In six days, the team treated 3,000+ animals across 24 Honduran villages—bringing vital services where none exist.

For 25 years, Dr. Bill Folger, managing veterinarian at Memorial Cat Hospital (MCH) in Texas, has made the extraordinary journey to El Paraiso, Honduras, providing life-saving veterinary care to animals and communities that would otherwise go without it.

Locals looking for care for their kittens

“Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere,” shared Dr. Folger. “In the area we serve, there are no veterinary services of any kind, and if they were available, most people couldn’t afford those services.”

This year's trip brought together an incredible team of veterinary professionals and students, including Anais Jayr, MCH Technician Assistant and pre-vet student at UC Davis, and three Oklahoma State University veterinary students.

The team performing surgeries at night

For six days straight, the team worked 14-hour days in makeshift clinics within local churches and schools, helping one village in the morning and another in the afternoon.

“Like all veterinarians, we adapt to the locations, availability of supplies, conditions, and the temperament of the animals there,” said Dr. Folger. “We would even pack our lunch in large coolers so we could keep working without interruption.”

With support from NVA GP, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Zoetis, Merial, and Mississippi Serum, they treated over 3,000 animals (dogs, cats, cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and goats) across 24 villages and performed a record-breaking 250+ surgeries.

"This is who we are,” said Dr. Folger. “As a group of people, veterinarians are kind, generous to a fault, hardworking, moral and ethically bound with a broad sense of decency and respect for all living creatures.”

One Oklahoma State University veterinary student even told Dr. Folger that this mission trip changed their life. “Over the last 25 trips, we have made many friends in Honduras, and they look forward to our journey there every June.”