet in for a neuter or spay!! This is especially important for those who may not know the importance of such services. Take the time to talk to others- locals and especially those from the mainland and help them arrange to take their pets in. This may mean YOU helping to arrange and pay for a taxi ($1.50 us) and waiting with their pet. YOU can make a difference!!. *