The McKee No Kill/No shelter Project. Costa Rica.

McKee is a small (5 Board and 2 working staff) charitable organisation which was founded 10 years ago. They have made excellent progress during this time by identifying their problem in Costa Rica; unwanted and stray animals which often resulted in road traffic accidents and lack of care.

They then developed and implemented a solution; mass low cost neutering and increased public responsibility.

There are a number of TNR (trap, neuter, release) or sterilization programmes taking place around the world, but I find McKee unique in many ways and in my view the most effective I have found to date.

The essence of the McKee Project is a two-step programme.

1)Training of veterinary surgeons in the advanced neuter technique.
2)Training of a community leader on the McKee Project.

McKee builds sustainable community based solutions by teaching local, government and university vets in an advanced neuter technique, whilst also training the respective communities to be pro-active in regard to animal welfare. This prevents the need to build and manage shelters, which often have limited ability or funds to meet the standards and the results we have come to expect in the West.

McKee aims to empower the communities to feel part of the solution and this has resulted in a reported lowered and stabilised stray animal population with a significant cultural change in the treatment of dogs and cats.

These objectives were achieved by initially building a relationship with the Ministry of Health and National Veterinary Association. The strategy was explained, approved and given backing (although no financial assistance is awarded by any government or council body). Further relationships were forged with existing animal welfare organisations with similar aspirations. McKee work closely with ANPA (Asociacion Nacional Protectora de Animales). The programme is explained and once again, valuable support gained from these groups.

Step one: Training of veterinary surgeons::

Neutering techniques were examined to determine the most cost effective, safe and humane means of anaesthesia and surgery based on the spay/USA methods. Variations on previous methods include IV injection anaesthetic only with no intubation or gaseous anaesthetics.

A very small spay incision made caudal to the umbilicus and a spay hook expertly used for accuracy. A cable tie is used to ligate the cervix and only the muscle and superficial layers are sutured using a hidden stitch. The animals have recovered and are able to be released within hours of surgery.

Because of the speed of surgery and reduced number of items in a surgical kit (no gowns or drapes are used either) everything required can be easily transported and neutering carried out ´in the field´. Vets can even travel by public transport to their destinations with everything they need in a backpack.

The vets that McKee train, are individuals identified for their surgical skill, willingness to join the scheme and their ability to make a positive impact on the welfare of the animals in their communities. They are invited to attend the McKee funded neutering training days held once monthly in the capital San Jose. Over 500 vets have now been trained in the advanced surgical technique.

Once adept at the technique, the vets are encouraged to carry out regular low cost neutering from their own clinics. McKee will help them with the initial set up, suggesting fees according to the wealth of the community etc.

Even with the low prices charged, the vets are able to cover their costs and may even make a profit. McKee do not encourage the vets to donate their time, work or supplies because it is not sustainable. McKee ask that the vets always charge so that the community knows and appreciates its responsibilities.

The other benefit to the vets (and the animals!) is an increase in paying client base. McKee´s recent survey reveals that 21% of owners who had NEVER taken their animal to a veterinary clinic before spaying/neutering, have subsequently taken their animal for a consultation.

Step one: Training of veterinary surgeons::

McKee will then identify potential community leaders and train them how to organise a community based neutering campaign including the administration, assessment of animals, transportation, surgery assistance, after care, fundraising and education and importantly ¯recording of results.

These neutering sessions may be held on a weekly or monthly basis around the country and the volunteer leader will continue regional/community work by encouraging locals to become responsible by using vet offices, social clubs and animal lovers etc stressing the importance of responsible pet ownership.

The community volunteers may also be asked to do some fundraising in order to cover the costs for owners who cannot pay any fees.

This system helps a community in learning not to rely on outside neuter campaigns, which often ´appear´ from well meaning external organisation, have irregular schedules and in effect, only attend to a small percentage of the overall companion animal population.

Studies have shown that cat-neutering programmes have to reach at least 85% of the targeted population in order to be effective. Below this, the remaining females breed rapidly and build the numbers up again. Unfortunately, this is what tends to happen with ad hoc campaigns where there is lack of local knowledge.

Costs:

The set up costs vary from case to case but McKee calculate a figure of $500 (equal to £360) per group. This amount includes the cost of training the vet in the advanced surgical technique, travel expenses, promotional material, 2 spay hooks and any other additional items they may need i.e. portable surgery table for field work.

Results:

As is in almost every case I am researching, there is little hard evidence which proves an individual system is working. The complicating factor is it is difficult to determine the correct number existing stray/unwanted population at the start of a project. However, McKee has been gathering information and statistics since 2004 and based on these, they are making definite headway. Most importantly, they have achieved a large volume of valuable animal welfare work without adding to the already over populated system of animal shelters.

This demonstrates that although they may always be a place for rehoming shelters, there are alternatives worth considering.
McKee are happy to share their experiences and information and further details can be obtained by contacting Carla (carla@mckeemail.org). Please remember this is a very small organisation with limited resources so feel free to contact me first in case I can answer your questions directly.

Source: SNIP, McKee, ANPA. ICAMC.