Potcake Paradise found in Middle of Crowded Centerville!

 On a street in Nassau,  is a little piece of paradise right smack in the middle of  a bustling neighborhood. Sidney Knowles is the owner of Knowles Upholstering on Madeira Street. Diane Knowles is the owner of Security Forwarding service and is right next door to the Upholstering store. Diane and Sidney have taken it upon themselves to create a safe place for dogs that were roaming the neighborhood. They have created a potcake paradise in a place where there is little tolerance for the homeless potcakes.


The space between their businesses once used for garbage and storage now has a small shade garden and a shelter. It is a safe place to rest while the rest of the world continues around them in chaos and danger.

A shelter that keeps the dogs cool and dry

There are always full water bowls and once a day they bring out food, making sure all the dogs that frequent the space are fed for the day.  Sidney and Diane have created  paradise for the neighborhood  potcakes and the neighborhood is better for their efforts.

There are at least 10 potcakes that frequent this establishment; I had the privilege to meet 7 of them during my visit to this  Potcake paradise. All of the dogs have been named by Diane and Sidney to suit their personalities. The group consists of Big Daddy, Joey, Hot Dog, Uncle Laddy, Sweet Pea, Summer breeze, Sweet Caroline, Mr. Handsome, Mother Hubbard, Huppington and Jim (aka slim Jim). Some of the dogs stay there all day and night; other dogs treat the space as a drop in centre coming by during the day for food, water and rest then go back to their homes at night.

Big Daddy, sporting the scars of a homeless dog
finds refuge from the street

All the dogs have been spayed or neutered, 7 of them through Baark!’s spay and neuter program.  The remaining three dogs were paid for by Diane and Sidney out of pocket.  Sidney and Diane also make sure they receive medical attention should the dogs require it. Hot Dog has just completed her second round of treatment for a venereal tumor. "Big Daddy was responsible for fathering many litters in this neighborhood before we had him neutered,"explained Mr. Knowles. But thanks to a quick procedure, Big Daddy is no longer contributing to the unwanted and homeless population of potcakes roaming the street.

Sweet Pea stretching after a nap at Potcake paradise.

I asked Mr. Knowles about the response of his customers to these dogs. He said it was overwhelmingly positive. 9 out of 10 of the customers loved it and thought it was a fabulous thing he was doing. I can just hear someone giving directions to his store, it is on Madeira, just across from Centerville food store; you know, the place with all the dogs.  I would venture a guess that this beautiful undertaking has helped both businesses as they promote animal welfare.

Sweet Caroline and Summer Breeze eye the water .
These two call Potcake Paradise home.

As I spoke with Sidney and Diane about their little spot of kindness in this world, both of their eyes lit with excitement. It is obvious a passion of theirs to make a difference where ever they are. “If everyone does something, it all adds up to a lot” said Diane as she explain the joy of making a difference for these dogs. Sidney described helping the dogs as self-gratifying, “it just feels good to do something good.” Throughout the interview it was clear that this story was being told not to shine light on the deeds of themselves but instead  to inspire and encourage others to start to make a difference too. Not once was there a hint of "look what I did", in fact both declined being in the pictures, the dogs they explained were the stars of this story.

Joey and Hot Dog are inside.
Hot Dog is recovering from a recent surgery .

As we walked around the space between the two businesses, Diane said “we are doing the best we can, there are just so many that need help- it is overwhelming.”  In agreement Sidney nodded and added “We cannot give them the longest life possible but we can give them a better quality life.” I stood there thinking how easy it would have been for these two people to look the other way and choose not to see the poor condition of the animals. I looked around and realized they choose to do something, anything that made a difference, it was a choice. We too are faced with a choice every day. Do we look the other way or do we find something, anything that we can do to make a difference? Let the story of these two businesses and their wonderful potcake paradise inspire you to choose today to make a difference in the lives of our Bahamian animals.

Uncle Laddy finds the shade under the car delightful.

