Training & Workshops

Since we began, Kismet Account has had a history of working with local governments, charities & vets to develop their skills & promote the development of neuter & release for stray & feral animals. Our regular neutering projects have always incorporated training as a key element.

In 2006 we decided that training and mentoring was a strong enough need to run as a standalone, and we saw a training need within animal charities around the world who are starting out in TNR of feral cats. Many charities have supportive local vets, or receive outside veterinary assistance from "flying vet" charities, but there is very little help and guidance available on how to actually achieve a high neuter rate in a feral population, or how to work with local vets and municipal bodies. Just learning the veterinary skills will rarely be enough. We are currently the only such group that holds in-house the full range of expertise needed to deliver all aspects of TNR skills for these projects and the neccessary drive to deliver these quickly and effectively at minimal cost. It is for this reason that Kismet Account holds consultancy and advisory relationships with WSPA, the RSPCA, Cats Protection and FAB.

We realise that animal conferences are usually financially, or ethically or practically not an option for most of the grass roots voluntary people who are out there doing the work. We found there were training projects being carried out in a number of countries, with qualified vets and students from Germany and the UK gaining surgical practice on strays from other countries, yet these projects were inaccessible to the local veterinary community in the area where the work was happening. So we decided to take the training to the area its needed.

In 2007 we carried out our first "Workshop" in Taipei where we trained local volunteers in effective techniques for feral cats, and local vets were trained in surgical techniques appropriate to ferals. With SNIP International, we made an equipment donation of traps and restraint baskets. The trip was designed to be mentoring and motivational - that it certanly was as the trainees TNR'd over 300 cats in less than 5 weeks after we went home. Since then we have been contacted by interested societies and have run workshops in Turkey, Hungary, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus and Southern Spain. The workshops are currently being sponsored variously by MDC Exports, SNIP International; and by WSPA and RSPCA International. They are organised on an economic basis, with the funds being used to send as much equipment out there as possible. We do need the support and sponsorship of larger charities and companies willing to help us take training to where it is needed. If you can help, get in touch!

We are also looking for experienced vets (3yrs+ qualified) with diplomacy, patience and if possible foreign language skills who could act as speaker and trainer on these workshops. Ideally you should have experience of animal welfare issues and stray control ideally overseas, and be willing to stick to the "song sheet" we are promoting! The projects are not standard neutering trips and are challenging, and you must be at all times diversity aware and sensitive to the societies (both capital and small "S") that we are working in and the people you meet. If the workshops are successful they result in a sustainable, locally led programme. If your organisation thinks it couold benefit from a workshop, we are now taking bookings for late 2008 and 2009. Please open the powerpoint below for more information.....