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

Overview of Puerto Rico's Dog Situation

On my first trip to Puerto Rico I saw a dog in the street and said to my friend, Gloria, “Quick let’s go pick up that dog and take it to Animal Control.”

Gloria laughed, which I thought strange from a fellow dog lover.

“This isn't like Illinois,” is all she said and so the subject was forgotten. She showed off her island home. We fell in love. Soon we were living in our new island home, watching a Border Collie chase cars at the bottom of our driveway.

Whereas the states have coyote, raccoon, and fox, the island has free ranging dogs and cats, most obviously the dogs.

Picture twice a year the chaos of gang banging bitches on the street corner and elsewhere; followed by dazed starving pups wandering in the road – not nature’s finest moment.

Unlike truly feral creatures like fox, raccoon, and coyote, dogs just want to hang on the porch, bark alarm and be fed. Most belonged to someone as a puppy.

Since 2005 I’ve seen many dogs including Chi-Ping be dumped by their people. This sadly is the single largest source of dogs wandering our streets. Strange observation is that I've never seen a neutered animal dumped by an owner.

Discarded pets with little chance of survival wandering the beaches and roads in search of a meal, water, and a safe place to sleep, compete with seasoned street dogs. Life in paradise is harsh, but nature being prolific their numbers increase to the point that for health and safety; something must be done.

Historically, and not just here, some guy mixes up a poison cocktail, ameliorating the dog population problem for the moment. This practice outlawed by law 154 seems to have decreased.

I would love to know the number of dogs collected and euthanized each year. If anyone reading this knows, please, tell.

The way this was explained to me is that each pueblo has a dog collection fund. At I believe the amount is $50 per dog, the dog collection outfit contracted with the municipality collects and euthanizes dogs until it hits the limit at which time work ceases, until the next funding cycle. This I believe is the government’s answer for Animal Control in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has a large population of animal lovers and advocates. Adrienne Galler Lastra, the president of Amigos de Los Animales de Puerto Rico, mentored me through my earliest days learning about the dog problems here.

 I am in awe of the rescuers, so many loving people, who take in an unbelievable number of stray dogs. They spend their lives caring for hundreds of dogs in their homes and making them available for adoption; it becomes their life.

The Satos, Puerto Rican Island Dogs have guardian angels, who make regular rounds feeding feral dogs.

No overview of the dog situation in Puerto Rico would be complete without acknowledging Animal Cruelty Investigators like Alma Febus or Iris Quinoines, President of OICA, the Organization of Animal Cruelty Investigators.

Spay/Neuter Clinics sponsored by various organizations like Amigos de Los Animales and PAWS are popping up all over the island.

I’m encouraged to see the love and level of involvement coming from the people. This island has a big heart.

Yesterday on my drive to San Juan the roads were littered with moms and puppies searching for food.

PAWS, Puerto Rican Animal Welfare Society Adoption Day

The smiling lady holding the puppy is Evelyn Ramos, who lead the team of volunteers. Evelyn has run this adoption event for seven years. Her day begins gathering equipment and bathing puppies. She knows all about the personalities of each puppy, who's outgoing, who's shy and needs more social time. This program is a success because of Evelyn's expertise. 

Mercedes, the charming lady in the foreground has a quick eye for what's going on and how to best help Evelyn. 

Crowds gather all afternoon. Everyone wants to see and maybe hold a puppy. People passing have their stories of how many dogs they, many adopted right here.The kids held the puppies gently. The best part was the more the puppies were held, the more they clamored to get out and be held. PAWS is a no kill shelter affiliated with the Pet Vet, both are in Isabela.

http://www.pawspetspr.org 

 Their good work needs support.