(article highlights. View full article online at HSGB website)

February 9, 2009 
Successful clinic again in Pinders Point

The fourth major field spay/neuter clinic in the HSGB’s ongoing project was held February 2-6, 2009 at the Church of the Good Shepherd’s Parish Hall in Pinders Point, Grand Bahama. This clinic topped all others held thus far, with a total of 277 dogs and cats sterilized. This figure includes 237 dogs and puppies, 39 cats and kittens and one raccoon! It does not include the 8 additional surgeries performed on already sterilized animals, which included a bladder stone removal, a leg amputation, several eye surgeries and various wound repairs. It also does not include minor treatment of an additional 20 dogs or puppies for various ailments or basic deworming and vaccinating of pups too young or small for surgery....

Some of the animals sterilized also required further surgical attention; such as hernias and wound abscesses. Some of the animals were in poor physical condition to begin with, yet thanks to the dedication and skill of the volunteer veterinary team, none were lost, and these animals will no longer have to go through the trauma of bearing litter after litter of puppies or kittens....

All services provided during this clinic were provided free of charge to the public. The goal is to reduce pet over-population on Grand Bahama, as well as achieve a healthier pet population in general, and encourage and educate pet owners in being more responsible and better pet care-takers for the future.

This clinic was funded by The Pegasus Foundation, The Kohn Foundation, a private individual from the U.S., and Amigo’s Fund....

This clinic was staffed by an expert team of 15 U.S. volunteer veterinarians and technicians: Chief vet and organizer Dr. Robin Brennen, NYC, Dr. Bridget Barry, Ithaca, NY, Dr. Leo Egar, Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Deborah Sonnen-Campbell, Boston, and Dr. Karen Iovino, Virginia, Dr. of Pharmacy Elaine Lust, Nebraska. Veterinary Technicians and assistants were Angela Cherry, New Mexico, Austin Figueroa, Arizona, Chris Slowiak, Illinois, Tracy Darling, California, Gregory Carastro, New York, Dee Curran, Florida, Kate Finneley, Illinois, Andy Raduechel, Nebraska, and Heath Grone, Nebraska.

Invaluable local volunteers and supporters who assisted with intake processing, animal handling, recovery care, discharge, instrument cleaning and sterilization, providing breakfasts, lunches and dinners, accommodations, and transportation include Beth Hatfield, Caraline Myatt, Gloria McGlone, Ivy Elden, The Grand Bahama Port Authority, The Crithfields, Dottie Cox, Barb Stollery, Bev Hall, Liz Franklin, Jeff Morasco, Bill Grimmer, Judy Rose, Susan Taylor, Mary Ann Samsell , Missy Aiello, Judy Zuber, Ashley Murphy, Linda Sawall, Maureen Ross, Bev Clifford, Beverly Hall, Richard & Monica Bates, Silk Café, Agave Restaurant, Colleen Davies, Aggie Biswanger, Martha Cartwright, Melanie Darville, Vicky Stafford, Martine Carey, Jacqueline Laker, Chris Johnston, Erika Gates and Tiffany Dennison.

The goal of this project remains an island with no roaming, diseased, starving dogs and cats and it is within reach, with the support of the entire community. For information on how to sustain and support this vital and successful programme, please call the HSGB at 352-2477. Pet owners who missed this clinic should know that the ongoing voucher programme is also free and available to them year round.

April 21, 2008 
West End Spay & Neuter Clinic

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama, in partnership with The Kohn Foundation, is pleased to report their third successful field spay/neuter clinic, which was held in West End April 14 – 18, 2008... 

A total of 189 dogs and 25 cats were sterilized during the week, for a total of 214 animals. 222 were checked in, 8 were either previously spayed or too sick for surgery (but treated and HSGB will follow up for future surgery). 3 dogs were treated for transmissible venereal tumours. One little dog was successfully treated for a horrendous abscess on his side, which required daily treatments and care all week. Numerous eye and skin ailments were also treated. One dog had a badly injured paw; two of her toes were amputated. She will be able to get around just fine; left untreated, she might have faced leg amputation or even death.

