Freeport, Bahamas - The Humane Society of Grand Bahama in
tandem with The Kohn Foundation and Pets Without Vets completed another
successful spay/neuter clinic in High Rock last week.
High Rock student and puppy
With a small team of vets and licensed
veterinary technicians from the U.S.
and a very large geographic area to cover, 152 animals were sterilized at the
field clinic held in the parish hall of St. Nicholas Anglican Church in four
and a half days. 25 dogs and puppies,
and 8 cats were surrendered to the HSGB during the clinic.
We found that most residents, while
receptive and appreciative, had no way to bring their animals to the clinic
site; several teams of HSGB staff and volunteers worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
daily picking up and returning animals to their homes. Dogs
and cats were brought in from Gold Rock Creek, Freetown,
Gambier Point, Bevans Town, High Rock, Pelican Point, Rocky Creek, and McLeans Town.
One day was even devoted to Sweetings Cay; several intrepid HSGB staff
and volunteers braved the rough seas and brought back 17 animals to the
clinic. They were returned safely home
the next morning.
Abaco
While inevitably some dogs and cats were
missed in the larger settlements, the HSGB is happy to report that all the
owned dogs of Pelican Point and Rocky Creek are spayed or neutered.
HSGB staff had to net this elusive little guy
There were many individual stories from the
week that were in turn, touching, funny, or just plain surreal. The clinic team members will not soon forget
11 year old Abaco, a gentle sweet dog, well known on the dock in McLeans Town.
Abaco’s puppy rearing days are finally over and she was grateful for the
special care she received. The young
woman on Sweetings Cay who finally caught her last kitten and ran us down with
the kitten in a pillowcase…and then helped push the golf cart which had run out
of juice half a mile from the dock.
Perhaps the weight of two people, a dog and a cat contributed.
Sweet Charlotte, photo by Susan Taylor
The beautiful sweet brindle potcake with
velvet eyes named Ribcage who was brought in so sick and weak won everyone’s
heart. Despite the most valiant efforts
she didn’t make it, but she received a lifetime of affection on her last day in
addition to a new name, Charlotte. The cinnamon mama dog found near the cemetery
in High Rock whose four gorgeous puppies were finally found on the last two
days of the clinic after days of searching through the bush. One of the pups has already been adopted by
an HSGB staffer. The brave little brown
potcake pup named Trade-in, who was surrendered to HSGB from McLeans Town
because he had a severe disability. His
back legs just don’t work right although once he could get his balance he had
learned how to hop. Renamed Trey, this
lucky little pup traveled back to the U.S. with one of the vets, who had
located a special rescue group in NY to take him in.
Leaving Sweetings Cay
HSGB staff and volunteers visited all the
schools in East End and talked to the students
about responsible pet ownership, the importance of veterinary care, and
kindness to animals. The children were
all given handouts containing fun animal related activities. The clinic team hopes that the lessons
imparted not only to the children of East End,
but to adults as well, have planted a seed of hope for a kinder and healthier
future for their pets.
Cemetary mom and pups
As always, these clinics require a great
deal of support from a large group of people whose assistance is greatly
appreciated. U.S.
Veterinarians Dr.
Robin Brennen and Dr. Diane Levitan of New York,
Dr. Deb Campbell of Boston, Dr. Kim Traugott of
Florida, Registered Veterinary Technicians Gregory Carastro of New York,
Suzanne Rodenheiser of Boston, and Deirdre Curran of Florida; these generous,
kind professionals pay their own way here and give up a week of their vacation
time to work for no remuneration on behalf of Grand Bahama’s animals. A large team of local volunteers worked very
hard on tasks including everything from cleaning, recovery, sterilizing
instruments, and admitting to providing meals and transportation.
Surgeons at work, photo by Susan Taylor
The support and assistance of Ms. Rolle at
the East Grand Bahama Council office was invaluable. Special thanks to Father Bowe of St. Nicholas
Anglican church and his parishioners, who generously turned their parish hall
over to us for the week, Chief Councilor for East Grand Bahama Reverend Laing,
Sweetings Cay Council member Doral Pyfrom, boat captain extraordinaire Phillip
Thomas, and the owner and staff of the Ocean Pearl Resort and Doris’ Sunrise
Restaurant in High Rock, who were most kind and accommodating.
