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Greetings!
The man was preceded by two of the six dogs, with the others
following close behind. As soon as he stopped walking, the dogs turned their
attention to biting and scratching at themselves. The dogs appeared to be
closely related-a multi-generation family. One puppy, clearly not feeling well,
gingerly curled up on the asphalt to rest.
He said the dogs were
getting sick from eating garbage that had been poisoned in order to control the
strays. He asked tourists for money for veterinary treatment and food for
the dogs. He reported having over 150 dogs, but didn't say where. The police
said the man used the dogs to get money for drugs. It sure didn't look like it
was going to the dogs.
 This was just one experience during my recent visit to the Dominican Republic
for the Caribbean Animal Welfare Conference, hosted by the Pegasus Foundation.
In addition to the things I saw, I heard many stories from the 140-plus participating
animal welfare workers from all around the Caribbean.
ACC&D was invited to the conference to give a workshop
on alternatives to surgical sterilization. The session focused on an injectable
sterilant for male dogs expected to be available from Mexico sometime
this year. I presented with Emma Clifford of Animal Balance, who has experience
using this product.
Most dogs in the Caribbean
islands are not contained in any way; even owned dogs roam free. And cost,
shortage of veterinarians, and cultural resistance to surgical castration keep
most owners from getting their dogs sterilized. Population control is an enormous challenge for the under-resourced
animal welfare organizations and municipalities on the islands. Needless to
say, interest in non-surgical alternatives was immense; it was "standing room
only" in our session.
I was truly humbled by the people I met at the conference.
These colleagues-many now friends-face challenges almost unheard of in the U.S. But rather
than give up, or lower their expectations, they forge ahead, seeking-and
finding-creative solutions to these obstacles.
I know that non-surgical sterilants have enormous potential
to prevent the births and suffering of countless unwanted animals. After my
time with our Caribbean allies who are so
urgently in need of new solutions, my commitment to achieving our goal is
greater than ever. When we can get non-surgical
sterilants into the hands of these animal angels, their ability to save cats
and dogs in their communities will increase phenomenally.
Tonight, that man is walking the streets of Santo Domingo with his pack (though I fear
that sick puppy may no longer be among them). Local organizations in Santo Domingo are working
to help these dogs, but in a community where resources for companion animals
are so few, it's unclear how much can be done.
I know you would have been touched by what I saw and heard
on my journey. Any animal lover would. If
I could take you there, show you what I saw, introduce you to the people I met,
I know you'd be inspired-compelled, even-to help.
A
group trip to the Dominican
Republic may not be practical, but I hope
you'll make a generous contribution today.
With your help, we can push ahead further and faster toward
a new dawn for cats and dogs, whether they're close to home or thousands of
miles away. With your help, we can change the world.
This sickly puppy touched
my heart and
invigorated my commitment
Sincerely,
Karen Green
Director of Outreach
karen@acc-d.org
P.S. We can't achieve our goals overnight, but only by
taking steps today will we ever have the tools we need to truly end pet
homelessness and suffering. Your donation today will help make it possible for
us to reinvent pet population control and save countless lives.
P.P.S. Please visit our Donate page to make an online or mail donation today, or to learn more about ACC&D's finances.
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