This month, we at Baark! want to challenge you to make a difference. Create a water station for homeless animals in your neighbourhood, use any container possible and keep it filled with water for the dogs and cats that roam the neighbourhood looking for water. Refill it regularly; animals need a lot of water to survive in the Bahamas.  If you cannot do this, find someone who is doing this and encourage them with donations of food, or buckets that could be used. Together and only together can we make a difference. 

We told our wonderful sponsors Purina about the story and they are donating some  Purina Products to Mr. Knowles!!!! thank you !

Please support Knowles Upholstering for your fabric needs as well as Security Forwarding Services for your freight needs.  Both companies provide excellent service, and isn’t it great to support business’ that give back to the community. 

Knowles Upholstering  

20 Madeira St. Nassau

242-325-5540

Security Forwarding Service

www.bahamasbrokerage.com

242-325-8093

242-323-7221

Baark! Christmas bake sale

Saturday December 10th

11am -3pm

Harbour Bay Shopping Plaza

outside Windermere Spa

Please come and support Baark! and all your cravings for Christmas baking!

Baark! Tervis tumblers creating quite the Buzz!

Baark Tervis Tumblers ! Do you have one yet?

These tumblers are amazing. Not only  can you use them to keep your icy drinks cold or 


your steamy hot drinks hot but people are finding out they are quite the conversation 


piece as well. I have had more conversations with "strangers" than I can count by virtue of


 just holding my Baark! Tervis tumbler in hand. So many people have started a conversation


 with "you  know Baark! I love their work!" or "Ooo you have a Baark! tumbler!! I have one 


too!"Inevitably the conversation turns to the love of animals that we undoubtedly have in 


common. It really is uncanny. 




I know this is a really simple thing in life, but the fun I have had with my tumbler meeting 


new people and talking about Baark! and the wonderful animals they are working to protect


 really makes my day.




I just love how easy it is to create buzz with the simple idea of using a Baark! Tervis 


tumbler. By the very fact that I am holding it in my hand, more and more people are 


exposed to the work of saving and protecting the lives of Bahamian cats and dogs.


I strongly encourage you to join the Buzz about Baark! and order a few Baark! tumblers. 




These Baark! tervis tumblers  make perfect Christmas presents. We have a few left and 


will be shortly placing another order to be here in time for the holidays - place your order 


now to buy one for your friends and family, a gift they'll love and for a great cause too. 

Tervis Tumblers are $20 

Lids $5

Please EMAIL sarah@baarkbahamas.org to place your order

Keep your Animals safe this Halloween and Guy Fawkes Day!

Baark! wanted to share some safety tips for the upcoming Halloween/Guy Fawkes festivities to help keep your animals safe. This was created by the  amazing people at  the Bahamas Humane Society 

Jack-o'-lanterns, trick-or-treaters, haunted houses, costume parties and fireworks. Halloween is full of fun things for you and your family to enjoy, but it's one of those holidays that is enjoyed more by people than by pets. Keep the following precautions in mind when preparing for the frightfully fun festivities and help ensure that everyone in your family—including your pet—has a safe Halloween and Guy Fawkes.

·  Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. You may know that the miniature monsters and goblins that come knocking on Halloween aren't real, but pets don't. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and could become frightened or agitated by the unaccustomed sights and sounds of costumed visitors. In addition, frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all the commotion. Be sure all pets are wearing collars and ID tags in case of an accidental getaway.

·  Place live flame Guy Fawkes and decorations like candles and jack-o'-lanterns out of your pet's reach. Curious critters risk being singed or burned by the flame—they could also easily knock over a candle or pumpkin and cause a fire.

·  Don't let the family dog accompany the kids on their trick-or-treat outing. Children may have a difficult time handling a pet during the festivities and your pooch could get loose, especially if your dog is spooked by the strange sights and sounds of trick-or-treaters. 

·  Keep decorations that pets could chew on—like streamers and fake spider webs—and wires and cords from electric decorations out of reach. If pets chomp on Halloween decorations, they could choke or may become ill and, if they chew on electrical cords, they risk a potentially deadly electrical shock. Pets could also become tangled and injured by dangling cords or decorations.

·  Tranquilizers.  If you know that your pet is very frightened of loud noises, please contact your veterinarian to purchase a sedative to keep the pet calm. This will prevent injuries to the pet and damages to furniture.

