Six More Dogs Off the Beach!

The Yabucoa Dog Squad (as I'm calling Steve, Pam, Liz, Mary, Sonia, Sandra, and Angel) took another SIX puppies off the beach and sent them to foster homes or shelter to be sent to the U.S. to shelters for adoption. Bindy is pictured below - go ahead, I dare you, just TRY to say no to that face; the other five were dropped off that day. Hopefully, these little guys will have happy, loving homes very soon. However, even if they stay in U.S. shelters for a while, they'll have a better life and much better chance for survival than if left on the beach to fend for themselves.

Move to the Highest Point!

Since I was getting little success locally, I decided to "go for the gold" and contact the U.S. Representative for Puerto Rico and the Governor of Puerto Rico. I sent letters to both of them and yesterday morning, an assistant to the Governor called me and was insistant that they were going to help with this problem. He stressed helping us find funding for building a shelter and also helping with public awareness campaigns regarding Law 67, Puerto Rico's anti-cruelty law. He asked about all the horrible cruelties witnessed against the dogs in Yabucoa and was genuinely saddened and I believe he/the Governor's office, will really help us.

I'll looking forward to coming to Yabucoa the week of September 25 to meet with the Mayor of Yabucoa (his Consultant has been incredibly helpful and supportive) and hopefully the Chief of Police for the Municipality, a representative from the Health Department, and other influential people who can help Manos por Patas get this desperately needed shelter built.

It's been discussed that tourism brings in the most money to Puerto Rico and that when people learn of these atrocities, they will be less likely to travel there and spend their money. So we're looking towards the tourism board for assistance as well.

I'm trying every avenue I know of - and so far am getting excellent responses (not just "yeah, yeah, go away kid, you bother me" responses). I'll keep knocking on every door, even if it has a big "DO NOT DISTURB SIGN" on it.

Bad News and Good News

Last week was a horrific week for the dogs at the beach. Nine dogs were poisoned. One of them was Aslan (pictured at right). I had a very soft spot for Aslan in my heart. He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold and I am so angry and devasted at the loss of him. I have decided to name the shelter "Aslan's Home" in his honor. Now we have to get working on getting funds to get that shelter built and get the dogs out of danger!

The good news is that Sandra Cintron, Steve McGarva, Sonia Rodriquez, and other volunteers spent a weekend transporting 19 dogs to forster homes and shelter in Puerto Rico so they can be prepared to be sent to the U.S. to be taken to shelters around the country! Those dogs, including Rudy, Charlie (pictured below), Ginger, and Darlene's 8 puppies are off the beach now and will hopefully be placed in good homes where they will receive the love they deserve. They hope to be able to keep moving small, adoptable dogs into U.S. shelters.