Since 2009 I have had the privilege of assisting countless shelter animals with eye disease. I have always had a passion for animal welfare and a high respect and appreciation for the work performed by the RSPCA and similar shelters. For this reason it brings me great joy to see beautiful animals given a second chance at happiness with a forever home. Before animals are placed in adoption, they may require an eye disease to be treated. This could involve advanced surgery or medical management.
I now work exlusively at the RSPCA managing a very busy ophthalmology department. Sadly many of the eye diseases I diagnose could have been prevented with better breeding, less neglect or better access to veterinary care. It breaks my heart that these innocent animals end up without a home but their entry into the RSPCA shelter often provides availability to much needed veterinary treatment and a journey towards finding a forever home, filled with love and the security they crave. RSPCA Burwood shelter provides outstanding gold standard care and I am very proud to be part of a team providing this outstanding service to less fortunate animals.
Over my time at shelters I have found myself adopting countless animals, some of them optimistic and ready to love and others that are a little more challenging! I am not alone in this habit, most shelter staff have at least 1 rescue animal!
Before
After
The RSPCA not only provides a refuge for these unwanted little beings but they also provide much needed medical treatment to return them to optimal health before they’re placed in adoption. Last week one of the surgeries I performed was on a very handsome Staffordshire bull terrier to remove eyelashes that were growing towards his eye. These are called distichia and they are highly irritating. Microsurgery is performed to cut out each distichia’s tiny hair follicle. The results are instantaneous – he went from having squinting, watery, red eyes to healthy, wide open clear eyes and a big grin. This week I will be helping a young cat who was born with part of his upper eyelids missing. This is called eyelid agenesis and I tend to see it quite commonly in shelter animals. Surgery involves taking a skin flap from the lower eyelid or lip and using this to create a new upper eyelid.
A day at the RSPCA is never boring and the satisfaction I get from working with many like minded wonderful staff to help these animals is immeasurable. I only wish that shelter animals didn’t exist but while surrenders continue, I will be there to help them.