All the dogs and cats received flea/tick preventative, vaccines if needed and deworming, which should lead to a healthier overall pet population. They also had their nails trimmed and ears cleaned while in recovery. Pet owners received educational information on how to better care for their pets.

15 dogs and 40 puppies were surrendered to the HSGB during the clinic. 8 dogs were euthanized, which were too sick, or too feral or aggressive to potentially rehabilitate or re-home. The rest are at our shelter....The HSGB is pleased to have the support of several rescues and shelters that are willing to help save these puppies while we work very hard to eliminate the surplus through this project....

The total of 269 animals either sterilized or relinquished means that we have (conservatively) prevented at least a thousand unwanted puppies and kittens born in the next six months alone....

Veterinarians for this clinic were chief vet Dr. Robin Brennen of New York City, Dr. Bridget Barry of Ithaca, NY, Dr. Louis Lembo of Columbia, TN, Dr. Deborah Sonnen-Campbell of Boston, MA, and Dr. Kristi Crass of Madison, WI. Technicians/assistants included Gregory Carastro of Amity Harbor, NY, Sloane Smith of Columbia, TN, Stephanie Neufeld of New York City, Amy Brinkman of Stoughtman, WI, Dustin Dennis of Ithaca, NY, Kristin Dennis-Peralta of Rio Rancho, NM, and Martha Kohn of Syosset, NY.

The HSGB is overwhelmed once again at the generosity of these professionals who willingly give up their precious vacation time, and even pay their own way here, to help Grand Bahamas’ animals. The goal is an island with no roaming, diseased, starving dogs and cats and it is attainable with the support of the entire community.

24 January 2007

The first inaugural spay/neuter clinic of the BARC-ANEW (Bahamian Animal Rescue Committee - Animal Neutering Education & Welfare) project was completed last week in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. The project is a joint effort between the Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB) and The Kohn Foundation (TKF).

Thanks to the generosity of Father Cooper and the parishioners of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, their parish hall was transformed into a literal field hospital for the week.... 253 dogs and cats were sterilized, thus preventing thousands more unwanted puppies and kittens from being born in the coming years. Leg amputations were also performed on three dogs, with the consent and gratitude of their owners, none of whom could have afforded the surgery....

Several volunteers visited all of the schools in the Eight Mile Rock settlement during the week and handed out informative fliers and educational materials. As a result the afternoons often saw an influx of interested schoolchildren at the clinic doors, and they were given tours of the clinic and talks on responsible pet ownership and humane treatment of animals.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed the volunteers, who not only paid their own travel expenses and in many cases, took their own vacation time, but donated their expertise. These amazing professionals worked 12-14 hour days tirelessly and cheerfully. Dr. Robin Brennen, from New York, was the head veterinarian for this clinic, and worked very hard over the past four months overseeing the logistical aspects. She was joined by Dr. Leo Egar, Arizona, a Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) veterinarian, Dr. Bridgett Barry, Dr. Heidi Franco, New York, Dr. Kelly Sattman, Ft. Lauderdale, and Dr. Jack Gleason, New Hampshire. Veterinary technicians were Gregory Carastro, New York, Suzanne Rodenhiser, Massachusetts, Judith Blanchette and Michelle Ronayne, New Hampshire, and Liz Yohn, Wisconsin. U.S. volunteer assistants were Debbie Shields, Royal Palm Beach, Leigh Burdett, Jacksonville, Paul Greenhow and Mary Kelly, New York, and Kathryn McDonald, California. Veterinary student Martine Carey of Nassau flew in and spent the entire week assisting.

HSGB staff were assisted all week by wonderful local volunteers who donated their time to help with everything from picking up animals to working the intake table to cleaning kennels. This clinic could not have happened without the generosity of local supporters, HSGB board members, and volunteers who provided housing, extra vehicles, delicious lunches, snacks and beverages.

The Humane Society would like to thank the people of West Grand Bahama for their willingness to participate in this clinic, thus doing their part to reduce our pet over-population problem.