·  Report any animal abuse by fireworks, to the nearest Police station or The Bahamas Humane Society

Potcakes take over cable beach!

“Strutt your mutt walkathon” took place today at Goodmans Bay. It was an event put on by Baark! to raise funds and awareness for the plight of our Bahamian Potcakes. First of all, my heartfelt congratulations to those who planned such a well-organized event. It was obvious you put much work into the preparation and executing of this event and it was truly amazing. From what I hear, Baark! raised about $7000 in total! Congratulations to everyone who worked on it and thank you for everything.

Usually in a social gatherings we shake hands and exchange names with a cordial handshake. In this gathering however the social parameters were slightly different, the greetings were initiated by the dogs taking the lead and exchanging friendly sniffs. Only after the dogs were done their meet and greet did the humans shake hands and exchange names. Even then the owners often failed to mention their own names and instead went by the title ascribed to them as a dog owner or walker. I was not Allie today; I was “Snicker’s mom” and darn proud of that title! Today people without names and Potcakes with proud waggy tails formed a head-turning group and took over Cable Beach.

Most of the dogs in attendance were rescues. Some off the street, some out of the pound by Baark! and still others by the kindness of adoption through BHS. There were many tails (and tales) of where each dog came from and how they ended up with their furever family. Some of the Potcakes in attendance today were still awaiting adoption. They had been entered into the event through the kindness of strangers who wanted to help show off the dog’s beautiful personalities to prospective families. I cannot help but think that it was those dogs that enjoyed the event the most; they saw what their future could hold. They got to see dogs, Potcakes like them, previously homeless and sick or destined for death at the pound in a loving family of their own. I would love to think these dogs went back to the BHS or their foster homes with sweet dreams of a future yet to come. (perhaps that future is with you, think about it..these dogs are amazing)

My favorite moment was captured in the picture in this blog. It was just after the walk and we were awaiting the group photo. A few of the dogs sought shelter from the sun by the tent covering the multitude of water bowls. In this group were many differences, puppies and old dogs, adopted and yet to be adopted, dogs of white, brown and black but there was one big common factor, contentment. Their faces say it all, they were contented by a good long walk with people who care, rest in the shade with water at their demand and hope.  Hope in the fact that life can be different even for a Potcake, that is what was found today. Long tongues, panting bellies and stretched out bodies cooling on the grass is evidence that a good day was had by all the Potcakes who took over cable beach for an hour this morning.

Thank you to all who participated, who supported someone doing the walkathon or who is just reading this and wants to join Baark! to help end the suffering of the Bahamian Potcake. All of you make a difference and give hope to our amazing Potcakes!

Baark! and Straybusters make a difference!!!

A day in the life of a straybuster

Baark! and Straybusters are a force to be reckoned with, these two organizations have teamed together to help address the stray and unwanted animal issue in Nassau. Together they are endeavoring to help end the unneeded suffering of our Bahamian animals due to the large numbers of homeless cats and dogs.

Recently I had the privilege to ride along with a straybusting team.  A team of two dedicated and caring women who spend a good deal of their spare time tackling the stray population of Nassau one animal at a time.  This team spares the streets of Nassau many unwanted litters through a spay and neuter program. Baark! is proud to partner with them.

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.

Approaching the day that I have to admit I was nervous, I mean these girls were pros and I was really just an observer ready to help when needed but I had no idea how you approach random people and ask them if they want help with their animal or how to trap a dog that is untrusting of humans.

Our first stop of the day was a known area to the straybusters; they had just been to the area few days ago but were called to return to see to a dog whose stitches had come out prematurely. While we were there a dog was noticed that had previously eluded the traps of two days before, she did not have owners who would claim her but was relatively comfortable around the men who hung out on the property. The trap was once again set but this time the men who lived there helped out by placing the sardines in the trap, as our presence made the dog nervous.  What I was impressed with was the community cooperation; the men really did want to see the dogs in the neighborhood happier and healthier. All of a sudden we had gone from a team of three to a team of seven, all with the interest of the dogs in common.  We left with friendships formed, dogs in hand and the smell of sardines wafting not so gently through our clothes.

