Driving from the bustling San Francisco Peninsula up to the rolling green hills of Sonoma I was excited to see first-hand the operation of Compassion Without Borders first Local Latino Program.   Although I arrived alone at Pets Lifeline, where the event was being held, I was quickly surrounded by happy dogs and even happier families.  Also called Celebrate Your Pet, the day was devoted to providing free veterinary care and spay/neuter to animals of low-income Latino families.

And I was there to document it on video.

First I filmed the long line of mom’s and dad’s with children in tow, who were holding dogs in arms and on leashes.  Several volunteers were checking in the “patients” who were either sent to the mobile spay/neuter van or to a portable building where Dr. Christi Camblor was giving health checks, vaccinations, de-worming and flea/tick control.

As the day wore on and the rain misted around us, I filmed a litter of 4 month old puppies, bouncing around ankles, happy to be at such an exciting occasion.  Their scruffy mother was also there – she was given a spay appointment when the clinic returns in May.

My camera filmed a lovely German Shepherd who was quiet and regal, but as Dr. Camblor told me, had a severe infection on his neck.  She treated him for the infection and set up an appointment for him to return to the May clinic for a check-up.

After several hours of filming, the battery on my camcorder finally died, so I said my good-byes and headed home where I edited the footage into a short video documenting the event.  You can see it by clicking here.

The next Celebrate Your Pet will be held on Saturday May 26.  If you would like to donate towards veterinary supplies or pet supplies, please contact CWOB.  All help is very much appreciated by CWOB, the families and the animals.