Old dog collars saves lives!

WE NEED YOUR OLD COLLARS AND LEADS!

The definition of ownership of dogs is a bit different here compared to Europe and many dogs walking freely around Sal may seem like strays but are in fact owned.  These dogs are at risk from removal and/or poisoning and unfortunately, many families here cannot afford to register their dogs or provide them with collars to show that they are owned.

We are providing a free registration scheme which will help to determine the true number of street dogs and would like to be able to give collars to all the dogs that are owned.  In January there will be a free sterilisation & vaccination clinic on Sal and treatment will only be given to registered dogs wearing collars.

We are busy making home-made collars from discarded rope, but we will not have enough for the number of dogs we anticipate will be treated.

If you have any old collars and leads or you are able to buy inexpensive ones in your country, Capeverdian families and their pets would very much appreciate them.  Any size or style welcome.

Billy with his new home-made collar

If you have a veterinarian or a petshop near you maybe they will let you put a collection box at the till. (People could also leave tick and flea treatment which is badly needed).




For an address to send any donated items to please email info(at)cvcatsanddogs.org (replace at with @)

A helping hand for street dogs

Helpful kids and little 'Fifi'

Last year Neal and I decided that as soon as the turtle season was over we would dedicate our time to helping the street dogs, something that has always been close to our hearts wherever we have lived or visited. Unfortunately after Rasher was killed we were so devastated we were unable to do anything.

Neal and Nindy

This year, though, feeling a little bit stronger, we are really pleased to participate in a very small project to demonstrate to the City Hall that many of the dogs in Santa Maria are a) owned and b) not suffering from incurable diseases.  It's a small experiment to see if it can be effective and if the people here want it.

A dog with sarcoptic mange BEFORE

The same dog just THREE WEEKS LATER!

For the last three weeks a group of us have been working with our great vet, Dra Fatima to treat free roaming dogs who have the symptoms of sarcoptic mange. This disfiguring disease is caused by a parasitic mite which causes hair loss, often leads to skin infections and is extremely miserable for the dogs that have.  Fortunately, it is not dangerous to humans.

Fifi

Happily for the dogs, it is really easily treated, the main problem is catching the dogs! The owners of the affected dogs were contacted and all of them wanted the dogs to be treated but had not gone to the vet because they could not afford the cost. After only one injection radical changes can be seen and the owners are delighted that their dogs are healthy and happy again!

Princesa

Anderson & puppies after worming

Fifi is always hard to catch

Word is spreading that Fridays at 17h/5pm there will be a free street clinic for dogs with mange and there is no doubt that the work is appreciated by the people in the area (judging by the number of people who want to buy us drinks!). We are also using this time to talk to people about responsible ownership (registration, vaccination & putting collars on their dogs) and how we should all try to reduce the number of dogs on Sal through sterilisation.

It's been a real delight to see that people do really care about their dogs!

Natal & Pontas with his new collar

Everyone is welcome to help. We can be found in the area north of Patio Antigo & Relax every Friday.

If you are not in Sal but would like to help you can pay for a dog's treatment via PayPal. A course of medicine costs €15 (Dra Fatima works for free) and we will send you photos of the dog that you have helped.

Dogs in Zona Antonio de Sousa

So many people have been asking me about whether the Câmara Municipal do Sal can or will remove dogs from any area and in particular this zone that I decided to arrange a couple of meetings to investigate. Here's what I found out:

1. The CM Sal will not remove any dog that is owned, therefore it is in your interest to register your dog (CVE200 at the CM building in Espargos) and to put a collar on them.
2. There is no legal requirement to keep your dog inside your house.
3. Placing poison in a public place is a crime since it endangers human health. This applies to individuals as well as to institutions. I will help anyone to start the legal process if there is evidence of a dog or cat being deliberately poisoned.

In Zona Antonio de Sousa I believe that there are no unowned dogs, so there is no reason to be fearful.

This is the official information that I have been given from sources that I feel are reliable, but remember where we live - anything could happen, so my advice is to be cautious and watchful.

In addition, it is reasonable for people to expect us to minimise the disturbance or nuisance caused by our animals, and as responsible dog owners it is in our, and our animals, best interest.

A small response

There are so many wrong things written on the Facebook page of Sal Animal Rescue it is hard to know where to start (not mentioning the spelling of my name). Firstly, Jackie has made it clear that she did not want to be involved in the castration programme in January (clearly the last one was very stressful) so of course some others stepped in to say they would manage it (I was not, in fact one of them). Stating my name and implying that I had some hand in a poor neutering clinic earlier this year is ludicrous since I was in Boa Vista at the time (but receiving daily updates and feeling immensely happy that it was taking place). If there was a better way to manage the clinic, I hope that those who were there, including Jackie, will make constructive suggestions so that the one in January will maximise the lessons learned.

