Today’s Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants
will be presented
in French and English,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Halo, loyal viewers,
and welcome to
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
On today’s program
we’ll visit Quebec, Canada
to learn about
“The Shelter,”
which takes in stray
and injured dogs and cats
and cares for them
until they find
a forever, loving home.
It is run by veterinarians
and veterinary students
from the Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine at
the University of Montreal.
The Shelter’s director
is Dr. Geneviève Lessard,
a professor
of veterinary medicine.
The university
also provides a free,
monthly veterinary clinic
in Montreal
for animal companions
of homeless youth called
the “Animal Companions
of the Young Homeless”
project, which is also
headed by Dr. Lessard.
The clinic was founded
by Dr. Diane Blais,
director of the Department
of Clinical Services
at the Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine.
Let us first learn more
about The Shelter
which is a no-kill facility,
meaning unlike
most shelters, an animal
will is not be euthanized
if not adopted after
a set period, rather
The Shelter will keep trying
to find a home
for the animal
for their entire life.
If sometimes we have
a cat who will give birth,
we will try to
place her with a student.
We are fortunate
to have an adoption pool
that is a bit different
than the average.
Because we have
400 veterinary students,
150 at the senior level,
about 180 students in
animal health technology,
so these people have
big hearts in general.
And if we need
to place a cat,
while she has her kittens,
where she will have
a little more freedom,
we have
a whole series of people
who offer themselves
as temporary homes
and sometimes it ends up
to be an adoptive home.
So they are really
well treated here.
Dr. Lessard
you must have some
memorable experiences
as The Shelter’s director
that you could talk about.
Well, at the moment,
we have one
that is interesting.
It's a little dog, a puppy
of about five to six months
who was found during
the holiday season,
who had either run away
or in any case
was lost in the wild.
In any case,
he was found by someone
and then he was injured
at the side of the road.
But unfortunately,
there was a fracture
that we could not correct
as such so he had to have
his hind leg amputated.
But after a few days
or even, I think
even the next day or two
after the surgery, he was
already on his three legs
and he was just as active.
When we see him,
if we are on the side
where the amputated leg
is hidden,
we don’t see it at all.
He is not at all
affected by this.
He is playful,
he jumps around,
he is full of energy.
So hopefully you’ll find him
a foster home soon...
Yes, we are not
really worried about him.
He is nice, he is calm,
he is handsome,
he is endearing.
Often these animals
go even faster because
they are so endearing
and people easily
fall in love with them.
Our students
also have families.
So often they come and see,
“Oh, my uncle so-and-so
wants a dog.”
So we have a kind
of network that helps us.
But an amputated animal
is easy to place;
he gets by so well.
It's incredible.
They do not have
the whole psychological
aspect of fear.
So they make completely
normal dogs or cats.
The Animal Companions
of the Young Homeless
project offers
a unique, free, evening
medical clinic held at
the Dans La Rue shelter
for homeless youth
which is located east
of downtown Montreal.
The monthly clinic
is immensely popular
and has many clients.
Participating veterinarians,
vet students and animal
health technologists
give medical assistance
to the animals
and guidance
to the young people
about proper care
for their companions.
So basically the clinic,
we come once a month,
13 times per year
with a team of students
in animal healthcare
and a team of students
in veterinary, and we
offer free veterinary care
to the animals of
homeless young people.
Then the type of cases
they may have,
it is a lot of
primary care medicine,
so there are many
annual examinations and
wormer vaccinations.
But the animals that come
also have many
health problems,
skin problems,
ear infections.
Frostbite.
Frostbite right,
during the winter period.
So lot of vaccinations,
treatment
of wounds, parasites,
small common diseases,
things like that,
and plenty of advice
on their diet, on de-sexing
to try promoting the
de-sexing of the animals
to prevent overpopulation,
various veterinary advice
and basic veterinary care
for these young people.
Every month we have
between 30 and 45
young people and animals
because often
many young people have
more than one animal
when they come.
So it is roughly between
30 and 45 animals
per evening.
We help both the clients
and their animals.
In informing the clients,
it helps the animal.
It could avoid problems.
