"Flying out the door like hotcakes!"

That's what Liz says about the Yabucoa dogs at St. Hubert's (www.sthuberts.org) in New Jersey. Lassie was adopted a couple of weeks ago and just this last week, both Charlie and Sidney found homes! So we're batting. 500 right now - 3 out of 6 and they've only been there a short time.

Article from the San Juan STAR newspaper

THE SAN JUAN STAR
Saturday October 28, 2006.
BEST FRIENDS
By Peggy Ann Bliss

Animal rights visitors got an eyeful last week in Puerto Rico, and they returned to tell the world of the horrors they saw. They also met with local animal activists and encouraged their meager efforts at stemming the brutal tide of cruelty and indifference by government and citizens alike. A delegation from the Costa Rica-based World Society for the Protection of Animals, and a representative from the New York-based American Society for the Protection of Animals hit the island like a welcome tornado, and were effusively welcomed by protectors and teachers.

Jennifer Dragotta, Manager of National Programs for Humane Education, from the ASPCA, met in Luquillo City Hall with Department of Education elementary school teachers, who will soon be introducing their students to a new weekly course in the treatment of animals.

Maximiliano Brandt, and veterinarian Monica List, representatives of WSPA, met with animal advocates in Aguadilla, and San Juan.

List, now back in Costa Rica, sent The STAR an essay about one of the hardest days of her life, a visit to Dead Dog Beach in Yabucoa, where a group of animal protectors have rescued 42 dogs and eight cats, after dozens were killed and left to die there, usually by their owners.

Her poignant observations concluded: The missing link: education. Dogs and cats will be dumped as long as responsible pet ownership culture is not instated. The rescuers agree, but for now, they continue to feed and care for the dogs and cats of Dead Dog Beach as long as their hearts and their budgets can take it.

Lucy gets a bath!!!

Lucy, sweet and very dirty Lucy, got her first bath and I must say, she looks like a queen! Take a look at the before and after pics here!

And take a look at Charlie! I can't believe how much he's grown and how well he's doing at the U.S. shelter (St. Hubert's in New Jersey)! Look at the ball of fluff we first encountered and take a look at him now!

Updates on a few of the Yabucoa dogs from Sato Rescuer Extroidinaire, Liz

Pavel if in foster care. He got sick, but is now better, and looks good. His foster mom thought he may have ingested some poison just before he left the beach because he go treal sick and she said she could actually smell the poison. I saw him and he looks as beautiful as he ever did.

Lady is at Liz's house, loving her beach walks twice daily and is always trying to make the kittens like her. She's a suuuuper dog. She might go to a shelter in New Jersey with Sally before November.

Debbie, Kelly, Goofy, Shep & Leo are all at a vet's office. All (except Goofy) tested positive for heartworm and have to be treated. They all got all their shots, were bathed, and then we took them to the vet's. I just talked to the vet today and he suggested xrays for the legs/hips of three, heartworm treatment, antibiotics, stuff for mange...he is going to treat them all. There will also be an ad in the San Juan Star looking for temporary foster homes since the vet's office is a little boring and depressing for them.

Lucy, Nina, Nicole and Charmin - are at the Amigos de los Animales' vet, Dr. Ramos. Everyone loves Nina and Nicole, and Lucy has her very own office to lounge in. Charmin is the little white dog we took with the different eyes. She was a scaredy pants so we left her there since the people are soooo nice. Lucy tested positive forheartworm. They will wait a couple days to treat her since she's in such bad shape. They said she's eating like crazy and happily living in the air-conditioning. Nina, Nicole, and Lucy will take a lot of recuperation time since they are the three dogs in the worst condition.

Flora, the black mama with 5 pups, Elsa and her 1 pup, and Harry - are at a foster home. Flora is heartworm positive, so she needs to betreated.

Marvin, the name Liz gave to a really mangy puppy who was following her around the beach, is doing well. Take a look at the picture below. He seems to be meditating on growing more hair. Already he looks much much better than he did. His wounds are no longer festering. Liz says he's chanting "Oom Hari Hair, Oom Hari Hair" as his mantra!

More dogs to the U.S. and updates on Lassie and Rudy

This week, Paca, Charlie and Sidney were transported to a shelter in the U.S. for adoption. You can check out their pics on the "up for adoption" photo album on the website.

Here's a picture of Lassie with her new family! This is what we want to have happen with ALL the dogs that get sent out!!!
And Rudy, who was transferred to a U.S. shelter last month, has been a BIG HIT there!!! Here is what a supervisor at the shelter there had to say about him:

"Our shelter is in a residential area and thank God the people there are very accepting of the dogs being so close to them.. anyway, the dog walker on Monday had Rudy out for a walk and school was just getting out.. The bus stopped and a bunch of kids came out .... Rudy went running to them (on leash of course) and was a big hit ... One of the mom's that was there was so impressed by him she called us to make an appt to see him. She and her husband have been thinking of adoptin a dog for quite some time.. They met me yesterday for private appt to see Rudy and he was wonderful.... Unfortunately, I dont think he'll be going to this home (they don't have a fenced in yard) and they have four children, ranging from 4 months to 8 years .... A lot for Rudy and a lot for the mother ... but I just wanted to you know how cute he is.... a big hit with the neighborhood... he is soo adorable!!"

