Animal help in the Dominican Republic - for a better cooperation between humans and animals

Dear animal-friends, generous donors and hard-working helpers,

after six weeks of the castration-campaign and two weeks of follow-up work now at last my report. First the facts:

• 646 animals castrated (in 28 days) – of these 480 were female dogs, 73 male dogs, 72 cats, 16 tom-cats, 4 rabbits – of course all of these animals got treated against parasites as well
  
• 303 abortions
• 74 other operations such as amputations, umbilical hernias, eyeablations etc.
• 224 medical treatments such as leg-fractures, mange treatments, stomach problems etc.
• 17 animals could be given to new owners
• 23 medical smear heads were used for shaving – thanks to the company Wahl GmbH for their generous donation
• 112 washing machine loads with towels, OP-Shirts and so on
• 2.078 kilometres driven
• 1 toppled over power pole smashed our car
• 13 days of tropical, torrential continuous rain – which made looking for dogs and working decidedly more difficult and depressed us pretty much
• four accidents with personal injuries per week in Las Terrenas, caused by dogs (before the castration-campaign) – after the campaign: NO more accidents!!!!
• 21.121,66 € (about $ 29,500 or £ 18,800) total cost
• 6.114,73 € (about $ 8,550 or £ 5,500) received donations

There was all reason to cheer at the farewell-party with some of the hard-working helpers on our „clinic-ground“ in Las Terrenas – afterwars we went to La Yagua for a couple of days, were we castrated more animals.

Not many organisations are able to manage such a successful campaign – especially not as little associations as us – this is also the opinion of the veterinarians of „Tierärztepool“. And after all they have over 10 years of experience in this sector!!! For the long lasting successes that we achieved, the costs of the castrations are actually pretty low compared to the running costs for an asylum – and isn't it much better that the animals can live in freedom, as they do over here, instead of having to spend their lives behind bars?

So far the facts and bare figures – describing our daily work (most of the time 17-hour-days), and all the positive and sporadically negative experiences that come with it is a much more difficult (and very long) task... But please still take your time to read this report to the end.

Freedom also means, that you can pick your friends yourself...

During the last six years we have often felt we were fighting against windmills – how often did we try to tell the Dominicans how to keep their animals appropriately and caringly, and how often did we have the feeling that our advice bounced off them unheard...

But this campaign has shown us, just how much change has come about during these years. Not only have numerous Dominicans brought their animals to our clinic, but when I drive through Las Terrenas now, I am always asked when the next castrations are going to take place – or the people stop me to thank me and proudly show me their castrated she-dogs, who look so much better nowadays.

Suriel with Billy and his other dogs

Billy on the surgery table – Ines saving his life with a complicated and time-consuming operation.

Suriel is a relatively rich Dominican. Some years ago he asked me around, because his dogs (from German Shepherd to midget pinscher) were ill. When I saw his way of animal-keeping, I got hopping mad...All his dogs were kept in dirty wire-cages or tiny kennels, without water and they were in a most miserable state.

Hereupon I called my friendship with Suriel off and told him, if he didn't change this condition, he needn’t bother coming to me ever again about his animals. During our campaign Surial brought his German Shepherd Billy to the clinic. Billy had a difficult hernia and would have probably died a couple of days later without our operation. Since Billy was pretty old and his heart not in the best of conditions, the OP was a big risk. But Suriel wanted to take this risk for his dog at all costs and therefore Billy was operated (and also castrated) by Ines.

Billy today – a healty dog, who runs around freely on the compound, well looked after by his owner and hopefully with a couple of good years ahead.

When we drove to Suriels house the next day, I could hardly believe my eyes – the kennels and cages had disapeared, all the dogs were running about freely and looked well tended for. Billy had a bed (with cushions!!!), were he could rest after his OP, Suriel treated his dogs affectionately, and there were water- and food bowls. This complete turnaround really touched my heart – since it showed, that all our dedication over the years hadn’t been in vain and that a change for the good of the animals is really taking place.

Humpi

Anxiously the Motoconcho-drivers bring the hurt little dog into the clinic – today she is nearly healthy and will be going to her new family soon.

Our French friend Tamalu was diligently out and about during our campaign bringing dogs to the clinic. One day she turned up with a little female stray dog, who got castrated and returned by Tamalu afterwards. Ten days later during heavy rainfalls, two Dominican Motoconcho-drivers (moped-taxis) came to the clinic – the little dog had been run over by a big Jeep and left lying on the street. One of the Motoconchos had witnessed it, torn his T-Shirt in two to make a provisional bandage, grabbed a collegue and brought the dog to our place. His words: „This little one has an eartag, so you already castrated her – please save her little life again!“ showed, that the population understands our work. And honestly, who actually tears his T-Shirt in half just to help a stray dog – that still brings tears to my eyes.

Humpi has been with us since then and we have found a new home for her where she will be able to go in a couple of days when she is better.

River-dog Salomon

Salomon – his gaze is wise and his fur is growing, soon he will be the most beautiful dog at the river...

You already know Salomon from my first newsletter. He had a very bad mange infection and was successfully treated by us. Unfortunately his skin worsened again while we were in Germany during the preparation-phase for the campaign and didn't have the time to look after him. Moreover he was often involved in bitings with other male dogs from the river. So he and another male dog got castrated and treated again against the mange. Somehow there is a deep affection between Salomon and me and now, and when I see him once a week for his treatment, we smooch as if there was no tomorrow...

