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Island of São Miguel, Azores

  • Learn & Travel Course:

Medical and Surgical Emergencies in the Dog and Cat.

  • Dates:

30 September - 5 October 2024.

  • Speakers:

🎓 Craig Breheny, ECVIM Specialist and Senior Lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Edinburgh;

🎓 Carolina Albuquerque, ECVIM Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.

🎓 Joe Higgins, ECVS Resident-trained in Small Animal Surgery.

  • What is included in the FULL ticket?

- 5 nights at a 4 star Boutique Villa (we rented a whole villa (view) and a few rooms on a second villa located 4 minutes away by foot, belonging to the same family-run business (view); rate 5/5 on google, 9.7/10 on booking.com)

- heated jacuzzi

- pool

- 17h of lectures!

- CPD certificate

- activities (swims in waterfalls, in hot springs and in the ocean; hikes around lagoons and natural parks; tea factory visit; breathtaking viewpoints)

- breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks (vegan)

- airport transfers on the 30th Sep (from 16.00) and 5th October

- transport during the activities. 

  • What is not included in the FULL ticket?

- dinners (to give you the opportunity to dine wherever you like).

- flight to Ponta Delgada.

  • What is included in the DAY ticket?

- 17h of lectures (the 3-day ticket can be shared by 3 vets or vet nurses)

- CPD certificate

- coffee breaks (vegan)

- heated jacuzzi and pool to use during coffee breaks ;)

  • What is not included in the DAY ticket?

- breakfasts, lunches, dinners, activities, transport

- flight to Ponta Delgada

- You are welcome to join us for the whole experience! Although FULL tickets sold out, for 185 per day x5 days, you can join us for breakfasts, lunches, activities, i.e. everything that is included in the FULL ticket except a bed.

 

  • Flight tips:

On skyscanner, check flights from your city to Lisbon, then check flights from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada; the cheapest flights to the Azores (Ryanair, Azores Airlines SATA, TAP) are not showing unless you split like this. If you are struggling to find flights, email us and we will find them for you!

 

You need 1h10min between flights in Lisbon if you have only hand luggage. You need 1h40min at Lisbon airport if you have luggage in the cargo hold, as you need to collect it and check in again. Lisbon airport has 2 terminals, located 4min apart by a free bus. Direct flights to Ponta Delgada:

 

 

 

 

 

  • Course aims:

- To reduce the number of stray animals in the Azores. We work pro-bono and the profit from this course will be donated to treat and neuter stray cats. In partnership with Zoetis, Animais de Rua, UniVets Global, MoveOnVet.

- To teach you everything you need to know about emergencies!

- To improve wellbeing within the vet community, through creating a safe space where you can talk, make new friends, travel the world together, and have fun!

  • What is the program?

30 Sep: meet us at the boutique hotel from 5pm or text us to request a pickup from the airport.

1 Oct: day trip with activities

2 Oct: lectures

3 Oct: day trip with activities

4 Oct: lectures

5 Oct: lectures; lunch; botanic garden in Ponta Delgada. End of the course.

The days of the lectures may change depending on the weather (on 27 Sep we will check the forecast and confirm the dates)

  • I am not a vet, vet nurse, tech or student, can I join? Can I bring my partner, family or friends?

Yes! Non-vet professionals are always welcome in our courses/missions. They can pay a smaller fee and enjoy the heated jacuzzi, the pool, the activities, the delicious food etc ;) ​Remember that all money received will be used to treat and neuter stray animals.

  • Do I need to organise anything?

Only your flight. Ohana organises everything else (local transport, food, hotel, activities...)

  • What happens to the money people pay to attend this course?

This money will cover your expenses and 100% of the profit (amount paid minus expenses) is then used to treat and neuter stray dogs and cats, through working together with local animal charities. None of the organisers or speakers are paid for their work. 

  • Where will we meet?

We will meet at Casa Portuguesa - Charming House (Avenida Gaspar Frutuoso 1, Ponta Delgada) on the 30th of Sep. from 5pm, or at the airport when you arrive. It's a 7min drive from the airport to the boutique-hotel.​

  • Should I extend my stay to the weekends before and after?

Absolutely!! The Azores are formed of 9 beautiful islands. We will stay in the island of S. Miguel, where there is plenty to explore and we won't be able to see it all in 5 days. Whale watching, surfing, diving, hot springs, some of the most beautiful hikes in the world, unforgettable dining, etc. If you wish to visit a second island, I advise you to visit Flores (search it on google images to find out why).

  • How do you travel between the islands?

You can fly or take a ferry. Ferries are infrequent and take many hours to reach the other islands, you would be wasting your precious time in paradise. We advise you to fly between the islands with Azores Airlines SATA (https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en)

  • Which transport do you advise me to use in the Azores?

The islands are best explored with a car rental. There is no Uber or Bolt in the Azores. You do not need a car during the course or to explore the town of Ponta Delgada (S. Miguel), as you can walk everywhere within the small town, or take a taxi which are very cheap. Taxi drivers will not speak English, use google translator and google maps to communicate where you want to go.

  • Are there supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies etc near the Boutique Villa?

Yes, the Villa is located in the centre of the main town (Ponta Delgada), and you can walk to shops, restaurants etc.

  • Can you recommend places of interest, restaurants and hotels in the Azores?

Of course, we will email every participant a list of recommendations.

  • Are the tickets or deposit refundable?

They are not, as we had to pay expenses in advance and these are not refundable to us. But you can transfer the ticket to a friend, so your money won't be lost! And remember that all money received will be used to treat and neuter strays.

  • What are the payment options?

Google pay, debit card or transfer. A bank transfer results in more money for the animals because there are no online fees. We can reserve a ticket when you pay a 50% deposit.

Welcome to our Ohana Family!

Carolina Albuquerque,

DVM MSc MRCVS CertAVP DipECVIM-CA EBVS European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Proud co-founder of Ohana Animal Charity

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Image by Daniele Nabissi

Vets, nurses, techs and students

Sold out!

We will repeat the course in 2025 and add practical Surgery (vets and students) & Anaesthesia (vet nurses/techs)  ;)​​

If you have questions, request a call from Carolina (DipECVIM Specialist in Internal Medicine, Ohana co-founder).

GALLERY
Our stunning 4* Boutique Villa. Azores by Bruno Ázera

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