Ask almost anyone what bothers them the most about Belize and it's likely that the condition of the many stray dogs and cats in the country will be near the top of their list. This is especially true for expats and tourists. Sad to say but I think many locals are just de-sensitized to the problem. Culture and poverty have made many societies view animals just as tools. A horse for transportation, a dog for security, a cat to catch rodents and such or a pig to eat.
Animals as pets and family members is a fairly new concept and quite frankly, it's a luxury. It costs money to keep an animal healthy. And it takes education to understand the basic needs of an animal. I'll never forget hearing a local a few years ago. He really believed that the average life span of a dog was only two or three years. And why would he know any different? Without the vaccinations, neutering, proper diet and a secure yard, dogs and cats here really don't have much of a chance of living beyond a few years.
Animals as pets and family members is a fairly new concept and quite frankly, it's a luxury. It costs money to keep an animal healthy. And it takes education to understand the basic needs of an animal. I'll never forget hearing a local a few years ago. He really believed that the average life span of a dog was only two or three years. And why would he know any different? Without the vaccinations, neutering, proper diet and a secure yard, dogs and cats here really don't have much of a chance of living beyond a few years.
Coming up on a year ago, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a small group of people that wanted to make a difference in our part of Belize. Over a few lunches (with some meetings thrown in) we formed the Cayo Animal Welfare Society - CAWS. This isn't the first effort at creating a humane society in Cayo. There have been a few over the years but as people moved on and around they've petered out. It didn't take us long to realize that we had a very committed core group and we've been adding people as we grow.
For now, I want to cover one of CAWS main initiatives...the Stray Care Program. Stray dogs and cats are a huge problem in many countries and Belize is no exception. As a group we realize that strays will likely always be part of the make up of Belize but we can do things to make the lives of the strays better. A couple of months ago we got together with a group of visiting vet students from the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic. They donated their time and supplies and we set out to 'capture' strays in the downtown core of San Ignacio. We set up a field station for exams, treatments and tagging. Our mission is to provide basic medical care for these dogs (cats in the future, but they are much harder to catch!). The students dewormed them, gave them vitamins, treated mange, ticks and fleas, and gave them a basic exam. CAWS members then tagged the dogs with new collars and FurCode* tags so that we can monitor them on the streets and at future clinics.
Our thinking is that if we can give the dogs a fighting chance against disease and general poor health they can be fit strays. As the program grows we intend to begin a spay/neuter program with the strays as well. Now, obviously it would be perfect to get them fit and healthy and place them in forever homes with loving families. Unfortunately, that not realistic. We will always try and through communication and education CAWS will place as many animals as possible. I keep telling myself...it's a start...it's better than it was!
For now, I want to cover one of CAWS main initiatives...the Stray Care Program. Stray dogs and cats are a huge problem in many countries and Belize is no exception. As a group we realize that strays will likely always be part of the make up of Belize but we can do things to make the lives of the strays better. A couple of months ago we got together with a group of visiting vet students from the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic. They donated their time and supplies and we set out to 'capture' strays in the downtown core of San Ignacio. We set up a field station for exams, treatments and tagging. Our mission is to provide basic medical care for these dogs (cats in the future, but they are much harder to catch!). The students dewormed them, gave them vitamins, treated mange, ticks and fleas, and gave them a basic exam. CAWS members then tagged the dogs with new collars and FurCode* tags so that we can monitor them on the streets and at future clinics.
Our thinking is that if we can give the dogs a fighting chance against disease and general poor health they can be fit strays. As the program grows we intend to begin a spay/neuter program with the strays as well. Now, obviously it would be perfect to get them fit and healthy and place them in forever homes with loving families. Unfortunately, that not realistic. We will always try and through communication and education CAWS will place as many animals as possible. I keep telling myself...it's a start...it's better than it was!
As I was getting ready to attend our first Stray Care Clinic, I was a little unsure of how to prepare. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from these animals. Would they be aggressive or evasive? Would we even find any or would they all hide out? Not even close! All it took was a kind word, a non-threatening approach and a warm smile (and sometimes a little kibble bribe!). As soon as a connection was established they happily followed and loved the attention that they got. Quite frankly it absolutely broke my heart (tears in my eyes right now). These dogs have known nothing but abuse and neglect. They have likely never experienced the companionship or love of a human being. More often they have been the victims of angry yells, kicks, and thrown rocks. And yet they immediately respond with hope and happiness. I shed more than a few tears that day.
So with that, I am reaching out to everyone that reads my blog. Whatever your reasons for following our adventure in Belize I am asking you to support these programs. Maybe you are looking to move to Belize one day, maybe you've visited and enjoyed the beauty of this wonderful country as a tourist, maybe you're a personal friend or family member. Please, please consider making a donation to help CAWS continue to grow and improve the lives of the animals in our area. I promise you that this is much needed and will be put to very good use.
Please, check out our website. You can make donations via PayPal on the website.
If you are a personal friend of mine, send me a note and you can email me a donation and I will get it to the right hands.
So with that, I am reaching out to everyone that reads my blog. Whatever your reasons for following our adventure in Belize I am asking you to support these programs. Maybe you are looking to move to Belize one day, maybe you've visited and enjoyed the beauty of this wonderful country as a tourist, maybe you're a personal friend or family member. Please, please consider making a donation to help CAWS continue to grow and improve the lives of the animals in our area. I promise you that this is much needed and will be put to very good use.
Please, check out our website. You can make donations via PayPal on the website.
If you are a personal friend of mine, send me a note and you can email me a donation and I will get it to the right hands.