A Tauranga veterinarian is already lining up her fourth volunteering mission to Tonga after leading a team that helped hundreds of animals receive essential treatments.

And Mariska Chalmers hopes other vet professionals will consider following suit.

The 29-year-old, who works at Vetcare Bethlehem, helped run a week-long free clinic in Tokomololo in Tonga in August.

The pop-up clinic was organised by New Zealand-based charity South Pacific Animal Welfare (Spaw).

Spaw, founded 15 years ago by Karen Schade, is run by volunteers.

The charity, through volunteers, donations and sponsors, provides free veterinary clinic services in South Pacific countries that have “little or no veterinary care”.

Chalmers said the “phenomenal” volunteer team – four vets and four vet nurses – partnered with Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forest and a Tonga-based vet and vet nurse representing Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA).

This was Chalmers’ third Spaw trip to Tonga, but her first as team leader.

She said that during the clinic, 525 animals were seen, with 155 undergoing surgeries – many of those routine desexing.

Tauranga vet and Spaw volunteer Mariska Chalmers performing surgery during a week-long clinic in Tokomololo, Tonga, in August.

“Our team’s trauma surgery expertise means we can also respond to complex cases – including stitchups, a leg amputation and a dog suffering sepsis due to metritis (inflammation of the uterus)."

One surgery that stood out for Chalmers was a dog with a “pretty mangled” leg.

“The dog had to wait for a month for us to return to Tonga so its cancerous leg could be amputated.

“These are the animals that always make you know that we’re doing the right thing by visiting Tonga and supporting the community.”

The ministry’s support continued to be “invaluable”, Chalmers said.

“They provided clinic facilities, mobilised on-island volunteers who served as translators, receptionists, and recovery assistants, bringing warmth and efficiency to every aspect of the week-long clinic.”

Tauranga vet Mariska Chalmers at Vetcare Bethlehem with one of the clinic's clients, Loki. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Chalmers said she began rescuing animals from a young age and quickly found her calling. She has been a Spaw volunteer for three years.

She said the August clinic ran “seamlessly” and her team was “outstanding” and supportive.

She intended to return to Tonga in October next year for two weeks, and would bring a vet nursing colleague and another friend with her.

“There is so much we can do to improve the quality of life of these animals that doesn’t involve high-end diagnostics, just pain relief and skilled surgeons.

”The hardest call was having to turn people away who have travelled a long way to see us or have been waiting weeks for our pop-up clinic to arrive.”

Mariska Chalmers looks over a puppy before it's desexed during her 2024 Spaw volunteer trip to Tonga.

Chalmers urged other vets and vet nurses to consider becoming Spaw volunteers.

“Working together, we can create something special and make a real difference in the lives of these animals and the lives of their owners.”

She also encouraged people to donate to the charity, with every dollar raised going towards future clinics.

Schade said hundreds of volunteer vets and vet nurses had improved the lives of thousands of animals in the 15 years since she founded Spaw.

South Pacific Animal Welfare ( Spaw) founder Karen Schade.

“Each year, Spaw provides free treatment to about 2500 animals and with the final clinic in Tongatapu in December, the charity expects to meet that benchmark again,” she said.

Schade said this year Spaw distributed 750 parvovirus vaccines and more than 4000 parasite treatments, bringing relief and protection to animals across the islands.

“We couldn’t provide these services without the volunteers, donors, supporters and partners who generously give financial contributions, medications or food.”

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.