On November 22, Abril Herrera Galván, who has assisted the veterinarians at our sterilization campaigns as a volunteer for the past several years, became Dr. Abril Herrera Galván, MVZ (Médico Veterinario Zootecnista). We celebrated her achievement on November 24 during a breakfast hosted by our board of directors to thank our campaign volunteers for their support over the past year. The breakfast took place at the Restaurant de Los Santos in Marfil and was quite festive.
Abril received her degree from the Veterinary School of Medicine of the University of Guanajuato, at the Irapuato-Salamanca campus after successfully defending her thesis, entitled “Percentage of horses vaccinated against tetanus in the municipality of Guanajuato.” Her courses in veterinary school included such subjects as equine physiotherapy, nutrition, and colic; the management of newborn and pregnant sheep; the management, feeding, milking, and preventive medicine of bovines; and animal abuse awareness and prevention brigades.
Since early childhood, Abril has loved being with animals, especially horses. Her family always had animals—sheep, horses, cows, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Even now she, her parents, and her two older brothers are surrounded by them, living with five dogs, six cats, two horses, and a parrot, each lovingly and respectfully cared for.
While studying veterinary medicine, Abril has been a regular volunteer at our campaigns since August of 2020. She began by monitoring dogs and cats in the recovery unit and observing the veterinarians. Later she learned how to anesthetize the animals. With mentoring in surgical sterilization from Dr. Ricardo Montes de Oca, a year or so ago she began operating on male cats and dogs. Now she operates on females as well as males. We hope she will continue participating in our sterilization campaigns as a member of our surgical team.
Her professional plans are to continue training in animal health issues, animal welfare in the slaughter process, ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy (female and male surgical sterilization), dental prophylaxis, and veterinary sports medicine. “I also hope to eventually have my own clinic where I can improve animals’ health and where their well-being will be respected,” she told us.
Asked about her perceptions of animal welfare in Guanajuato, Abril observed that, with some exceptions, people now pay more attention to animals and give them the attention they require. She added that people should realize that having animals is a luxury, not a necessity, and that if they cannot afford to give them adequate food, shelter, and medical care, it’s better not to acquire them.