Indigenous 
Submittec by SLC Communications
While most people spend their summers relaxing, Dr. Laura Prociuk, professor in SLC’s Veterinary Technology program, packs her bags with veterinary supplies and heads to Tanzania, where her work and expertise can save lives, both animal and human. Laura has spent many summers, sabbaticals, and leaves to providing crucial veterinary care in Tanzania, a country with a huge need for animal health services, particularly rabies control.
Rabies claims an estimated 60,000 lives worldwide each year, according to Laura, made even more alarming by the fact that the disease is entirely preventable with vaccination. Laura focuses her efforts on rabies vaccination programs, along with other immunizations, spay and neuter services, and improving overall animal welfare, primarily for street cats and dogs.
The work comes with real risks. “I’ve been bitten by rabid animals in both Tanzania and Malawi, a stark reminder of the dangers these communities face. Cultural attitudes add another layer of complexity; in Tanzania, dogs are typically not considered pets, making widespread vaccination and care programs more difficult to implement,” Laura said.
Laura collaborates with local veterinarians and clinics and brings supplies from Canada, some purchased with her own funds, others donated by local veterinary clinics upgrading their equipment. Her network of former students, now working throughout the veterinary community, have become regular supporters of her mission, knowing the impact of her work abroad.
Laura’s dedication to animal welfare includes here at home, too, and she volunteers her time and expertise with local organizations including the Napanee Kitten Rescue, the Kingston Humane Society, and the Peer Outreach Empowerment Team, Kingston. To learn more about the international organizations Laura works with, visit the Foundation for Veterinary Aid International (FAVI), Mbwa wa Africa, and Mama Paka Zanzibar.