veterinary employment/need

Lynda Clark 773-4594
Crus Bay Canines Cats & Critters 693-7780
Duke Deller 772-4781
Imperial Canines Cats & Critters 774-7034
Moore Vet Clinic 775-6623
Progressive Vet Hospital 773-1256
Charles Saunders 777-7788
Andrew Williamson 775-3240

Also you can look at the yellow pages http://www.usviyellowpages.org and search for vets and see how many there are and so forth.

--Islander

Dr. Burnside,

I think it's great that you'd be willing to go down and help out the strays. I am a vet tech in NH, and my husband and I have been going to St. John for about 6 years now. I can assure you that there certainly is a feral cat population, at least on St. John. Each year we rent a cottage in Coral Bay, and each year there are new "bush cats" hanging around the cottage. The owner of the cottage, from whom we rent, traps some of the cats and has them spayed or castrated, and then released back into the bush. Some are very friendly, others are still feral. They are fed on a regular basis, at least the cats at our cottage are. But I would say that the majority are not neutered, and could use all the help they could get. It would be great if someone could manage a colony for the neuters, but the cats are pretty wide spread. But every neuter wouldn't be breeding, so every little bit helps. You can see the cats everywhere. Thankfully a lot of the people down there are willing to help out however they can. I am sure that they would appreciate your help with the burden.

Thanks for the reply! I guess in some ways I am looking for a lifestyle change but obviously my main joy, like yours, is to work with pets and I am crazy about kitties. I am a little tired of the big city living and have been researching other places to live. I love warm weathe, the ocean, and nature so naturally exotic islands like the Virgin Island came to mind. I have never been there but have been doing a lot of research and my boyfriend and I are planning a trip there. I now have a list of vets to contact as well. Thanks again for the info! Cecilia

I would love to re-locate there too someday. But my life is here in NH, cold life it is, and, as much as I complain about work, I do love my furry faces. My favorite is cats too, and it about breaks my heart to see what condition some of the cats are in. There are those people on the island who are willing to help out how they can. On our very first trip to St. John my husband and I stopped for something to eat at a mexican restaurant in Coral Bay. While we were there, this one eyed cats made friends with me, sat on my lap, cuddled for the whole stay. I asked about her, and the people running the restaurant said that she had been injured in the eye as a kitten, and they had treated her, spayed her, and kept and fed her at the restaurant. (Restaurant rules are much more relaxed on the island!) Among a few other cats lounging around as well. Anyway, the restaurant changed hands many times, and we didn't stop again till last year. I had always wondered what happened to "Taco", the cat. We had never seen her again, and as the restaurant had changed hands many times I feared that she had been abandoned. Well, a little while into the meal, who should stroll up to us, but Taco! I was thrilled to see her again. She had turned into a fat little porker, more interested in food than pets, but I was happy to know that she had not been abandoned. And she was on good feeding grounds too. Well, I could go on and on but I won't bore you. Good luck on your trip (we are going in March!!!!!!) and hope you find a nice job treating the kitties. Maybe I will work one day with you!