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A Veterinarian Exists in Vietnam
A Veterinarian Exists in Vietnam
In Vietnam, where more dogs are eaten than kept as pets,
there is one person who looks out for them.
by Steve Johnson, staff
July 28, 2004
Today, a news commentary broadcast on National Public Radio,
documents the story of a Vietnam Vet. No, not a soldier who
fought in the Vietnam War, but a veterinarian working in Vietnam.
Commentator Martha Ann Overland, who lives in Hanoi, recounted
her experience with a veterinarian, one of very few existing
in Vietnam. When her dog became ill, she sought a veterinarian,
and learned that there are very few existing in the poor war
torn country. "I heard some good things, they make house
calls, and bad. They neuter or spay your pet right there on
the dining room table."
Eventually, she found a good veterinarian who made house
calls. "Dr. Tan, arrived on a motorcycle, laden with
the contents of a well stocked veterinarian practice. He had
testing kits lashed to the front of his bike, and saline drip
bags tied to the sides."
After diagnosing and treating her dog for hookworms, Overland
describes a conversation she had with Dr. Tan over a cup of
tea, where he spoke of his love for dogs. "One had saved
his life when he was 9 years old", she starts. "A
village dog lept in front of his path to warn him of a hidden
poisonous snake. The dog was bitten, and died several hours
later in his arms."
Overland also describes how Dr. Tan came to adopt his own
dog, which by his description was one of the "distinctive
squat legged brown short hair dogs specifically bred for stir
frys and soups." Dr. Tan was riding home one day when
he passed by a dog meat market, where dogs and puppies were
put on display. There he spotted his future companion. "Something
about that dog made him pull over ... there was a look in
his eyes".
Dr. Tan ended up buying the dog, for a rather hefty price,
because store owner recognized an opportunity to take advantage
of Dr. Tan's emotions. "He had cost a lot of money ...
but best dog I ever had", she quotes Dr. Tan.
You can hear the whole commentary, lasting just over 3 minutes,
streamed online through NPR's website: http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3624805
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