Abandoned Puppies

A couple of people are feeding these cuties on PR 453. The look better this week than they did last.

I believe in trap, neuter, and return, but these are babies. Perhaps a local rescuer will get them. 

Animal Control Puerto Rico

According to Bill 2950 the tourism industry is losing fifteen million a year because of the dog problem. The tourism industry must support vigorously endeavor to reduce the dog population by curtailing reproduction. To entertain a bill about animals in the middle of a financial crisis indicates that the time has come for change; animals will no longer be collected and killed.

This is so wonderful. Bravo to those who envisioned this bill!

How much money will be budgeted to support the enactment of the bill?

How much would it cost to sterilize all the dogs on the island?

According to the bill, if I read it correctly, there are 300,000 dogs on the island.

If sterilization or spay/neuter, if you prefer, will cost according to the bill $35- $50, let’s take the high end $50.

300,000 X $50 = $15,000,000

One year’s loss for tourism would neuter all; isn’t that interesting?!

How the World Lived With Dogs

Picture life on a Caribbean island two hundred years ago with no cars, no Iguanas, but dogs walked with the farmers to market or to the fields in search of yame (yams).

Dogs and cats roamed the woods around the house at night hunting rats or mice. People slept soundly at night certain the dogs would sound the alarm if anything stirred. They fed leftovers to the dogs without a sense of ownership. The dog that went to the market with the farmer might follow his neighbor to the river to fish.

The community dog concept is a large part of everyone’s heritage, if you go back far enough. North America is different because massive European migration interrupted the normal flow of life. Each settler brought a dog, which they valued for protection from predators.

In small human hamlets dogs wandered through the community, almost as freely as man. The humble life of the hamlet dog is part of our history.

Within the last two hundred years rabies finished the US tolerance for free ranging dogs. Americans can’t tolerate wolves in Yellowstone; dogs roaming in forest preserves, waiting to prey on children strikes fear.  It’s a national phobia.

Other parts of the world continue with the community dog concept or local variations.

Is the question how to bring the animal population into compliance?  

Is there a way to respect cultural heritage and do what’s best for health and safety without killing dogs?

Puerto Rico Opens Door to Volunteer US Vets

Hey guys, read this!

It’s part of proposed law 2950. If I read it correctly, it opens the door for volunteer veterinarians, at least from the states.

The terms sound similar to current laws, but I’m sure somebody will explain how it will work.

Sounds exciting!

3 (c) By this law, and the term thereof provides that

4 US licensed veterinarians can perform in Puerto

5 Rico vaccination clinics and sterilization high volume at low cost

6 and / or free, for which all they need is to work the clinic

7 conjunction with a veterinarian at a shelter or welfare organization

8 animal, and that the director (a) of this organization sends a communication

9 sworn with acknowledgment on such management to the Board of Examiners

10 Veterinarians of Puerto Rico, with at least sixty (60) days

11 advance. This communication must include all information

12 corresponding to the clinic and vet the credentials

13 United States experienced in clinical vaccination and sterilization

14 high volume, including your name, address, telephone number, state (s)

15 where he practices veterinary medicine and medical license number.

16 Furthermore, it should be anejar copy of (the) document (s) attesting

17 effectively is licensed veterinarian force. Board

18 Examiners may refuse the use of any medical

19 US veterinary previous actions and have proven

20 bad medical practice veterinary medicine. to the Board of Examiners is authorized

21 veterinarians to amend its rules so that the same

22 resulting in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Rescuers, there are two black puppies, maybe 7-8 weeks old in the bushes on the side of PR 453 about 13.5 km.

I and somebody else are feeding and watering.

Good Job Everybody

The dog rescuers in Puerto Rico amaze me with their hard work. In the areas I pass on PR 119 and PR 453, little groupings of dogs that I recognized, are absent. I see rescue notices on Facebook in places I now recognize. The cooperation here is outstanding.

Animal Advocates of Puerto Rico I salute you; this is some hard f’ing work. To get dogs off the street and on a plane to America is a major accomplishment.

Pricey pure breeds move over; here come the Sato Ricans. They’re cute, hip, and street smart.

Good work everybody. And THANKS

Retirement Gone to the Dogs in Puerto Rico

Retire to the tropics, say so long winter weather; that’s how I planned it. Live on a salad bowl island and travel from there; that was the plan. And if it weren’t for the dog situation, I’d enjoy my retirement in Puerto Rico so much more.

For the first time in my adult life I planned to be dog less. I love dogs, but my life’s plan was to travel. The fates in the form of the Great Recession screwed with that pretty hard, but if I budget I can have a few fine travel experiences. It’s amazing what I’m willing to live without in order to travel.

From the very beginning retirement planning included waiting for a time when our dogs passed from old age. In the mean time we visited our house in Puerto Rico getting accustomed to life on the island.

Dogs began to show up at our door. Cute dogs of differing breeds and sizes wanted a little food, some water. There is no place to take the dog where it will be cared for and not killed, so what does a dog lover do?

Damn, right you feed! You water, you treat, medicate and sterilize; it’s the right thing to do. Dogs came and went before I started counting how much money I’d invested in the flow of animals.

Whoa, I’m on a fixed income, not the retirement I’d planned; there is no room in my budget for a steady stream of dogs. I’ve paid for enough sterilizations and vaccinations that I’m starting to get pissed.  Oddly, it’s more because I get the dogs neutered, healthy, and trained; and then, they disappear. All these missing dogs and no bodies; it doesn’t add up.

So let’s get this straight, according to the law 154 if I feed it, it’s mine. But assholes can drop a dog out of a car window at the bottom of my driveway for me to provide the animal’s rights.

The sheer numbers of dogs that come through here make it impossible for me to ever hope to sterilize, vaccinate, or more than feed.

I can return to the states so I’m not forced to see the dogs in need. But how does that help the dogs?