He's Baaaaaaack...

Here's Hans. He is the son of Wendy, brother to Molly, who were dropped off at the beach a couple of months ago. Hans was there with Molly and Wendy at that time but before the rescuer could get them off the beach, Hans disappeared - he was apparently taken by someone to be a pet. A couple of days ago, he reappeared on the beach. This happens often with animals in this situation. People are at the beach, swimming, sunbathing, fishing.. and they see this cute little puppy. They take it home but then once they realize how much it eats or once it starts getting bigger and "not so cute", the poor animal is dumped back at the beach.

This dog needs a home

This dog lives in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico and is homeless. Some people in the area are feeding him but some of the neighbors have threatened to poison him if he's not removed. Can anyone help him out?

News from Nina and Nicole

I received these emails and photos from the new caretakers for Nina and Nicole. Okay, I admit, I cried when I heard what they had to say:

Wed, 1/17/07
We waited anxiously all day for the girls to arrive then finally they were here. We actually heard them barking their greetings while Bill was signing all the paperwork required. We wanted to rush out to the cargo area but had to wait until their crates were brought to us. Then amids recounting their story to the 3 very interested attendants we had our first glimpse of them in their travel crates...two frightened girls peering out at us. After a few introductory and reassuring words letting them know we were thrilled to see them, the doors of the crates were opened and the girls put their paws on American soil for the first time. Nina and Nicole could have cared less they only had eyes for each other...they were sooooo happy to be back together again.

After the reunion they turned their attention back to their welcoming committee Bill, Tricia and Pat. They were only reserved for a brief instant, then I guess the doggy smells on us confirm to them we were OK. After hugs and kisses on both sides it was out the freight terminal door and into the cold crisp air of Maryland for a long overdue potty break. After more hugs and kisses, treats, and a short walk the girls started to notice the 26 degree temperature so it was time to see if they would like their new lightweight fleece lined coats...boy did they ever..they were styling and warm.


After more hugs and kisses it was time to hop up in the back of Bill's car for the ride to the kennel. They each found their new comforters and immediately snuggled down on them, Nicole actually managed to cover up and at one point only her head was showing. Two very teary eyed volunteers watched as these very sweet girls drove off with Bill as we knew that none of this would have been possible if not for the love and care of their guardian angels on an island far away.

Fri, 1/19/07
Oh my goodness are they sweeties!!! I took them up to the training room and Nicole was fascinated by the mirror. She kept looking at herself even from across the room, then she decided to lay down in front of the mirror and just stare at that beautiful girl she was seeing. Then we had some visitors come see us, Mary stopped by with some chicken then Bill stopped by with some treats. And I think they remembered Bill!! Then I hear Nina growling under her
breath, and i turn around and I see she has discovered herself in the mirror and is growling at herself. It was pretty funny. Then both of them kept going over to the mirror....... they were trying to understand what was going on. Nina even put her paws up on the stool you see in the picture and was looking...... When I got there this morning, Lisa had them already out in the field and they do seem to be getting use to the colder weather. It didn't seem to bother them..... Nina does seem to know to sit with a little push on the back end, she will sit when you give her the command. i was saying it in both English and Spanish, not sure which one she understood but
she did sit.... Pat, please thank our friends in Puerto Rico for rescuing these babies and taking care of them..... they are absolutely adorable!!! And tell them we will do our best to find them a good home....... together!!!

Three satos find their forever homes!

Oh, what a great day! I went to the shelter in Boca Raton to check up on the 5 dogs that had arrived on Wednesday. As I drove up, I saw two boys getting into a car WITH SUSIE AND ELENA IN THEIR ARMS!!! I was so thrilled with my luck of being able to see the precious girls with their new family! I stopped and talked to them, told them Susie and Elena's stories, and they were even more happy to have them once they knew their history! I took this great picture of them. Good luck little Susie and Elena. We'll miss you but know you will be very happy in your new home!

AND little Miss Mota also got to go to her new family! I didn't meet her new family but did get these last shots of her at the shelter. Good luck little Mota!!! You've come a looooooonnnnggg way, baby!

Look at these beautiful girls!!!

Nina and Nicole arrived safely in Virginia and are now in their foster homes. Everyone there LOVES them - of course, they are amazingly wonderful dogs! When they landed after their 13 hour trip, they were very tired but also very happy. They were given coats to wear - never needed in Puerto Rico! So, it looks like two very worthy dogs have a very wonderful home and we are all so thrilled. Thank you so much to Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue for taking them into your lives! Here are some pictures of the girls sent from their new foster parents:

New puppies at the beach

Five new puppies have appeared at the beach. They are very skittish and won't allow anyone to approach them in order to catch them.

Yabucoa dogs in Palm Beach County!

