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From thebahamasweekly.com - Grand Bahama
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. © Copyright 2010 by thebahamasweekly.com - |
