Four U.S. soldiers from Guam and three servicemembers from the Philippine military treated 150 to 300 animals a day during humanitarian medical missions for Balikatan 2001. The U.S. troops are from the Western Pacific District Veterinary Command on Guam's Navy base. I think they caught him that day. Stray dogs and cats, their coats stretched over clearly visible ribs, roam around Manila and in smaller towns. On Tuesday, the veterinary team set up camp in a schoolhouse along troops treating human patients in Aranguren, a 30-minute trek over bumpy roads from the former Clark Air Base.
Locals line up early with animals for the free treatment.
Chiqui Dejesus drove through the gate in a three-wheeled vehicle andran up the stairs to the vets sitting in the shade, seeking relief from the sweltering heat. She plops a little white bewildered dog on the table. The troops hastily give it some vitamins and shots, before Dejesus scoops up the dog and runs back to her vehicle. The team administers mostly preventative treatment, such as vitamins and rabies shots. Animals such as caribou, however, are often in better shape than dogs because the men use them to work in the fields.