The next stop was a few blocks away in more of a residential area where there were owned dogs who were having many litters. This time, under direction from their parents to help it was the children who were assisting us in telling us where we might find certain dogs that needed to be spay or neutered. These children had wonderful questions to ask of us, what were we doing with the dogs?, when will they come back? How does that help? The floods of questions were answered patiently and kindly. The children were reassured that the dogs would be returned after they had a quick operation that would stop them from having more puppies. By the time we were finished capturing the dogs, the children in that neighborhood knew a great deal more about animal welfare and were even exciting to help support our cause by telling others. We left with more dogs (and a cat) and clothes sticking to our backs from sweat, all still smiling!

 The drama of that day was went a young, determined female dog decided to lodge herself under a shed to avoid our trap, this is where the dirt and sweat comes in to play.  The straybusters were on their stomachs in the dirt trying to coax this dog out, the dog was eventually captured and transported safely to the vet to be spayed the clothing of the straybusters however might not have made it through the laundry without stains. All for a good cause they both said as their faces shone with satisfaction.

One more thing I want to report. Once the dog is spayed or neutered they receive a purple collar which helps the straybusters determine which dog has already been done. The purple collar also helps raise awareness, kind a marketing ploy for the dog advocates. The purple collar says, Baark! and Straybusters have been here!  So next time you see a dog with a purple collar; please know Baark! in partnership with Straybusters has made a difference not only for that dog but for the dog’s whole neighborhood.

So what is needed from you? A generous donor had recently given Baark! enough funds to purchase a vehicle to assist in the spay and neuter endeavor.  Baark! needs funds to keep the vehicle gassed up and ready to roll.  We need donors to support the cost of the spaying and neutering process. We need alliances in neighborhoods, alliances that care for strays by providing food and water for them.  Alliances that can report abuse or neglect cases to us that can be investigated.  Foster homes are needed for the abused and neglected animals that are found, animals that without the love and care of a home would die thinking only knowing the ache of an empty stomach, the pain of an untreated injury or illness. Baark! and Straybusters need your help, however small or larger you can give, whether time or money, we need your help curb the population of unwanted and uncared for animals on the streets of Nassau.

 Want to help??  Follow this link to Baark!’s website

Strut your Mutt!!!

Date: Saturday October 1 2011
Time: 8.00 am registration opens to start walk at 9am
Location: Goodman's Bay - walk on Cable Beach - and back to Goodman’s Bay, about 30-45 min walk

What you need to do?
- Get your pledge form email info@baarkbahamas.org
- Get your friends and family to pledge donations to you for being a good samaritan for participating and raise lots of money for a good cause
- If you don’t have your own dog or extra family members who would like to participate and you'd like to walk a BHS Adoption dog let us know via email and meet at the BHS at 8am on the day of the walk.
- On October 1st bring the whole family down to Goodman’s Bay between 8 and 830am with your sponsor money AND your dog and go for a lovely morning stroll (please have your dog on a leash, please only bring your dog if they get along well with other dogs, and please bring a few plastic bags to clean up after your pet should nature call)
- Register for the event - $10.00
- Walk with the pack to raise awareness for World Animal Day!
- Win fun prizes at the end of the walk!
- Every dog will receive a prize at the end of the walk!
- Refreshments will be available at the start and finish point for purchase.

The person who raises the most money from their pledges will win a brand new flat screen plasma TV donated by THINK SIMPLE!!! You must be bring all your sponsor money and be present at the walk to win this fantastic prize.

Our goal is to raise $10,000! If we can get 100 participants and each participant can raise $100 from friends and family we will meet our goal!!!

So lets team up to raise money, spay and neuter and save lives and prevent unnecessary deaths at the pound.

We will be having awesome tshirts ordered please read the attached entry form for details so you can get yours!

A big thank you to the sponsors that have already come on board:
Graham Real Estate, Cole Insurance Agency, KPMG, Purina, Think Simple and Adworks.

You do not have to walk a dog to participate in the event.
Email info@baarkbahamas.org with any questions.
Come out and Parade Your Potcake - See you there!