Today was the day to go and get the health certificates for the dogs. Wow what a nightmare, the vet we use comes highly recommended, he is a pretty good vet, but works in an extremely trying environment, and honestly he is not up to snuff when compared to a developed country vet. But he is as good as we can get in Kolkata.
Its different going to the vet here, they are open a couple of hours a day, there are no appointments, you just turn up, sit and wait. There is no receptionist to check in with, and no records are kept on your animals.
So we turned up, 2 dogs and a cat, we wait outside for a bit and then finally there is space inside the tiny room to sit.
This is across the street from the vets, its a school where all the children are locked in what was once a driveway but it is now the playground for about 200 kids it seemed.
After we get in we sit in this tiny waiting room with about another 10 dogs and their owners.
The entry door to the vets, you must take off your shows too!
the door to the right is the surgery and operating theatre, where he sees 3 animals at a time, its the same size room.
Our dogs being well behaved considering
Pumpkin a bit freaked out but being friendly
The waiting room, this was a nice dog but the owners were horribly cruel to it
Waiting room
So we sit here waiting, in the heat. Everytime I go here I break out in a freaky rash on my chin. Very weird it is. But sitting there I notice things on the dogs like little specs of black dirt, then realize they are moving. Then it dawns on me this place is full of little ticks, As soon as you remove one and kill it another is found, one you on the dogs…everywhere, its gross.
But after 1 hr sitting in this hot environment we are called in, then called out to sit at the kinda reception desk where we fill our the forms for the export of the animals. I have no idea why he want to see the animals, he isnt cared less if they are there or not, doesnt even look at them! Just fills out the forms, take 1000 rupees and we are done. Thankfully as I can wait to get out of this tick infested hot hell hole….
There is a very kind vet in Salt Lake City, and his clinic is clean and more of what you are used to as a US citizen. The vet’s name is Ghosh Barinda. I was in Kolkata 5 years ago and I brought a street dog home with me. I was very frustrated with the vet in Kolkata and someone recommended Dr. Barinda to me. He was great.
Hope this helps,
M