Hi to all our friends who are pet people … you all know how much we love dogs (having had dogs most of our 34 years of marriage) and since moving here to Panama we have been trying to help an animal shelter with food plus in our own neighbourhood we are feeding two strays ourselves. One is a male and the other a female and needless to say, we did not want them having pups so we have had both fixed, given them distemper shots and monthly have them in for a flea and tick bath as well as keep their food coming. You should see them now; they come running when they see us. They were very shy and didn't let us touch them, but they do now as they know we love them. Our local vet has helped treating them for tick & skin conditions. On more than one occasion they have both spent more than a week in the vets clinic. Their names are Pastor (male) and Pastorcita (female), both named by the our Vet Dr. Frank meaning Sheppard and Sheppardess. They didn't even know what treats (raw hides) were until we introduced them. There are four others in our community who we bring food to as well.
It’s hard here in Panama for the animals, having to fend for themselves, and keep healthy enough to fight off ticks and fleas. We are involved with a shelter that is being run by a young lawyer called Mari who has such a heart for these strays. She spends all her time and resources trying to meet the shelters needs. When the shelter started Mari helped a few strays but it has ballooned into what it is today. She never envisioned the scope of the need, she just had a big heart. Her parents have recently provided land and a larger area to house the animals.
For more than a year we have contributed financially to Mari and her shelter. Last year we decided to do more by helping to find corporate sponsors and individuals to give. We created a web site to help everyone understand the good work she does and the impact on the lives of the dogs and cats in her care … http://www.theyneedyourlove.org/index.html
The shelter in Arriajan that cares for more than 200 dogs, puppies cats and kittens is in dire financial trouble. With the help of a few close friends that give what they can, Mari funds most of this from her own money . Some months more than $3,000 is needed just to cover the food . In addition to this monthly drain she also uses all her annual Christmas bonus to pay accumulated vet bills. As you can imagine, no, perhaps you cannot...but here in Panama there are needs..distemper shots costing just a mere 2.35 per animal protects them from horrendous pain, as we have seen and had to deal with. Then there are the fleas and ticks...Then there are those who are hit by vehicles and need surgery, it does go on and on.
She can’t do this forever alone, nor can she focus more of her effort reducing the need for the shelter. Funding and finding homes for these animals is is a big challenge. It desperately needs the help of folks with skills in fund raising or even folks with suggestions and ideas that might work here in Panama to raise money. We have been working to obtain some corporate sponsors like Purina. They have not committed to continual support yet, but they have contributed food occasionally. We are still looking for some corporate sponsors that will give food or funds each and every month. Do you know any? Do you know some people in these large firms that have a heart for animals too? In this world we have found that it not just who we know, but those that know of others that can pass this along and let it grow.
We believe that in Panama, an animal shelter is hit harder, because the people who are struggling to feed themselves and their family, can't afford to feed their pets, and those with pets know how much animal food has risen in price in the past few years. They love their pets, but cannot afford to feed them let alone get them spayed or give them the shots they need to survive. Much has been achieved with sterilization programs and Pat Chan from Spay Panama, and those who have set up satellite spay clinics deserve so much praise and blessings for what they are doing, have done, and achieved.
Yet still, puppies, kittens and adult pets are being dumped at the shelter, and rescued from the streets, all the time. At the shelter -- No animal is turned away.
Usually they come injured and need Vet care, and that costs. Or if they are young, they need to be spayed, and that costs. Spay Panama has a wonderful program where they visit areas and for 20.00 will spay a dog and for 10.00 will spay a cat but often this is too much for the family to pay so Spay Panama uses its donations to fund what is not covered.
We gratefully ask you to help us if you can. $15.00 is but what? three or four special coffees a month? For as little as $15 per month you can make a difference. This monthly support will cover most of the costs of a dog or cat in the shelter and every penny goes towards the care of these animals. This past Christmas we held our first party where we asked for donations of food and it was wonderful to see our new friends here bring it in...we will continue to do this.
We know we are asking a lot of you, but we also know that you as our friends are generous and will help if you can...we want you to know that we appreciate whatever you can do. If every one who owns a pet or pets would find it in their heart to help one that has no home ...well I am reminded of this quote:
'NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED, CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED, IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.' MARGARET MEAD
Donna & Tom and our own sweet little dog Cricket
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