It’s that time of year!! I would like to invite everyone to come down to the Belmont Street Fair on Saturday, September 10^th  for our 4^th annual Teddy Bear Surgery event. In the past years this event has become more and more popular with local children. When I first conceived of this event I really thought kids would find it “lame” since it paled in comparison to any video game they could play. To my surprise, it has been well received since the beginning with even young teenagers participating.

Teddy Bear Surgeons save the lives of bears.

This year the bears are up to their usual mischief eating crazy toys and needed to be saved by budding Teddy Bear surgeons. Kids get to anesthetize the bears, dress in surgical caps and masks, remove the toy the silly bears ingested, seal them back up and then recover their patient.

We are prepared for 600 this year! Last year we saved near 350. Check out the blogs from previous years to get an idea of what it's like! 

This year we are asking for donations of $2 per surgery to raise much needed funds for a local organization, Paw Team.  This organization provides volunteer veterinary services for low income and homeless people’s pets and is in danger of shut down due to lack of funds. They recently sent notice that they needed help and we thought this would be a great way to help raise money.  Check out their website to find out all of the great work they do and see how you can help.

Remember, the clinic will be closed for business on Saturday, September 10^th and you can find us at the fair from noon-8pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Another Belmont Street Fair has come and gone. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and the fair seemed at least twice as big as last year. This was our 3^rd year participating in the fair, and it was by far the busiest! Each year, we recruit hundreds of budding young surgeons off the streets of SE Portland to save the lives of plush bears, sickened by eating ridiculous things such as whole pieces of candy, wrappers included, and various toys. This year, the bears were giant sized and they were up to no good! 

The young surgeons, after reviewing the X-rays, dress for the task

The kids had to perform a physical examination on their patients, and take a guess at what was inside. Then they got to check out the X-rays, which gave them more clues. Then it was time for surgery! They induced anesthesia, using high quality medical standards – they even placed “IV” catheters, ran IV fluids, and gave pain medications! Just like in the Operating Room, they donned caps, masks, gowns and gloves.

Caps keep their hair from the bears’ bellies, while masks protect the bear from germs

Going under anesthesia

Once their bear was all comfie and anesthetized, and they were wearing their sterile garb, it was time to dive in! These kids had talent – they pulled out Slinkies, tennis balls, Hot Wheels cars, you name it! After extraction of the offending item, they closed up the incisions, turned off the anesthesia, and woke up their patient.

Hordes of young surgeons line up to save lives!

And they all gave the bears a hug when they woke up – just like we hug our own veterinary patients as they are recovering from anesthesia. It can be stressful to wake up in an unfamiliar place, but these bears had no one but the best, most attentive care takers.

Documenting their adventures with a tattoo

All in all, over 300 bears were saved. The kids this year lined up in droves to save these poor ill bears – we could hardly keep up with the demand! Next year there will be no shortage of sick bears either – so come prepared to save lives!