In case of vaccination,
it will prevent diseases.
So information
for the client
is very important,
as well as for
the health of the animal.
We can explain
to the client, for instance,
how to clean
their pets’ ears,
how to cut the claws.
For people who come here,
since they have little means,
and they are often
in difficulties, it really
makes a big difference
for them and
for the health of their pet.
(They) could not afford
all this medical care if
it were not free of charge.
The young caregivers
also appreciate the advice
they receive from the vets
and are very concerned
about the welfare of
their animal companions.
They’re very, very
dedicated, usually willing
to do whatever it takes,
all the recommendations
that we give, and they
have lots of questions.
They want to know
even about other things
and they just want to learn,
they want to understand
so, yes, (they are)
very, very, very close
to their animals, for sure.
Clients such as Melissa
who has
two canine companions
are deeply grateful
for the care
their animal friends
receive at the clinic.
When I came here
the first time it was more
than a routine check-up
and definitely
they gave you some skills
to take away with it,
so you know
how to keep up with it,
not let the problem return
sort of things.
Just to prevent something).
Yes, exactly, just keep it
from coming back, and yes,
(the clinic is) definitely,
definitely very good.
And students are often
very surprised to see
the overall good condition
of these animals.
Sometimes there are those
who go with the idea
that they must be thin,
not well-fed,
and not healthy.
Instead, the street kids are
really good pet owners.
So the animals are very
well-fed and they really
take good care of them,
they worry about them
and their state of health,
to make sure
the animal is healthy.
So they will comply
if they are told
you must come
and see us next month
or for a tetanus booster
or other evaluation
of a medical condition,
they will return.
Well, actually,
their pet seems to be
really important to them.
It's interesting
how some are willing
to do anything for
the welfare of their pets.
It really is their companion.
Often they are lonely thus
their pet is really important.
So these are nice stories
we see that
even the young people
who sometimes need help
but offer their aid,
rescue cats and dogs
and give them care
to put them back
on their feet again.
These are always
touching stories too.
It opens our minds a lot.
Not long ago
a cat was found
in an apartment and
she was really in bad shape.
Then the young girl
who found her took her in,
really put her back
in shape.
She took care of this cat
a lot.
Then the cat was injured,
and we treated her.
And we saw her again
later, she was
really, really better then.
She recovered very well
and we saw that
she got back into shape.
The animal is often
their only family.
Many young people
are totally cut off
from their families.
In fact we were told
more than once,
“I have no money.
I bought a bag of grub
for my dog, and
I ate from the garbage.”
We’ve been told this.
So they always find a way
to care for their pets.
They take care of them,
they care for them.
They are with their pets
all the time.
So we see that these are
good dogs, good cats,
good animals
with no major behavioral
problems whatsoever.
I’ve been working here
for almost four years now.
For many of our clients,
many of them
are very young,
many of them are homeless
and sometimes their dogs
are their only friends
and family.
And it makes
a big difference
when we help their dogs,
when their dogs are sick
and we can help them
get better.
We see in their eyes they
are very grateful when
we help their animals,
and this is very touching
for us, because
we know we make
a real difference for them.
So it’s a bonus
for your profession?
Yes, completely,
completely.
When you go back home
at night after
spending a night here
you feel absolutely great,
because you know
you made a difference,
you know
you helped people
and that’s priceless.
For providing charity
veterinary care through
the Animal Companions
of the Young Homeless
program and operating
a noble no-kill shelter
for the gentle animals,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
is honoring
the Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine at
the University of Montreal
with the Shining World
Compassion Award and
CAD$10,000 to support
the benevolent projects.
Further information
on The Shelter
is available at
Many thanks
Doctors Diane Blais
and Geneviève Lessard,
as well as all others from
the University of Montreal
for sharing
your expertise and time
to ensure the well-being
of our animal friends.
Your dedication and
thoughtfulness provide
an inspiring example
for us all to follow.
For more details
on the Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine at
the University of Montreal,
please visit
Thank you for
your kind presence today
on Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
Coming up next is
Enlightening Entertainment,
after Noteworthy News.
May you and
your animal companions
always enjoy the very best
of health and happiness.