Sheila Strunk

We also heard Schwab accounts were the way to go, so we tried to open one when we were back in the U.S. last year. Unfortunately, the person at the local Schwab office we went to didn't seem to know what she was doing, because after two months, I received a call saying that we could not open a Schwab acocunt because we lived outside the U.S. We no longer maintain a home in the U.S. and use a mail forwarding service, so they would not allow us to open an account. They do have an internaitonal division, but the checking accounts are nowhere near as good as those through a U.S> account. If you still have an address and two forms of ID from the U.S., you can open a Schwab account when you go back to the States, or online if you have a VPN here that shows you are in the States .

Keeping Cats and Dogs Secure The next few days around New Year's will bring lots of noise as Panamanians celebrate with fireworks. This is the time when lots of animals run off and go missing because of the loud scary noises coming out of the sky. Below are a couple tips to hopefully keep everyone safe and happy Make sure your dog or cat always has somewhere to hide if he or she wants to and has access to this place at all times; this could be under some furniture or in a closet. Walk dogs during daylight hours and keep cats and dogs indoors when the fireworks are likely to be set off. At nightfall close the windows and curtains and put on music or the TV to mask and muffle the sound of fireworks. Don’t punish or fuss over your pet when it is scared. Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in a safe and secure environment and can’t get out if there’s a sudden noise. Keep yourself calm so no feeling of anxiety will pass on to your pet.

To reserve tickets and/or sign up for a part, click HERE.

Here is the recap of the August clinic, including financials: On Sunday August 28, Amigos de Animales spayed or neutered 141 animals: 76 dogs and 65 cats. We had three vets working plus Dr. Sandy who donates her services to us. As usual, we had a great group of volunteers for which we are thankful. We said good-bye to Barbara Phillips, one of our best volunteers. We wish all the best to Barbara and Ian and their now life in Spain. The below is a statement of our clinic expenses from the August clinic. There are no fixed expenses and our income varies from month to month depending on the number of animals received, the number that are paid for, and the donations received. Our expenses are the vets, payment for whatever transportation is used to transport the animals to and from the clinic, our one paid employee who is our bi-lingual reservationist, and the various supplies and medicines. Some of the supplies might include copies for the registration forms, food supplies (people donate our meals but we still need water, soft drinks or juice, snacks and other things that we need to keep the vets and volunteers happy during clinic day), medicines, laundry, and dozens of other things that we use at every clinic. Here is one example: every month we go through bags and bags of sheets and towels used in the surgery area and in recovery, many of them bloody and/or soiled with urine or feces. The bags first go home with one of our volunteers who sorts through them and throws out anything that does not belong or is past laundering. (Barbara Phillips, who is mentioned above, did this for us for several years – we are now looking for a new volunteer to take over this responsibility). We have a lovely woman in Alto Boquete who takes in the laundry after the sorting and returns it all to us folded and bagged and ready for another month. That expense is usually around $30-$40 plus detergent and bleach. Another volunteer couple take in the cloth drapes used in surgery – these have to be both washed and sterilized. There are so many things that go in to our clinics and we thank all the wonderful people who work before, during, and/or after to support us. I will provide this report at the end of the clinic recap that I post every month. If you have any questions, you may contact me at akcleavenger@hotmail.com. I would like to invite everyone to come to any of our clinics and see us in action. Just ask for me, Alicia , and I will gladly give you a tour, explain the process of the clinic, and hopefully convert you into a volunteer. The Venta de Patio is coming up on Sunday September 18 at El Cacho gimnasio in Boquete from 9 – 2. We hope you all will be there. Income Clinic Income 1,417.00 Donations 705.99 Total Income 2,122.99 Expense Building Repairs/Maint 5.36 Cat Traps 19.05 Clinic Maintenance 50.00 Clinic Supplies 311.56 Equipment 50.00 Food/Kitchen Supplies 54.17 Laundry 30.00 Medical 536.02 Misc. 65.60 Office Expense 106.55 Phone Card/Internet 30.00 Salary - Clinic Coordinat 255.00 Utilities 33.68 Vet Services 1,611.00 Total Expense 3,157.99 Net Income (1,035.00)

July 2016 Clinic Report.pdf