Imagine if the state of Connecticut were overrun with about 200,000 dogs. That is the situation on Puerto Rico, a United States Territory located in the Caribbean. Even though each of Puerto Rico’s 78 cities is required by law to have an animal shelter, there are only five currently open on the island and they are so overwhelmed with animals and working with budgets so small that they are forced to euthanize almost 98% of the animals they receive. Another sad statistic is that there are an estimated 450 pet shops on this tiny island, all of them selling unhealthy and uncertified animals. Most of the puppies purchased from these shops end up in shelters when they become adults. Fortunately these island dogs have hope through Island Dog Inc.
Island Dog was founded in the city of Fajardo in the summer of 2006 by Katie Block. A native of Baltimore, MD, Block came to Puerto Rico back in 1999 to work at the El Conquistador Resort hoping to find a little slice of paradise, which she did. However, she noticed that Puerto Rico was not much of a paradise for the thousands of dogs roaming the beaches. It wasn’t long before she was rescuing dogs from the streets and begging hotel guests to take them home. It was 2002 when she realized that her rent money was being spent on veterinary bills and had to return home to Baltimore, leaving the dogs behind. During this time she finished her Bachelor’s degree and proceeded to travel the world. However, she never forgot about Puerto Rico nor the dogs and eventually made her way back to Fajardo.
As Director of Island Dog, Block oversees this growing organization along with a small group of dedicated volunteers. Their mission is a large one for such a small organization: to create an animal-friendly Puerto Rico. They are accomplishing this goal in a variety of ways. The most important is by offering free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics and other veterinary services because they estimate that less than 10% of the island’s population ever take their animals to see a veterinarian. They feed and medicate homeless dogs who live on the beaches and provide rescue and rehabilitation for abused and adoptable animals. One of their more ambitious projects is to provide the children of Puerto Rico a humane education program to encourage respect for animals and promote good citizenship.
Block has her work cut out of for her. Attitudes towards companion animals in Puerto Rico are vastly different than here in the states.
“In the states we treat our pets like family. We feed them daily, walk them on leashes, bath them, take them to the vets, etc.” Block says. “However, pets here are treated as secondary. Many suffer long illnesses and never see a vet. Others are just dumped on the street or beach when they get sick. Animals are easily thrown away as trash. When they aren’t cute anymore or your just not interested, throw it away…and no one ever looks back.” Block is quick to add that Puerto Ricans are wonderful people rich in culture.
“They are misinformed about the proper treatment of animals. It’s not an intentionally cruel island,” she says. Island Dog currently feeds about 200 beach dogs every day in six different locations with the help of four regular volunteers and two part-time volunteers.
One of the worst areas for dogs is an area nicknamed Dead Dog Beach on the southeast coast of the island near the city of Yabucao. Due to easy access and lack of law enforcement, the beach near Yabucao has become a dumping ground for unwanted and sick dogs and sometimes serves as a training ground for dog fighting. This beach is so notorious it has been featured in Gulf Coast Dog and Animal Sheltering magazines. Island Dog is trying to clean up the reputation of this beach. Sandra Cintron is Island Dogs’ one-woman dog-saving crew helping to make life better for dogs on Dead Dog Beach. Having lived in Yabucao most of her life, she started this mission back in 2001, before Island Dog was even created. She now feeds and gives medicine along with lots of love to the many dogs on this beach. Although Block says she is a bit shy, to Island Dog, Cintron is a hero.
Island Dog is starting to get some notice from the mainland. A former volunteer was featured in People Magazine for his work on Dead Dog Beach. Television show host Ellen DeGeneres happened to see that article and donated $10,000 of her Halo dog food to the shelter. Recording artist Selena Gomez is also a fan. She has recorded a You Tube video promoting the shelter featuring Block and Island Dog volunteer Maggie Sanchez. Last time Gomez was on Ellen they talked about the shelter.
During their short existence, Island Dog has rescued an average of 400 dogs a year and over 1500 dogs and cats have been spayed and neutered. However, there is still much work to do. Tourists are encouraged to visit the shelter and Island Dog is starting a new project that tourists can participate in. Called Project Beach, Island Dog is enlisting volunteers to clean up the beaches on the east coast of Puerto Rico and is slated to begin November 2011. Contact the shelter for more information. For those who would still like to help, but unable to visit the island, donations can be made through Pay Pal or by mailing a check and donations are tax deductible. Visit their Donation Page for more information. Please note that donations are handled by a mainland office in Baltimore, MD, because banking in Puerto Rico is difficult. For those wanting to learn more about Island Dog and keep up with their progress, “Like” their Facebook page for daily updates.
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