Frequently Asked Questions
If you have more questions, please contact us on Facebook, or send us an email at [email protected]
How can I get involved?
As a student: Join! All RUSVM students are welcome to join our club. Look forward to seeing our fundraising events and items and help us continue to help our current foster animals. Check out the facebook group for activities for members such as lectures, wetlabs, and emergency rotations. As a community member: Spread the word, donate and keep in touch! Let us know what you think. Look through our animal albums and watch for news and events. Because this group is affiliated with SAFE still, we are considered a 501c3 and donations are tax deductible. |
How can I donate?
Donations are gladly accepted for all our critters. Donations go to helping the animals we have in foster homes get preventatives and healthcare, as well as help members of the community who may need help with keeping their loved ones healthy. We are able to intake animals based on availability of funds and fosters, and any donations will go to their health and necessities. Since the RUSVM Shelter Med Club is affiliated with SAFE (a 501c3 non profit organization), your donation will be tax deductible (for US citizens). Donations can be sent through paypal to [email protected] |
I live in St. Kitts and am interested in adopting an animal, what do I do?
We are more than happy to help you find the right animal for your life! The SCASV offers a foster to adopt situation after doing an interview and house check. If you see a pet you want to adopt, send an email to [email protected] to start the adoption process and get any questions you may have answered. There is usually an interview process, home visit and adoption fee of 300ec and a spay/neuter deposit of 200ec that you will get back with proof of fixing the pet. |
I live in the US and am interested in adopting an animal, what do I do?
Students are starting to go back to St. Kitts for school at a limited capacity. Adoptions can be coordinated, but keep in mind that it may take some time to get the pets home to you considering flights out of St. Kitts are extremely limited. If you see a pet that you want to adopt, send an email to [email protected] and they will help coordinate the next steps in the adoption process. There is an adoption interview and adoption fee of $115 US and a spay/neuter deposit of $75 US that you will get back with proof of fixing the pet. It is important to note that once the animal is adopted, it becomes the adopter's responsibility to coordinate travel back to the US and to find a private foster until the pet can travel. |
I found a dog that:
- looks lost, what do I do?
Important Numbers:
It is generally safe to assume that every dog has an owner. While there are lots of stray dogs on St. Kitts, there are also a lot of roaming dogs that do belong to someone.
If the dog does not look to be in danger or severely injured, the best thing to do is:
- looks to be hurt:
- looks lost, what do I do?
Important Numbers:
- Ross University Veterinary Clinic (RUVC): 869-466-3056
- Ross University Veterinary Clinic Emergency number: 869-662-7080
- Ponds Veterinary Clinic: 869-465-9849
- St. Kitts Chief Veterinary Officer: 869-465-2110 (Phone) & 869-465-2928 (Fax)
It is generally safe to assume that every dog has an owner. While there are lots of stray dogs on St. Kitts, there are also a lot of roaming dogs that do belong to someone.
If the dog does not look to be in danger or severely injured, the best thing to do is:
- Ask around to any locals to see if the dog is known or recognized.
- You can contact the RUSVM Shelter Med Club for advice on proceedings. Please be aware that as of right now the RUSVM SCASV is extremely limited based on such a small availability of fosters. Please see our intake status for both dogs and cats. We will do a courtesy Facebook post for you if you would like help advertising the lost pets; it will help attract attention to the animal if you can send pictures of the lost pet.
- If no one recognizes the dog and you want to take the dog, please be aware that you MUST contact the CVO (Chief Veterinary Office), and get EXPRESS permission to take the dog and bring it to a clinic to check it for a microchip.
- If the dog is licensed, you may take the dog and you MUST advertise the lost dog via flyers for 7 days in the area you found the dog, saying that you have found a lost dog. If the dog is unlicensed you MUST advertise for at least 3 days.
- If no owner comes forward in this 3-7 day period, the government veterinarian needs to be contacted and will decide how to proceed in a manner they see fit.
- If the dog is released into student care after the holding period then the student is required to transfer the license to themselves, and pay the appropriate fee or pay the licensing fee (for un licensed dogs) prior to being granted ownership. ($75ecd for registration and microchip)
- looks to be hurt:
- Call government veterinarian for permission to pick up and take to RUVC for treatment
- If government veterinarian grants permission to pick up the dog for treatment then you MUST call the RUVC emergency line and discuss the case with the on call clinician to determine if it is a true emergency that needs to be seen at the RUVC. (The RUVC does not have 24 hours service so you MUST call the emergency line in order to be seen after hours for life threatening emergencies ONLY.
- You will take sole financial responsibility if you seek medical care for the animal from the RUVC
- The government veterinarian will issue a written release form within 24 hours granting permission for you to have taken the dog in for medical treatment and allowing the RUVC to move forward with therapy seen fit for the animal
- The same holding period and licensing rules apply as written above. During that time you will be financially responsible and will foster the dog if the dog is discharged from the hospital during the holding period.
- If an owner comes forward and reclaims a dog during the holding period then the owner is responsible to pay the medical bill in full and reimburse you. (This only applies when you have obtained the written permission from the government vet to proceed with medical treatment.)
- At the end of the holding period, if no owner comes forward, the government veterinarian will need to be contacted to make the decision to grant permission for you to officially take on ownership of the animal. If the dog was unlicensed to begin with then you are required to pay the licensing fee of $75ecd (microchip and registration fee). If the animal was already licensed then you will need to transfer the license into your name.
- If there is a situation where an animal is in severe pain or suffering from a true life threatening condition where they may suffer and die if left overnight, and you cannot get a hold of the government veterinarian then you must call the RUVC office (during normal business hours) or the emergency line (after hours). The RUVC clinician on call will determine if the animal is truly suffering to the point that it cannot wait until the government veterinarian can be reached. If the animal requires immediate care, then you can take the animal to the RUVC for minimal lifesaving treatment and/or pain management until the government veterinarian can be reached. Once the government vet can be reached (which may not be until the next morning), they will decide if permission can be granted to proceed with further diagnostics and therapy as seen fit by the RUVC clinician. Full treatment and diagnostics cannot be performed until the government veterinarian grants permission. The government veterinarian will provide permission via written consent or via email for documentation to you, who can then provide this to the RUVC clinician. The same rules for holding period and licensing apply that are listed above.
- Humane euthanasia: If an animal is found to be severely injured, suffering greatly, injuries not compatible with life, and quality of life is a major concern, then humane euthanasia may be performed. The government veterinarian must be contacted to grant permission for humane euthanasia. If they cannot be reached and the animal is in severe suffering then the RUVC clinician may proceed with euthanasia. The government vet will need to be notified by the following morning of this situation for their records.
Please see these two links to read over the laws of animal welfare and ownership in St. Kitts