A Collar for Me?

It is such a pleasure to see people coming to the doors of FVAI’S clinic with their animals! Walking, biking, on a scooter or even in a wheelbarrow! In a cardboard box, a rice bag or even a pillowcase. Small dogs, large dogs, nice ones and less nice ones. What do they all have in common the majority of the time? No collar around their neck. A rope, a belt or a chain. No choice, they make do with what they have.

In foreign countries the people are no different from us. It is not due to negligence that their dogs do not have collars. The collars are just simply unavailable. In the small village shops we can find soap, toothpaste, powdered milk, fishing line and matches. Occasionally we find dog food, but that is often for the more wealthy clientele.

During its humanitarian trips, FVAI treats more than 200 animals at no cost. It’s good, free care and the people are extremely appreciative. One time while sweeping the floor (or was it while I was in surgery, I am not quite sure…), I started to ask myself. Should the veterinarian’s role be limited to solely providing medical care? Should we close our eyes to the chain around the patient’s neck? Uneasiness. I don’t like feeling uneasy, the unfinished work, the i’s not dotted and the t’s not crossed.

From this, the collar project was born!

FVAI would like to offer a collar to each dog treated during its clinics. The collar is not simply for style. The collar signifies that the dog has received veterinary care and someone is looking after it. When possible we ask each child to choose a collar for his pet as they are waking up from anesthesia. This simple gesture reinforces the human-animal bond and gives a sense of responsibility to the child.

We invite you to send us your collars so that we may pass them on to the dogs we treat during our humanitarian trips. We would appreciate nylon collars with plastic clasps (see image below). The least amount of metal possible (it rusts in tropical climates), no leather (stays humid in the tropics) and no chokers please!

You may send the collars to:

3335 4ème rang sud
St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec
J0H 2G0

We would like to invite all veterinary establishments to participate in this magnificent project. Collect your clients’ collars and bring them to the symposiums of the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec en pratique des petits animaux (AMVQ).

A Collar for Me -printable PDF

Please don’t hesitate to download this document in order to share this unique project with your friends, family, and co-workers!

Thank you for your generosity!