Mongolia Matters

Many have asked us, “Why Mongolia?” as we have divulged our current travel adventure plans. The complete answer to that question may not be known until far after our travel has been completed, or perhaps maybe not even within our lifetime!  We are followers of Jesus, who taught that people are to love and serve others in His name. So, we say, “Why not?”

As a young democratic republic, Mongolia is asking for help to establish a strong economy. Mongolia is tenuously situated right between the two super powers of Russia and China. About one third of the population is herders, raising sheep, yak (cattle) and goats. Sustaining the health of these animals is extremely important to Mongolia. Nearly half of the population lives in the capital city of Ulanbaataar, where we are staying. Keeping small animal pets has become more common among the rapidly growing city dwellers, mainly the younger generation. It is no surprise, then, that the Mongolia government welcomes western veterinarians into the country to educate and train the newer methods of animal medicine, surgery, and herd health.

Imagine you are the person in Mongolia whose large breed puppy jumped off of the couch and began to yelp with a hurt leg. You take him to a veterinarian, a person who has attended just five years of college and has graduated without ever having performed any procedures or handled any animals. No x-ray unit is available, so the patient is referred to another clinic. An x-ray confirms there is a fracture, but it has occurred so easily because the puppy’s bones are lacking calcium. Surgery can be done to pin the broken bones together, but the nutritional condition of the puppy will make it harder to heal. The puppy is euthanized for a 100% preventable problem. The puppy suffered in pain longer than necessary because the proper equipment was not available for diagnosis.

We have found the standard of care for pets in Mongolia to be where it was for animals about 40-50 years ago in America. We hope to educate the veterinarians and student interns in some practical, affordable ways to improve the life of pets and to teach them how to pass that information onto their clients. And we will do it out of love. “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast” Proverbs 12:10.