2013 ANNUAL REPORT
International Spay/Neuter Network, founded in 2002, is an all-volunteer charity
organization, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and registered as a 501©3 under
the US Tax Code since 2005. ISNN is the only organization working on the
island of Jamaica to address the overpopulation of companion animals by
offering free sterilization for stray dogs and cats as well as for those whose
owners cannot afford traditional vet care for their pets.
SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM
ISNN, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and
the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association, conducted its first ‘Community Spay
Clinic” in December 2008. For the past six years ISNN has been conducting
‘Community Spay Clinics’ in select communities with repeat visits each year in an
effort to make an impact on the population of street dogs in those communities.
Each clinic runs for three consecutive days with a goal of spaying 300 dogs and
cats per clinic.
ISNN has two main goals while conducting our Community Spay Clinics. We
work to sterilize as many animals as is safely possible in a mash-type setting; as
well as provide a venue for continuing education and collaboration between ISNN
and Jamaican national veterinarians.
In order to accomplish these goals, ISNN enlists the assistance of volunteer
veterinarians and technicians, from the US and Canada, that have extensive
experience in high volume spay and neuter techniques to work alongside local
veterinarians and technicians who are interested in participating in such an effort
and learning new techniques in high volume spay/neutering. ISNN believes that
working with the local veterinarians is the most sustainable solution to the
overpopulation crisis in Jamaica.
The second branch of our spay/neuter program involves partnering with local vet
clinics to offer reduced cost sterilization for stray and low income pets in their
communities. ‘AnimalCare Vet Clinic’ has been working with ISNN for the past
eight years, offering a substantial price reduction to spay stray and low-income
pets in the city of Kingston. In 2012 and 2013, over 300 cats and dogs were
spayed by AnimalCare Vet Clinic.
CAT CAFÉ
ISNN works with hotels and attraction owners to solve the problem of feral cat
overpopulation and the human health risks they pose. Cats tend to be attracted
to these areas due to the ready availability of food and water. The control of cats
has traditionally been neither humane nor environmentally sound. Our goal is to
educate hoteliers and attraction owners on how to humanely manage their feral
cat colonies.
ISNN has partnered with two major hotel chains to set up Cat Cafes and to
sterilize their feral cat colonies. To date we have assisted five “Sandals” hotels,
two “Couples” hotels, several smaller hotels, as well as Dolphins Cove. We offer
advice whenever needed and will continue to revisit these hotels to sterilize any
new additions to their colonies.
HUMANE EDUCATION
ISNN strives to educate both the young and old about the needs of animals and
responsible pet care. In 2010 with a grant from the Parks Foundation, 1000
“Caring For” books were purchased that teach caring for pets (dogs, cats, and
horses). ISNN partnered with the Montego Bay Rotary, AnimalCare Vet Clinic,
Montego Bay Animal Haven, and several local volunteers to distribute books to
libraries and summer camp school children.
During each community spay clinic a Humane Education component is
incorporated to teach children about the issues of pet overpopulation. Teens
receive a tour of the clinic and the opportunity for some hands-on pet care
training. For younger children we incorporate games, arts and crafts, and
photography to inspire care and compassion toward all animals.
2013 YEAR IN REVIEW
ISNN volunteers have been busy behind the scenes preparing for more great
projects in the future. ISNN has a new look, a new and improved website, and
launched our first newsletter to keep supporters updated on the projects we are
working on. Our new website will serve to educate and assist those who would
like to help the animals of Jamaica (as well as at home).
ISNN held two Community Spay Clinics this year. In May, ISNN once again
visited the community of Eltham for a three day spay clinic resulting in 231 dogs
and cats being sterilized. There were very few complications and a large portion
(40%) of the animals sterilized were animals that were younger than 4 months of
age. This has an enormous impact in the community with reduction of unwanted
puppies and kittens well before breeding age as well as education of the
community as to what is possible. A large number of 2 pound puppies had
successful inductions, smooth prep, rapid surgeries and smooth recoveries.
Additionally, we had an amazing cat team who worked tirelessly - staying for an
additional week to sterilize cats at Dolphins Cove, Sunset Beach Resort and the
Montego Bay JSPCA. Dr. Marc Kramer and Eliana Ardila, RVT, sterilized a total
of 55 feral cats!!! Many thanks go to Dr. Mishka Stennett and the team at
Dolphins Cove and to Suzanne and Morgan (clinic volunteers that helped on their
day off!).
In November ISNN conducted a very successful spay/neuter clinic in the capital
city of Kingston, Jamaica. This project was a collaborative effort between the
Jamaica SPCA and ISNN and was held at the JSPCA center in Kingston; lead by
Dr. Kim Freeman DVM, Pam Lawson, Manager of the JSPCA, and Kim Swaim,
Executive Director of ISNN. A total of 51 cats and 142 dogs were spayed during
this clinic.
Pam Lawson and her staff were instrumental in providing the support of the clinic
while keeping their doors open for the general public. Several local businesses
supported this endeavor by donating food for the dogs as well as for all the
volunteers. Two vans were running daily to pick up and drop off dogs from lowincome communities around the city.
ISNN was also able to assist an employee of the city newspaper to trap and spay
the feral cats living on their compound. A total of eleven cats were trapped and
spayed and the JSPCA will continue working with them to trap and spay the
remainder.
2014 The Year Ahead
ISNN volunteers are working on several projects for 2014. We recently received
another grant from the Parks Foundation to further our humane education
program. We will be working with the JSPCA and Montego Bay Animal Haven to
schedule visits to schools and rural communities in an effort to teach children
compassion toward animals and caring for their pets.
On another front, ISNN has been contacted by several spay/neuter groups
expressing their desire to help the cause. ISNN volunteers will be working with
these groups to help them establish themselves on the island to help the animals
as well. We appreciate help from wherever we can get it.
We will be working to expand our subsidized spay program, supporting more of
the local vets who are willing to offered reduced cost surgery for low-income
pets. One goal is to secure medical equipment that they may be in need of.
It Takes a Village
ISNN is deeply indebted to all the wonderful volunteers who give so much of their
time and energy to make our program a success. From the vets and techs who
travel all the way from the US and Canada; to the hundreds of local volunteers
who not only make us feel like family, but also go above and beyond to make
sure we have all the supplies we need to get the job done.
Special thanks goes to Drs. Kim Freeman, Will Snow, Marc Kramer, Eliana
Ardila, Lesley Robson, and Cassidy Rist, all of whom have donated so much time
and effort into making this program a success.
Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Sandals Foundation. They are
a group of very generous people who have done so much for ISNN and Jamaica
as a whole. We could not have done it without their support.
Last, but certainly not least, our sincerest gratitude to the foundations that have
supported us year after year. Without their support none of this would have been
possible.
ISNN is supported by:
 Humane Society International
 The Pegasus Foundation
 AMW-EG Trust
 The Maria Norbury Foundation
 Fondation Brigitte Bardot
 The Parks Foundation