Yesterday, 5 dogs and 2 cats from Puerto Rico landed safely at the Miami International Airport. 3 of the dogs, Susie, Elena and Mota, are from Dead Dog Beach. The other two, Leslie and Gracie, came along for the ride from another rescuer in P.R. All 5 of them are ADORABLE and so very sweet. They are at the Tri-County Humane Society in Boca Raton and are hopefully rested up from the flight and ready to bat their eyelashes at potential new owners! Here are some cute pictures: Susie and Elena are beautiful, thin-boned little girls that are so sweet and cuddly - this is a picture shortly after they arrived at the shelter! Mota and Gracie slept curled up together in the passenger seat for the ride! Leslie is enjoying the entertainment in his new digs in Boca!








The two cats, Chessie and Leo, are extremely feral and are not placeable into "normal" homes. We found a wonderful refuge nearby that was willing to take them into their outside cattery where they will live happy, healthy lives not bothered by humans wanting to pet and cuddle them!

Update on happenings

Nina and Nicole are going to shipped to a foster home in Arlington, Virginia on Wednesday! We are so fortunate to have found someone who will take both of them - remember, they are big girls (a rotti and a shepherd). And on that note, the bill for their flight is $1,000! So feel free to drop some coins into the Manos por Patos donation bucket to help us cover these costs.

So many people have asked about Jess, the dog with the wound incurred from someone throwing hot grease on him. We have a number of possibilities for him so it looks like he will soon be going to a good, wonderful home. Thanks to everyone for their concern and support.

We recently took 7 dogs from the beach, 6 puppies and the mom of two of the puppies - they are at a foster home for the time being. There is still a litter of puppies at the beach and about 30-35 other dogs that need to be spayed or neutered. We're going to be taking 2 or 3 in every week to be altered but unfortunately they will have to be returned to the beach since we don't have anywhere to put them. This is not ideal but at least there won't be more puppies coming!

A shipment of 5 dogs, including Susie and Elena, and 3 feral cats will be coming into Miami on Wednesday morning. The dogs will go to the Tri County Humane Society in Boca Raton to be adopted out. The 3 cats are going to a private home nearby where there is an outdoor cattery where they will be safe and cared for and not confined to indoors.

Speaking of Tri County Humane Society, we need to thank them for their very generous donation of kennels/carriers. They gave us 12 on Saturday and would have been more but they wouldn't all fit in the van! Those carriers will be shipped to Puerto Rico and distributed to our volunteers for use in their rescues. Thanks so much to the shelter for their generous gift.

There is a litter of 4 kittens - Luna, Hunter, Artemis, and Haydn - that are in a foster home right now. They are still being bottle-fed but should be eating on their own soon. They will be started on vaccinations and adopted into forever homes as soon as they are ready. (Take a look below at the belly on Luna!)


We still have about 40 dogs in foster care (or at vets or kennels) right now getting ready to go to shelters. We hope in the not-so-distant future to not have to be shipping dogs to the U.S. but to be able to put them into no-kill shelters in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, right now the only no-kill shelters there are jam packed but we're working with local and state government on getting temporary and permanent shelters built.

Help for 5 young puppies at the beach

Five little puppies have recently been dumped at the beach. The litter of 3 (there were originally 4 but a policeman took one for his children) is between 4-5 weeks old and are all males. The 2 little Rottweilers are about 2 months old. Little ones like this are never safe at the beach, especially without their mother. If anyone would like to help by sponsoring these dogs for $150 to get them boarded, vaccinated, altered and sent to a shelter in the U.S., please contact Ginny at Manos por Patas.

Happy New Year for Nina and Nicole!

Nina and Nicole, two of our favorite long-time Yabucoa beach residents, are going to foster homes to be then placed into their forever homes! Nina is going to a Rottweiler rescue group (Gulfstream Rottweiler Club) in Miami and Nicole will go to a German Shepherd rescue group (Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue) near Washington, D.C. Since these are both large dogs and they are both older (Nina is about 2-3 years and Nicole about 5), it's difficult to find placement for them. But these two great groups came through for us and we are so very thankful that they saw that these girls were in need and offered to take them in. For those of you not familiar with these sweet dogs, please see the "before and after" pictures below. I think you'll see how gorgeous they are and how very worthy they are of a happy home.

This is how I first met Nina and Nicole. You can see how pitifully skinny they are and how mange had eaten away at their hair and skin. You can see the folds of skin at Nicoles shoulder and haunches. But even in such awful condition, you could always count on wagging tails and gentle licks when you brought them their meal and loving touches.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RAFFLE WINNER!

Constance Canterbury of Tequesta, Florida won the raffle for the Trip for Two to Puerto Rico! I called her this morning and she was thrilled! She purchased her ticket from me at a table I had set up in front of a pet store to sell tickets and take donations. So sorry all of those who entered and didn't win, but you DID give a very important donation to help animals who so desperately need it. We made a little over $2,500!!! Thanks again for your support.