Country: Uganda, Kenya
Position: Animal Health Worker, Dairy Specialist, Field Veterinarian
International Partner: MERU Dairy Co-operative, SNV
Placement Dates: May 2009, February 2017, August 2017
Dr. Laura-Anne Kutryk is a veteran of three VWB/VSF-related volunteer placements. The first, in 2009 when she was a student, was through the Global Vets Program working with the Goat Pass-On Project in Uganda. She did a three-week placement in Kenya in February 2017 where she worked with dairy co-op members to improve the health of their cattle. Her most recent placement saw her return to Uganda for a 4 month assignment designed to improve herd health and management for dairy farmers.
Laura is a graduate of the Western Canada College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon and has completed an advanced program for Dairy Veterinarians at Cornell University. She has practiced in Stettler, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville, Alberta.
In this edition of Ask an Expert, we spoke with Yana Zhambekova, Ukraine Country Director at Veterinarians Without Borders North America (VWB), about the realities facing rural communities, livestock keepers, and veterinarians across Ukraine today.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Donald Hilborn, an Agricultural Advisor from Ontario who recently completed his third VETS placement in Kenya (March–April 2026) with our local partner, Meru Dairy, supporting small-scale dairy farmers in building more sustainable and resilient feeding systems.
In recognition of International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, VWB reflects on how healthy rangelands, community-led animal health systems, and pastoralist knowledge help sustain resilience across working landscapes worldwide.
