Wednesday 21 August 2013

Baark! On Baark Needs you!


 
 
Baark Needs you!

 

Most of us appreciate the look of a sweet potcake puppy, the sound of a happy cat purring or the feel of a grateful rescued dog leaning into the palm of your hand for a pet, but is this enjoyment enough to make a difference?  Baark! works hard year round with spay and neutering campaigns. We are a very active force for good in our beloved Bahamas and we are making a difference. But we still need your help. We are run by a team of volunteers, who are motivated and energetic about seeing this through but we can always use more help.  This letter is not a plea for funds, although we will never turn away donations of any size! This letter is to get you to think how you might be useful in helping our Bahamas become a more humane place for the animals that live here.

We need people with a conscious, in all our neighborhoods to be willing to stand up and speak out on behalf on the animals that cannot do it for themselves. To report the abuse and neglect of animals, to educate those around you about proper animal care, and suggest the spay or neutering of the animals.

We need people with extra water bowls to provide for the homeless animals everyday with fresh water and food. We need people with yard space to help provide shelters for the animals or a compassionate home to foster the special cases we come across during our stray busting days.

We need educators, leaders and parents to be the example for the future generation of Bahamians. To show how to respect all living creatures and provide kindness and care for the ones who cannot help themselves. Be the person you want your kids to be, start now.

Baark! needs your help, however small or large you can give, whether time, talent or money, we need your help curb the population of unwanted and uncared for animals on the streets of Nassau.

We need you, end of story. Please consider helping in any way you can. Bahamas will be a better place for it

 

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 (427-SPAY)

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Baark!On. Misguided reasons for adopting a pet #2


 
 
All the wrong reasons: a series of common misguided reasons why people want a pet.

 

So you are thinking about welcoming a pet into your home! Congratulations. We want your adoption to go as smoothly as possible so we have created a series over the next few weeks based on some of the wrong reasons why people adopt a pet. We are not trying to discourage you; we would love every home to have a pet that is loved, respected and part of a family. The purpose of this series is simply to get you to stop and think seriously before you make a decision. Why does Baark! care? We constantly come across discarded, neglected and homeless animals that began their life as pets. It breaks our hearts and goes against our mandate of creating a more humane Bahamas.

 
Misguided Reason Number Two.
 
Getting a dog will help me find someone to date.


Wrong!! Give your head a shake. Dog or cats are not decorations, they are living beings with real needs. To be toted or paraded around while you hope to catch that someone specials eye forces them into the role of an accessory and gives them none of the respect they deserve.

 

We have to be honest, we are biased but firmly believe that humans who love and respect their animals make the best catches. BUT this has to come naturally and not because you want to establish certain look. Learning to love a pet does not come from the pet store it comes from learning the ins and outs of daily caring for your animals. That is the kind of love that makes a person more attractive to others, not the store bought, diamond encrusted collared, dog you just keep in your purse. 

Ladies, there is no way using an animal will help you look better, chances are you shine beautifully without accessories, be yourself, find someone who loves you just because you are not because of what you own.

 

Now, men. Do you really believe that the supersized pittie or rottie you walk around with gives you a look that women go gaga over? And why must you always have such tough names for them like killer or rage? Watching you parade your almost out of control, unfixed massive dog through your park or neighbourhood drives us crazy..and not with desire. You look ridiculous and are obviously compensating for what you feel you lack on your own. Let us let you in on a real secret, ladies like real men, who have weakness and can admit them. We like genuine conversations about real topics, but we cannot have one if you are always trying to look like you are controlling some “beast” of a dog. Forgo getting a big dog for the ladies, be yourself, be real and see what happens.

 

 

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 find us on the web at www.baarkbahamas.com or call us (427-SPAY)

 

 

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Baark!On. Misguided reasons for adopting a pet #1




All the wrong reasons: a series of common misguided reasons why people want a pet.

 

So you are thinking about welcoming a pet into your home! Congratulations. We want your adoption to go as smoothly as possible so we have created a series over the next few weeks based on some of the misguided reasons why people adopt a pet. We are not trying to discourage you; we would love every home to have a pet that is loved, respected and part of a family. The purpose of this series is simply to get you to stop and think seriously before you make a decision. Why does Baark! care? We constantly come across discarded, neglected and homeless animals that began their life as pets. It breaks our hearts and goes against our mandate of creating a more humane Bahamas.

 

Misguided Reason Number One

 
My kids will not stop asking for a pet.. I give in.

 

Let’s be honest, put your hand up right now if you know of a family who got a pet for their child because they promised to take care of it and now the parents of the family are the primary care giver of that animal? I would guess about 100% of you just put up your hands. This is what happens, you get the dog on the promise that your child will tend to its every need, then their interest in the dog fizzles as soon as the care for it becomes a chore. But the story does not end her, who do you think will be caring for the dog now that the child is no longer interested and no longer following through with its care?  You. That is right, you.

If this happens you have two not so great scenarios. The first being you stick to the prearranged consequence and remove the animal from the house, believing and rightly so that this will teach the child a lesson. You feel proud for following through on your prearranged consequence, but in reality it is the animal in this scenario that is the most punished, first it is not fair that a life can be used as a teaching lesson, second it is not the animal who failed, it was the people, but it is the animal that suffers the most.

The second scenario, you (the adult) are stuck taking care of an animal you never really wanted, and become bitter and resentful therefore not doing your best for the animal. Once again, it is the animal that pays the highest price, often of neglect or indifference. The animal was clear, it came with basic needs that it cannot do for itself; there really should have been no surprise with this one.

Bottom line in this misguided reason: If your kids want and animal please make sure you want one too. Getting any type of pet is NOT a way to teach your child responsibilities.  The pet suffers, and your child fails to learn a lesson.  It is your parenting skills that will teach your child by modeling how to be responsible. If you do consider bringing home a pet, be realistic with the delegation the work load and the responsibility required of the various people in your family. Make it a family decision, not just one that a child makes for you.

 

 

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 find us on the web at www.baarkbahamas.com or call us (427-SPAY)