His owners are now so proud of him, firstly because the „Gringa“ (that's me) loves their dog so much and secondly because his fur is so beautiful. This pride is the best assurance for a dog, because this way he wil be fed well and kept safe from abandonment or cruelty.

The dogs and cats from Agua Sabrosa

We visited the little village of Agua Sabrosa for one day with our ambulance and the op-tent. A friend had told us, that the Dominicans there would be very happy, if we would come over for castrations, because nobody there had the possibility to bring the animals to Las Terrenas. And indeed – many of them brought their dogs and cats to the arranged meeting point, as „leads“ they used everything from a rope to a mobile charging cable...

Our mobile animal clinic on its way to Agua Sabrosa, where the people are impatiently awaiting our arrival...

After initial chaos the people quickly understood that the more patiently they waited, the more animals we would be able to castrate that day. So Ines and Nina did piece-work at the surgery table and we were able to castrate 44 animals – the last stich was sewn by Nina by the light of an electric torch... We all liked that day especially, because the people were keen to work with us, they followed our instructions, cooked a delicious lunch for us and were very grateful...

Nina and Ines don't only work professionally, but also in piece rate... Buschi and I lecturing on species-appropriate and caring animal-keeping.

Flaco I and Flaco II

Sometimes there are days when you totally dispair. Tamula brought us two male dogs, who had been kept on a chain by their owners – without food and water. A couple of days more and those poor creatures would have cruelly starved to death...

Flaco II after his first day in the clinic, after 16 days in a foster home and finally in the arms of his new owner – after so much misery and agony he now has a happy and carefree life in front of him...

We reaccustomed them both to food by giving them little portions every hour. Feeding them was one thing, but how to take the responsibility of giving them back to their owners or abandoning them in the streets??? So we had to find a new and loving home for them, which we managed successfully. Both of them are now feeling great and there is no need to call them „flaco“ (thin) anymore :-))

Flaco I – after a weeks stay in hospital he will join Majas family, for whom he is a great playmate, and as you can see he is doing just fine! Happyend for Flaco I and Flaco II

The broken leg from the river

While collecting diverse river dogs, I was addressed by a woman, who asked me to take a look at her male dog. He had been run over six months previously and she had been to the local „veterinarian“ with him. After an operation, that had been nearly prohibitive for her (she had to pay the money off), she didn't think her dog was in a very good condition at all. This wasn't surprising, because instead of immobilising the uncomplicated fracture with a fixed bandage for some time, a nearly 5 inch long metal bar had been inserted and wire had been drilled through the bone, because that way the so-called veterinarian could earn the most money... Since the surgery had been performed so badly, the bone had inflamed, the bar was sticking out of the open leg, the fracture naturally wasn’t healing, and the poor dog was in a hell of pain.

No pain and no bandage anymore – after over six months finally more quality of life...

After Ines had removed the metal bar, she still wasn't sure if the leg could be saved. Every second day we picked the patient up, brought him to the clinic to treat him medically and to change the bandage. Now, six weeks later, he is feeling great and is starting to put weight on to the leg that he hadn't used for such a long time and to walk on all fours.

Moreover he has become a good friend and the other day he played with Salomon on the riverbank...

Finchen

With a bandaged leg, still thin and a bit mangy – thus she stole her way into our hearts... Today she is part of our pack and enjoys her status as family dog

Thomas found a little female dog on the street, that didn't only have to be castrated, but also had a fractured leg and a totally displaced hip – both had been caused by an accident, that unfortunately had taken place some time ago. So all we could do for her was to immobilise her hind leg und hope, that the fracture would heal. Since we had to change her bandage every now and then, she stayed with us for the time being. And there she still is...she will probably never be able to walk properly again and stay „crooked“ - but we love the little monster anyway...

Every one of us could tell you so many stories, Buschi could tell you about the cancer-tumor-dog, Ines about the warthog-dog and the uterine-suppuratione-cat, Thomas about the umbilical hernia-blind-tom-cat and the Sticker-tumor-female-dog, Roman about the Rottweiler-siblings and the Steff-female-dog, Nina about the little starved Luna and the machete-blow-dog, Sigi about his experiences while counting dogs, Tamalu how she threatened people with the police, when they didn't want to let their female dogs be castrated, Katrin and Bob about Snoopy, who got showered with fuel, and the rebellious Yoda, Sabine about the fight of the poisoned Flacetita, Marina about Mascha, who didn't want to pee in the rain and so on...

All of us went beyond our personal limits during this time, shed tears, fought sometimes, made up again quickly, shared happiness when we were able to help and kept on being surprised again and again about how patient, nice, funny and intelligent all of the many animals we treated were. In the end we all agreed, that the campaign was more than successful – it effectively improved the lifes of so many animals and of many humans as well, we were able to save uncountable lives and fought with helpers of all nationalities for the good cause.

It made me, personally very happy, because when you put your own problems (or what you take for them) on hold and help others, you get so much back and that is such a wonderful feeling...

I thank everybody involved from the bottom of my heart – you made a dream come true, the dream of happy and healthy animals – and that a change can come about in the heads of the people here for the better.

We would like to go on working, because there is still much to do and still hundreds of little villages with animals, that need our help. But unfortunately we don't have the option, to invest 15,000 Euro (about $20,900 or £13,300) of our own money (which was actually meant to build a house) again. With your financial support we would be able to start another castration-campaign already this year with the veterinarians of “Tieraerztepool”. Our main sponsor Condor has already promised to carry on helping us out with cheap flights and the transport of the surgery materials.

I thank you all in the name of all Amigos de Lucky and the Dominican animals
Yours Miriam