Yeah, Rudy! He is a great dog and I'm hoping he finds just the right family very soon.

More Poisonings at the Beach

There were more poisonings at Yabucoa this week. i apologize for how gruesome these photos are but it's important for everyone to know what's going on here. These two little ones were found near the Palmas de Lucia hotel but there were many others noticed buried around the area. A number of dead dogs in plastic bags was also noticed near the beach area. We are working with animal cruelty investigators to try to find the source of the killings and to stop them. Any information anyone has on this, please respond to me at ginny@manosporpatas.org.

Elsa Gives Birth

Elsa, still on the beach, finally gave birth but apparently to only 1 pup (or she moved the ones that died away). Here is a picture of the precious little girl. Let's hope she makes it. Mom and pup are living in a shrubby area and mom and pup her baby are in a safe place, arranged by Sandra - a nice hole dug that fits mom and pup just fine and a plywood roof to keep the rain off.

Lassie gets adopted! (and other beach dog news)

Darling little Lassie was adopted from a shelter in New Jersey and is now in a loving home!!!

On another subject, we are getting ready to have a “Yabucoa Spay Day” in which Dr. Davis (who conducted the neutering of males at the beach in August) will come and spay as many females as we can bring her. Again, much cost is involved in this – probably more than the $500 for the Neutersol neutering because these are actual surgeries. Fundraising efforts will be starting soon.

Meetings in Puerto Rico

I just got back from Puerto Rico meeting with the Governor’s office and with the Mayor of Yabucoa. SO much was accomplished and the things that are so needed there are really going to happen!!!

First, the meeting at the Governor’s office. I met with the Special Consultant to the Governor, Jorge Rodriquez. We’d spoken a lot on the phone and through e:mails and it was great to finally meet. He is very energetic and truly wants to see sweeping changes made in PR regarding the treatment of animals. There were also two representatives from the USDA Forest Service there. They attended because there is a big problem with “dumping” (abandoning cats and dogs) in El Junque, the National Rainforest of PR. They, too, want to see dumping reduced, population control, and shelters for strays. There are only two shelters in PR which can take in any animals and neither of them are no-kill – basically, the dogs comes in and is immediately euthanized – they have no room to keep animals to adopt out. All members of the meeting were very “on board” with a shelter (and I stressed “no-kill”) in the southeast region. We want to get the Puerto Rico Tourism Department and the PR Health Department involved as the overpopulation of strays on the island directly affects them as well.

The meeting with Yabucoa Mayor Hon. Angel Garcia went better than I could have ever dreamed! The Mayor, his Special Consultant, the Yabucoa Police and Municipal Police Commanders, and the Yabucoa Public Relations representative were all present. Sandra Cintron attended with me which was priceless since neither of the police attendees spoke English. I truly believe the Mayor was sincere in his desire to stop the abandonment and cruelty towards animals that is occurring in his town.

He specifically wants:
1) a shelter in his town (we discussed a shelter that also had a veterinarian office as part of it – the profits from the vet’s office can help fund the shelter,
2) public awareness campaigns that there are alternatives to dumping or killing unwanted animals,
3) more police presence along the beach to actually GIVE OUT TICKETS for those who dump animals or engage in any cruel acts towards them,
4) “DOOR TO DOOR” visitation by Public Relations representatives discussing the new anti-dumping/anti-cruelty campaign,
5) community involvement in this campaign – i.e. getting the Yabucoa citizens involved when the new shelter is built, ….,
6) weekly mention of the campaign against cruelty – via newspaper, radio, bulk mailing, etc…,
7) local merchants, especially hotel owners, to get involved in the campaign,
8) meeting with local clergy to get their congregations involved,
9) education in the schools concerning ethical and legal issues of animal cruelty, and,
10) he wants me to find “model” shelters in the States and he will come visit them!

This is not going to happen overnight but we made HUGE strides in these two meetings.

I was lucky enough to meet two wonderful animal rescuers – Yolanda Torres and Liz Kracht. Both of them were generous enough to offer me their homes rather than spend $$ on a hotel. The first night, I stayed with Yolanda in the rainforest in Las Piedras. She has about 15 puppies and maybe 10 cats in her house and has larger dogs outside. She is taking care of them to prepare them for transport to U.S. shelters. She is an absolute ANGEL in my book to dedicate her life to saving these innocent animals from certain death. Friday night I stayed with Liz and her boyfriend, Efran, in San Juan. She is fostering 5 kittens, about 2-3 months old – and they are little balls of energy!!!! She also is fostering a darling little dog named Lady who is as sweet as they come. I was so thrilled to get to meet two amazing people who spend their time, energy and hard-earned money on getting animals to shelters in the U.S. I’m so thankful for them and all the people who care for the animals in Yabucoa. YOU ARE MY HEROES!!!

First three dogs land in the U.S.!!!

Lassie, Ginger and Rudy took their first airplane flight yesterday and are now adjusting to their new, hopefully temporary, home at a no-kill shelter in New Jersey! We'll keep you updated as more take flight.