Local veterinarian and advocate expands access to animal healthcare with compassion at the core

FOR most Guyanese, stray animals are part of the landscape—a neighbour’s dog wandering through the gate or a familiar cat curled on the front step. But when these animals fall ill or suffer injuries, their chances of receiving proper medical care are slim. That’s where Dr. Nardeo Bassoodeo steps in. Veterinarian, rancher, consultant, and community advocate Dr. Bassoodeo has dedicated his life to animal welfare. His most recent mission, establishing a full-service veterinary hospital on the East Coast of Demerara, is not just about treating pets—it’s about reshaping how Guyana views and responds to animal health.

A life built around animals

Born and raised in Woodley Park and spending his formative years on a ranch, Dr. Bassoodeo’s bond with animals began early. “I could ride a horse, catch and brand a calf, cook, plant fruits, and wash my clothes from a young age,” he said. That rural lifestyle instilled in him a sense of responsibility, not just to himself, but to nature and the animals that call communities home. Today, he still owns a ranch and balances a multi-faceted career that includes international consultancy. From horses and dogs to snakes and hamsters, there are few animals he hasn’t worked with. “We once delivered an anaconda to the Guyana Zoo,” he added. “I also assist National Parks with their ponies and horses. I’m really all over the place when it comes to animal care.”

Animal Kingdom Pet Care and Veterinary Services Hospital, located in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was established by Dr. Bassoodeo and opened earlier this year. Since then, the state-of-the-art facility has bridged significant gaps in animal healthcare. Said to be the first of its kind, the facility is equipped with the best in animal care, and since its opening, the response has been nothing short of exceptional. “We’re open from Sunday to Sunday, even on holidays. We haven’t increased our prices or charged anyone extra. So far, things have been going great,” Dr. Bassoodeo explained.

A busy day in animal care

A typical day at the hospital is busy, bustling, and can be overwhelming. On average, the team handles 10 to 15 surgeries and 20 to 30 consultations daily. On hectic days, those numbers go even higher. As Dr. Bassoodeo shared, “Today alone, I did 10 surgeries. It took less than an hour,” he said. That kind of efficiency is not accidental. Before the pandemic, Dr. Bassoodeo once performed a record-breaking 108 surgeries in a single day—an achievement documented by national news outlets. Although impressive, Dr. Bassoodeo highlights the fact that each surgery requires more than pace—it takes an entire system in motion. “It’s not just about me. You need a team prepping animals constantly, inserting catheters, checking vitals, shaving, disinfecting—it’s a whole protocol,” he said.

Supporting strays and building systems

Dr. Bassoodeo is no stranger to caring for strays and has been one of the few doing so for years. Several years ago, he reached out to the Humane Society International from the United States and was later sent to train in Panama. When he came back, Dr. Bassoodeo began working alongside the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), where he was an integral part of one of the largest-ever spay and neuter programmes Guyana has seen. “We used to spay, neuter, and release 300 animals every three months. Every three months. At the GSPCA.”

Dr. Bassoodeo has maintained the same momentum with Animal Kingdom, treating stray animals twice a month that the GSPCA brings in. “Every single month, we do twice a month here for the GSPCA. We care for 40 animals every two weeks for the GSPCA on the same low-cost programme. So we do 80 animals a month for them,” he stated.

Lessons for Pet Owners

Dr. Bassoodeo’s mantra is simple: “Prevention is better than cure.” He encourages pet owners to regularly vaccinate, deworm, and use flea and tick repellents. With Guyana paying more attention to animal rights and an increasing number of people becoming pet owners, Dr. Bassoodeo says there are some simple tips every pet owner should know. Calling pet ownership a lifelong commitment, Dr. Bassoodeo shared that, “One of the biggest mistakes is that people don’t understand the full responsibility of having a pet,” he said.

Making a heartfelt call to pet owners to be compassionate toward their pets, he stated, “As long as that pet is alive, it’s your responsibility. And that pet becomes a part of your family. We cannot have an animal that we call a pet and then say, when the animal is not feeling well, we’ll take it next week. Because if you’re sick, you will go right away to see a doctor. Same for the pets.” He further added, “And not only take the pets for their health. The pet has to be fed. They’re not like us; we have a toilet. They will make mistakes like all of us, but we have to bear with them. They will learn. Pets learn, but they don’t learn as fast as humans.”

Looking ahead

As he looks to the road ahead, Dr. Bassoodeo remains optimistic about the steady rise in the standard of veterinary care in Guyana. Highlighting a few milestones the country has seen in the field recently, he shared, “There has been a significant change in veterinary care for animals. Now we can perform oncology testing with a simple machine—tasks that required biopsies and other procedures before. We are doing inflammation markers. We are doing things like stuff for tumour markers. We now have a high-tech ultrasound system. X-ray system.”

He further added, “In our system, we have three dedicated digital radiography systems for animal healthcare. Never had that before. We have seven haematology machines. The country never had this in 2017. So, in about five to seven years, we have managed to develop all of this. So if it is better, it is more than better,” he said.