Name: Dr Mark Johnson
Country: Montana, USA
Age: 52
From which veterinary school did you graduate? Colorado State University
Current/most recent professional post? Founder and Executive Director of Global Wildlife Resources, Inc. www.wildlifereosurces.org.
What type of practice? Consulting on wildlife capture and handling
Project Name: Vets Beyond Borders and Ladakh Animal Care Society
Project Location: Saboo, Leh Ladakh, India
Have you volunteered before?
No
Tell us about your volunteer experience in Ladakh?
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with the Ladakhi Animal Care Society and VBB to identify the struggles and challenges with their dog capture, handling, and transport and work together to create solutions to humanely capture and handle the dogs in a way which was more compassionate for the dogs, safer for the animal handlers, and strongly accepted by the local people. I taught a 3 day workshop on feral dog capture and handling with people attending from Sikkim, Mumbai, and Jaipur. And then I went out each day to assist wtih dog captures. Everyone I worked with were open minded to create new paradigms and VBB was courageous enough to purchase new types of equipment such as boxtraps and Y poles. I learned as much as I taught. I am writing about my experrience in a feral dog blog at: Feral Dog Blog
What do you think is the best aspect of the program?
The greatest aspect was surrounding myself with the Ladakhi people, land, and culture. It was a great honor and deep pleasure to become friends with Kunzang and his family and with the wonderfu people of VBB. I was touched and inspired by the Buddhist and Tibetan community and the Ladakhi culture taught me new priorities in how I live my Life. I encourage you to read “Ancient Futures-Learning from Ladakh” by Helana Norberg-Hodge.
What do you like most about being a volunteer?
Certainly making a difference in places where the world can really use the help. The hardest part of volunteering in Ladakh was just getting myself there (energetically and logistically). Once I was there, it was a wonderful adventure in an incredible place. The dedication and hard work of the VBB staff motivated me to particpate even more. They were very inspiring.
Country: Montana, USA
Age: 52
From which veterinary school did you graduate? Colorado State University
Current/most recent professional post? Founder and Executive Director of Global Wildlife Resources, Inc. www.wildlifereosurces.org.
What type of practice? Consulting on wildlife capture and handling
Project Name: Vets Beyond Borders and Ladakh Animal Care Society
Project Location: Saboo, Leh Ladakh, India
Have you volunteered before?
No
Tell us about your volunteer experience in Ladakh?
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with the Ladakhi Animal Care Society and VBB to identify the struggles and challenges with their dog capture, handling, and transport and work together to create solutions to humanely capture and handle the dogs in a way which was more compassionate for the dogs, safer for the animal handlers, and strongly accepted by the local people. I taught a 3 day workshop on feral dog capture and handling with people attending from Sikkim, Mumbai, and Jaipur. And then I went out each day to assist wtih dog captures. Everyone I worked with were open minded to create new paradigms and VBB was courageous enough to purchase new types of equipment such as boxtraps and Y poles. I learned as much as I taught. I am writing about my experrience in a feral dog blog at: Feral Dog Blog
What do you think is the best aspect of the program?
The greatest aspect was surrounding myself with the Ladakhi people, land, and culture. It was a great honor and deep pleasure to become friends with Kunzang and his family and with the wonderfu people of VBB. I was touched and inspired by the Buddhist and Tibetan community and the Ladakhi culture taught me new priorities in how I live my Life. I encourage you to read “Ancient Futures-Learning from Ladakh” by Helana Norberg-Hodge.
What do you like most about being a volunteer?
Certainly making a difference in places where the world can really use the help. The hardest part of volunteering in Ladakh was just getting myself there (energetically and logistically). Once I was there, it was a wonderful adventure in an incredible place. The dedication and hard work of the VBB staff motivated me to particpate even more. They were very inspiring.