I have been asked by Jackie on several occasions to take over the shelter, as have others, but have been absolutely clear that I would not, for many reasons, the biggest one of which is that I already have a full-time (unpaid) job. Why Jackie would say that sick, injured, abused, starving or dying cats and dogs should be brought to me is a mystery.

Jackie has made it clear for some time that she would like to close Sal Animal Rescue and will do so as soon as the remaining dogs have been adopted. Clearly there is a need to help the animals in Cabo Verde (not just Sal) so why is it a bad thing that a group of 'upstanding citizens' are trying to do something? This is a good thing for the dogs and cats not a bad thing.

The new association, if and when it is formed, will concentrate on becoming a legal entity, something that I and others feel is critical since it gives you status and the ability to fundraise. The Camara Municipal do Sal expect this for any group to be taken seriously. The exact parameters of the activities of the association are under discussion but the objective is obviously to improve the lives of animals in Cabo Verde.

As for glory and MONEY, shame on you Gemma to imply that I would do this for money. Anyone who knows me would know how strongly I feel about animals and animal rights. Anyone who knows me knows the pain that animal abuse in this country has caused me and Neal.

MONEY? FAME? Really? Jackie I cannot believe that you think these two words hit the nail on the head. Working here is hard enough, working with animals for no money is even harder as you plainly know. Let's celebrate people who make a contribution, no matter how small, no matter whether we think it was significant or not. No matter what we think of them personally. Who cares what their exact motives are as long as they are doing something.

Carolyn, nobody has spoken of the plans for the association, since there are none, it's a kernel of a spark of a germ of an idea with many undecided facets. It's not hidden. Jackie was informed a while ago about the idea and agreed it was a good idea.

In case there is any doubt, I have not instigated this new association. In fact, I was approached by a friend of Jackie's to assist with the legal and financial aspects of setting up an association since I already have experience in this area. Jackie, herself, recommended that the person in question approached me.

In case you missed it, JACKIE WANTS TO CLOSE SAL ANIMAL RESCUE and has for some time, therefore a new initiative is needed.

And JACKIE DOES NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE NEUTERING CLINIC in January, therefore someone has to take charge or we waste the vet's time and lose the support of a wonderful benefactor.

So, well done to everyone in the past and in the present and in the future who has done anything to help the animals here. Now, for the good of animals, stop the bitching and let's welcome any and all associations, individuals, ideas and initiatives, keep the goal in mind and move forward.

This time last year....

...at 13.30 we didn't know how much our lives were about to change. At 15:30 Neal was leaving to go to work at the hatchery and called out to me that he was going to take Rasher. I had planned to take Rasher and his harem to Surf Beach as I had a nest to excavate there, but going to the main hatchery at the RIU hotel was a rare treat for Rasher and was only possible since we had bought the Landrover. I was about to shout out and tell Neal to leave him with me but didn't. That decision will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Earlier in the day Sheena had phoned me in a terrible state as her dog Cross had been poisoned, she was asking if we knew what could be done for him. We both assumed that Cross had been poisoned near the Morabeza hotel where he mostly hung out. Why we didn't ask where it was Cross had eaten poison is a question we ask ourselves all the time.

The day before Foxy had died but he was a free spirit and it didn't occur to us that his death might be something that should make us fear for Rasher. Rasher was always with us, we thought we could protect him.

By 15.00 Rasher was dead and our family was destroyed. Rasher became the latest in a long line of animal victims, killed by the RIU hotel as an easy solution to 'problem' of dogs and cats hanging around the hotel. Strychnine had been placed on the beach, an action that was authorised by the RIU manager Giorgio Chiarel and executed by Julio Cabral, an employee of the Department of Health.

Placing poison on a public beach is indiscriminate, inhumane, illegal, dangerous to humans and quite simply not an effective solution.

Giorgio Chiarel was reassigned by the hotel and Julio Cabral continues both his regular work and his lucrative sideline with no penalties for either.

Not so for Neal and I who every day continue to mourn the loss of a beautiful spirit filled with disbelief that we will never see or touch Rasher again. Never hear him bark to be let in. Never see him staring at us asking to go for a walk or chasing birds or balancing beautifully on the back of our quad bike. All of us never happier than when he was at our side and we were at his.

Twelve months on and sadness continues to overwhelm us. Time does not heal. Ignorant people continue to abuse animals.

This time last year....

