This update covers just a few Kingston Community Animal Welfare - Jamaica rescues, adoptions, and spays/neuters in February and March. Just a tiny window into KCAW's daily work......
KCAW-Jamaica feeds, provides vet care, spay/neuter, and if needed, rescue, and gives love to dogs and cats living on Kingston's streets or whose owners are unable to provide for them. Animal-Kind International is KCAW's main supporter. Now we're trying hard to raise money for a KCAW spay/neuter van!
In late March, KCAW added these dogs to their feeding rounds --the daily drive around Kingston to feed and check on KCAW cats and dogs (about 1000 every month!)
Deborah saw these girls when she stopped at a garage to get her car fixed --there were two nursing mama dogs and their puppies. No doubt they smelled the food in the back of her car and came out to check what smelled so good.
Now they'll get regular visits and food, and when ready, they'll be spayed. KCAW will find homes for their pups.
For each spay or neuter, KCAW has to return to the animal's location, catch the dog or cat and drive to one of the vet clinics they use, drop the animal, pick up when ready, and return the animal. It would be so much easier and efficient to drive a s/n van to the site, and s/n right there!
In March, on her way to feed cats, these dogs were on the road scrounging for food.
Deborah stopped and found their owner, an elderly lady. The only other person at the house was her drunk tenant. Neither seemed capable of looking after 7 adult dogs and 4 pups.
Deborah returned the following day with food and de-wormer. They licked the bowls clean. She arranged with the woman that she'd return 3 times a week until they were healthy and all were spayed and neutered. Then, she'd cut back and the woman would have to take on some of the feeding. She was very grateful and was so happy to have help and company.
With a SPAY MOBILE, all these dogs could be fixed in one visit. Now it will take days and days to get the job done.
From Deborah: "Driving down my hill starting my feeding/rescue day. Didn't have to go very far to find my first 'client.' There he was limping along searching for any little morsel to eat. I initially stopped to just feed and deworm him and continue down the hill.
It wasn't until he got closer that I saw his massive wound. I gave him some food he was sooo hungry then headed back up the hill with him, gave him the miracle tablet NEXGUARD and sprayed the injured areas. He had maggots eating him on his neck anus and belly. I put him in the KCAW kennel. Then it was back down the hill to hurry through my morning.
I named him Starboy. My helper laughed with much amusement and asked why I named such a beat up smelly dog Starboy. I told her it's because when I'm done with him he will be looking like a Starboy!"
And this was Starboy in February after 3 weeks with Deborah. He was neutered and then went to a forever home with George and anther KCAW dog!
More from Deborah: "As usual driving along minding my own business and there she is wandering on the sidewalk in peak traffic hunting for food. She was hungry!!! I spun around and headed back in her direction hoping she was still there- and she was! But about to climb down into the gully.
I'm past the age for gully diving so I stopped the first kind looking man I saw. At first I asked him to help and he hesitated and began to walk away. Then I offered him 500 J$ and he said "where de puppy?"
Next thing I knew he disappeared into the gully and came back with her. I was sooo happy!!!! I named her Rose."
After lots of loving care and some thoughts about keeping Rose, Deborah found a perfect home at Andrea's, who had already adopted another KCAW pup.
More from Deborah: "I've been slowly spaying all 9 females at this house since December. This is the last one! It got so bad that I avoided driving on that road because I used to see the pups lying in the road hit by cars.
The people who live there don't really care one way or another if they have 1 or 100 dogs. They just let them breed and starve. I've been feeding them since November last year. They all are looking better now and able to survive the spay surgery.
I drop off a bag food and meat twice a week. I'll do that until the end of the month when all the dogs would have put on some weight and feel healthier. Then I'll check on them when I'm in the area and have time."
A KCAW Spay/Neuter Van would make this so much easier!
Deborah: "I've been helping Hillside Dave since last year spay and neuter his 5 dogs. Dave works at a construction site close to my home and 'threw up' a small shed to live in. He is from the rural country and is in Kingston trying to find work. It's really an unsuitable place to live much less have dogs but...
I've spayed all 4 except this one. I regret missing him as he went off to mate and is badly injured.
With cans of Ectoline spray, wound powder and my "can't-live-without-never-leave-home-without- one' Nexguard, his dog will be fine. I visit him twice a week to make sure he is healing well."
Then, Deborah wrote, "I neutered him last week! I told Dave I would find him a home and he said ok. He actually seemed relieved.
If I had my spay mobile this would never have happened!! I would have parked up on that hill and would have done all the dogs at once. It's really hard transporting them one at a time down that mountain then back again."
Besides trying to raise money for a KCAW SPAY MOBILE,
Deborah requested donations of Nexguard--as she mentioned, it's her "can't-live-without" med. 24-60 lbs preferable:
If you have Nexguard to donate, we can get it to KCAW/Deborah. Just send me an email message to arrange mailing, karen at animal-kind.org.
THANK YOU!