Since this story has gotten out anyway, we need to make it quite clear what the issues are. The folks above were very kindly bringing donated medicines and other supplies into Belize for Saga HS (a not for profit) and it now appears for SPAH/private vet as well (who also has a nfp foundation on the side), but doing so without an import permit from BAHA (which BTW the same folks and others did for private vet many times while she was still at SAGA).
This is one of the things that Mr. Lawrence has just cried foul against Saga with the BAHA authorities and BZ Vet Board, but quite obviously in the past and even on this occasion, he and private vet don't mind doing the same themselves (accepting drugs brought in without an import permit).
We have many emails confirming that the private vet engaged in these practices while at Saga, including outright requests for Saga volunteers to "smuggle" things in. We have never been interested in "outing" this information before because we truly just want to get on with the business of helping the animals (and yes it IS supposed to be about that), but when you find yourself continually under attack from all sides, your very existence threatened, you need to defend yourself.
The other issue Saga was "called on" was using expired meds -- (to be clear, our current vet has only used them on shelter animals and subsidy (non-pay) cases, which many HS's do). Saga is now researching the extent to which the laws actually prohibit this kind of use since as a practical matter we all know there is still efficacy in these meds for at least a reasonable period past their official expiry date, and we are not harming the animals we are just maximizing the resources we have to help them. This is also a practice which the private vet took part in while at Saga (our clinic assistant can vouch for that) and after her departure on at least one occasion, we have it in writing.
At the moment however, we have removed all expired drugs from our premises as directed by the Vet Board and BAHA - this will again set us back financially at what is already a difficult time when we are still trying to recover from the effects of our current vet having to work under a restricted license for the last 6 months. These restrictions, which were just lifted on October 1st, had kept our current vet from working with animals owned by persons who were not "underprivileged" -- in other words from really being able to make money for Saga as private vet had in the past without restriction -- and were also the direct result of complaints made by the private vet and Mr. Lawrence of "unfair competition" by Saga due to Saga accepting and selling donated drugs and using expired drugs - hmmmmmmmmmm (also quite an interesting coincidence that this new complaint was timed so well?)
The point is, if you decide to hold someone else up to the utmost scrutiny and judgment in the name of "right," especially considering that the scrutinized group is just trying to help the less fortunate, you better be able to withstand the same judgment and scrutiny yourself.
Saga will work from here on out to obtain proper import permits for any donor coming in with supplies for Saga to satisfy the BAHA requirements. If you are interested in bringing donated items for Saga, just contact us at
[email protected] and we can coordinate on obtaining the permit for you in advance.
Also, FOTHS stands for "Friends of the Humane Society" - the group was created with the goal to help raise money for Saga HS, especially for capital projects - it is not associated with SPAH or the private vet to my knowledge in any capacity.
Ari Trejo
Saga Humane Society