...at 13.30 we didn't know how much our lives were about to change. At 15:30 Neal was leaving to go to work at the hatchery and called out to me that he was going to take Rasher. I had planned to take Rasher and his harem to Surf Beach as I had a nest to excavate there, but going to the main hatchery at the RIU hotel was a rare treat for Rasher and was only possible since we had bought the Landrover. I was about to shout out and tell Neal to leave him with me but didn't. That decision will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Earlier in the day Sheena had phoned me in a terrible state as her dog Cross had been poisoned, she was asking if we knew what could be done for him. We both assumed that Cross had been poisoned near the Morabeza hotel where he mostly hung out. Why we didn't ask where it was Cross had eaten poison is a question we ask ourselves all the time.

The day before Foxy had died but he was a free spirit and it didn't occur to us that his death might be something that should make us fear for Rasher. Rasher was always with us, we thought we could protect him.

By 15.00 Rasher was dead and our family was destroyed. Rasher became the latest in a long line of animal victims, killed by the RIU hotel as an easy solution to 'problem' of dogs and cats hanging around the hotel. Strychnine had been placed on the beach, an action that was authorised by the RIU manager Giorgio Chiarel and executed by Julio Cabral, an employee of the Department of Health.

Placing poison on a public beach is indiscriminate, inhumane, illegal, dangerous to humans and quite simply not an effective solution.

Giorgio Chiarel was reassigned by the hotel and Julio Cabral continues both his regular work and his lucrative sideline with no penalties for either.

Not so for Neal and I who every day continue to mourn the loss of a beautiful spirit filled with disbelief that we will never see or touch Rasher again. Never hear him bark to be let in. Never see him staring at us asking to go for a walk or chasing birds or balancing beautifully on the back of our quad bike. All of us never happier than when he was at our side and we were at his.

Twelve months on and sadness continues to overwhelm us. Time does not heal. Ignorant people continue to abuse animals.

Which is it then? Policy or no policy?

Three extracts from emails received from the same person at RIU head office :

"We do not have a policy for the handling of stray dogs"

"Finally the attack on a guest’s child convinced us that the risk for our guests caused by these massive dog attacks was no longer tolerable. We informed the authorities of the country and asked them to take care of the safety of our common clients and other people."

"We do not have a policy for the handling of stray dogs, nor we nor a individual manager does. Stray dogs are a destinations problem and our policy is to advice the authorities about this if it gets to be a risk for our guests."

We do not have a policy.............. and our policy is ............

Hmmmm.......

One RIU hotel guest who won't be fobbed off!

This is the response one RIU guest sent after Claudia Schunk the head of communications at the RIU sent a standard email

Dear Mrs Schunk,
Thank you for your standard reply which unfortunately does not really answer any of my questions . Since the manager of Riu Funana admitted to contacting somebody to 'take care of the problem' and a person has come forward admitting to having placed poison on the beach in front of the hotel, in a private arrangement between the hotel and the individual concerned, I would like to ask you who you think is responsible for this incident???

I would also like to know what guarantee there is for me and my family who will be going to the Riu Karamboa that we will not face a similar situation, and what measures have been taken by Riu to ensure the safety of families and dogs on the beach at the Riu Funana.

I would also mention that I have read many, many reports on forums for this destination from holidaymakers having come into contact with stray dogs on the beach. They all describe them as friendly and shy.. not the agressive wild dogs that the hotel has described.

With regard to your final statement. What is the Riu chain's actual policy with regard to stray dogs? Is there a global policy or is each individual hotel manager repsonsible for dealing with things as he or she sees fit? In what ways are you "working with local authorities" and how do you intend in the future to help to solve the stray dog problem?
I would really appreciate if you could give a more personalised reply to this mail as the seriousness of the subject warrants.

Silence from the RIU speaks volumes

Sitting waiting for a response to my letter sent registered post to the owner of the RIU group, Mr Luis Riu Guell. Nothing yet. I know the post is slow and Europe is covered with snow but a whole month? I suppose I have to assume that they are going to ignore us. Better get the pen and paper (keyboard and printer) out again then.

In the letter I stated the facts of Rasher's death and asked a few simple questions :

• If Mr Chiarel did contact ‘the authorities’ (although he stated to us that he did not) – what was it that he expected the ‘authorities’ to do?
• Were RIU head office aware of dogs and cats dying on the premises through possible poisoning since 2007?
• Has this been and will it continue to be the official policy from RIU to dealing with cats and dogs on the hotel grounds or will RIU change the policy of dealing with stray dogs and cats following this recent incident of the death of beloved pets?
• Has there been any internal action taken to deal with those involved?
• What will happen to the latest dogs that are coming to the beach and the cats that are still inside the hotel?
• Can the RIU guarantee that there will be no more poison put on the beach?
• Will the RIU give us an honest and factual account of the circumstances leading to the death of our dogs?

Not unreasonable to want to know if the hotel intends to carry on with its nasty killing policy is it? If I were the hotel management I think I would want to make a statement and let people know that it is not our policy. Oh well, make your own minds up.....