Baark! On: Thoughts of a Young Baark! Volunteer

Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness

Thoughts of a Young Baark! Volunteer

We are thrilled to have as a guest columnist today Anya, a young lady who has a big heart for Potcakes and cats. Anya was required in school to do a project about a charity. We are thrilled that Anya has chosen Baark! and even  more thrilled that she let us use her writing for our column this week.

Baark helps the dogs by taking them from the streets with the owner’s permission then spaying and neutering them. They also rescue animals from the pound before they are euthanized, which happens every Friday to the dogs in the pound. But lately Baark has not been able to rescue any dogs from the pound because there is no room at the Bahamas Humane Society. This is why Baark’s main goal is their spay and neutering programs.  Some volunteers from Baark have helped with “operation potcake” which happened in January 2013 and was able to spay and neuter many of the dogs in Nassau. I heard the number of animals helped that week was over 2000! Baark also has walks where volunteers walk the dogs from the Humane Society. The dog walks take place on Sunday afternoons at 3:30 pm from the Humane Society, and are really fun. The dog walks help keep the dogs healthy and get them used to people and hopefully get them ready to be adopted into a new loving home.

 I am proud to be a Baark volunteer and even though I am only 10 I am glad I can make a difference. I help Baark by helping walk the dogs at the humane society and I try to go to as many Sunday walks as I can. I also helped out with the refreshment stand at the Strut your mutt in October. Also when Baark has their Baark sales I make sure my mom bakes things for donations to sell and I love buying their goodies. Our next bake sale is Saturday February 9^th. Baark! has two locations for the bake sale;  Super Value Cable Beach and Windermere spa Harbour bay the hours are 11-3 pm. Please come out and support your taste buds and the awesome work Baark is doing in your communities!

Won’t you consider helping Baark! too, I am sure you can make a difference and I know you will love the feeling when you do.

Sincerely

Anya- age 10

Please spay and neuter your animals, this simple procedure saves lives and decreases the suffering of unwanted animals.

This column is proudly brought to you by BAARK! the Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness.

For more information contact us at info@baarkbahamas.org, (558-3039) or visit our website www.baarkbahamas.com

Baark! On : What to do with Mixed Messages?

Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness

Dear Baark!

I heard it was better for female dogs to go through one litter before spaying them? Can you comment? It just seems so backward to make the dog have a litter of puppies so she can have a surgery to avoid having further puppies?

Signed; Mixed messages

Dear Mixed Messages

We at Baark! love this question! This is a common belief here in the Bahamas. In reality all the medical evidence suggests a dog should be spayed before her first heat. The surgery is much easier to perform before she matures to have your female dog spayed before she sexually matures mean you will eliminate any chance that she will go into heat. When a female dog goes into heat she will seek out a male dog to try to mate. This is just natural behavior and cannot be changed. So yes, it is best to get your dog spayed before she matures; the simple procedure protects her from the dangers of mating, pregnancy and delivery all of which impact the health of a dog.

Also consider the math. If your dog has a litter of puppies you will have to find a home for each puppy reducing the number of dogs adopted from the shelters. The number of homeless and unwanted dogs and puppies here in the Bahamas is enormous; please do not add to the already overpopulated population.

A dog is usually sexually mature by 6 months of age; therefore it is recommended you get them “fixed” by about 4 months. Consulting with a good veterinarian on this is also something that we at Baark! highly recommend. They can advise you more clearly as to the perfect time to get your dog spayed or neutered.

Thanks for asking!

Baark!

Please spay and neuter your animals, this simple procedure saves lives and decreases the suffering of unwanted animals.

This column is proudly brought to you by BAARK! the Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness.

For more information contact us at info@baarkbahamas.org, (558-3039) or visit our website www.baarkbahamas.com

Baark! On: Operation Potcake, it's on!

Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness

Operation Potcake is underway!

You will notice a lot of happenings this week around your communities. Operation Potcake is underway! Operation Potcake is a ten-day intensive spay and neuter campaign to be held on New Providence Island from January 10th, 2013 to January 21st, 2013. The goal is to sterilize 2,000 animals over the ten days.
The Five-Year Initiative will continue to follow up from this campaign, with all the island vets working together to continue spaying and neutering.
For more information Operation Potcake, please email potcake2013@gmail.com or see Animal Balance's website at www.animalbalance.net.

We often receive thank you letters as an expression of gratitude for what we have done. This one is from a potcake, we are sure you it will touch your heart.

Dear Baark!

I want to thank you for the quick surgery you did for me. I understand that this surgery will save me from having any other litters. I have loved all my puppies but the toll it has taken on my body is enormous and I could not fathom having another litter without serious consequences on my health and that of my puppies. Thank you to the wonderful team of caring and kind people at Baark! for giving myself a new “leash” on life.

I understand that over the next two weeks “Operation Potcake” is taking place here in the Bahamas. Baark and lot of other amazing people are here in Nassau to help a lot of dogs and cats like myself. Thank you! I will spread the word on the street so my potcake friends can come to receive your much needed services! You are amazing.

Sincerely,

Fredina Barker

Please spay and neuter your animals, this simple procedure saves lives and decreases the suffering of unwanted animals.

This column is proudly brought to you by BAARK! the Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness.

For more information contact us at info@baarkbahamas.org, (558-3039) or visit our website www.baarkbahamas.com

Baark! On...What is straybusting?

Straybusting is a verb: to go into communities, collect or trap roaming dogs or cats whose owners are unable to take them or never take them in, to the vet and then return them spayed and neutered.

The process of straybusting not a simple one, it involves dirt, sweat and lots of sardines. A humane trap is set and the animal is lured to the trap by the tantalizing smell of sardines.  Once inside, the trap closes and the straybusters move the dog and the trap to the waiting vehicle and then transported to the “waiting area” of the veterinarians office where they will be spayed or neutered. The next day the dogs are released back to the neighborhoods with instructions to the owners or caregiver so that if they have further concerns they can call for help.

We at Baark! are thrilled to tell you that last year we were able to complete  600 free spay and neuters. This is all done  thanks primarily to generous donations we receive on your behalf. Next time you see a Baark! donation box or support a Baark! event please know Baark! has made a difference not only for dogs but for the dog’s whole neighborhood. Please continue to support Baark! in whatever way you can.

Please spay and neuter your animals.

By ensuring your animal cannot produce more litters you are saving lives and decreasing the suffering of unwanted animals.  Please consider donating or helping with Baark!’s efforts to improve animal welfare in the Bahamas. For more information contact us at info@baarkbahamas.org or (558-3039)