stray dogs on Turtle beach

[Anna M]

I have just returned from 2 weeks at the Rex turtle beach hotel. I spent a lot of time walking on turtle beach at night looking for nesting leatherback turtles. Most of my night time walks i was joined by 4 stray dogs that live on Turtle beach by the Rex Hotel. They were very friendly dogs that seemed to love human company even though they were unloved strays If you spend any time on Turtle beach, please be kind to these dogs. They are not mad, rabid dogs. One is an unspayed bitch with pups. She looks as if she has had many litters... Another is a big, adorable gentle dog who looks like Scoopy Doo. I came close to bringing them home to England...Tobago has 1 animal shelter that takes in stray cats and dogs but it is over flowing with unwanted animals. Tobago must do more to neuter its cats and dogs. Hungry dogs on beaches are also a threat to nesting turtles.
If you see these dogs on Turtle beach, please let me know how they are doing.

[Jane H]

Hi Anna

When we stayed at Grafton beach (Stonehaven Bay) 3 years ago, there were quite a few stray dogs there too. They used to like to come and sleep under the sun loungers - and were very grateful for any titbits that came their way, without being threatening.

At least one of these was a bitch with quite well grown pups. Its something we've seen in so many places - and, I guess, many countries don't have the animal protection laws and controls that we do. I do agree that a neutering programme would help, both in Tobago and elsewhere. It's another thing persuading the authorities to do something about the problem. They often don't see this as any kind of priority.

Jane

[Lou W]

The dogs on the beach look stray but most of them arn't. The are harmless dogs and the worst you'll get off them is a flea bite. Some of the dogs are around cause their owners are there. We got to know a lot of the dogs and their personalities. There is one that looks like the colour of horlicks so thats what we named her and she answers to it everytime. Blood, the big black one, looks scary but his owner works at the turtle beach and he's pretty soft.

The sad thing about the dogs is they get poisoned. At the end of the rex compound there is a gate. Some sardines had been left there with some poison on, one of the dogs licked the sardine. Ja Rule spotted the dog fretting but unfortunatly it was too late for him. My last moments of tobago were sat with a dog that lay fitting and fighting till his last breath. I know they are classed as vermin and strays but they should not be killed. There are responsible dog owners on that beach and they are gettin the females spade. Most of the dogs leave at night with their owners and only come back if someone is going down that way to the beach.

One thing i do have to say though is this year the dogs didn't seem to go near the turtle nests, unlike last year. And if they are near them or they come near you and you dont want them there, say "GO" quite forcefully (but dont shout) and they will move. They are well trained dogs. If saying go doesn't work, call security, they soon run!!

[Anne Sykes]

The dogs on the RTB are just adorable.

We were there in May this year and my husband Chris (being a keen fisherman) would walk to the jetty with his rods most days and those cutie little dogs regularly trotted along with him, stayed with him while he fished and then trotted back with him at the end of the afternoon!!! They were all very well behaved.

We'd often get up in the morning to find both the tan and the dark tan one asleep under the sunbed I had pulled onto the patio, they would stretch and yawn and come to say hello!

Late one afternoon Chris had some biscuits with him. We went down to the beach and three of the dogs came bounding over. They sat patiently one by one waiting to have a mouthful of biscuit - no fighting or scrapping, just gentle, patient waiting. It was like Chris was leading an orchestra - a bit for you, a bit for you and a bit for you. Very funny!!!

I'm not sure if one the local chaps was a bit mean to these dogs. I'd heard that somebody had been throwing coconuts at them and the day that we fed them biscuits, the dark tan one went barking mad as a local walked by. She didn't go for him, she stayed with us, but boy did she make a howl!!!

Don't be mean to the dogs. They love people, company and a bit of fuss. Security do move them on if they wander in around the pool area, which is right, but we never saw any doggie doos on the beach. The dark tan one did have a bit of a scab on her back which worried her, but other than that, they are lovely things!!

I'm sorry to read that you had a distressing time with one of them Lou. Was the poison put down specifically for the dogs? That stinks... (might have been the coconut throwing local!!! hope not...)

If you do see the dogs and feed them titbits, be careful not to be seen, as you don't want the staff to think you are encouraging them, although I'm sure that people do give them scraps most days. If they do get titbits these dogs don't beg so clearly don't take it for granted or expect it and they won't pester you.

[Lou W]

The poison was put down for some thing else but the dog's eat the fish when out fishing with the locals so it probably thought it was harmless. I'm on the phone twice a day now to make sure they are all ok (sad i know, and i dont even like dogs) two of my friends will now not let their dogs on the beach at all because of what happened. It's the dogs that have suffered because of one ignorant person.

[Anna M]

Good to know i wasn't the only one who fell for the dogs on turtle beach.
Lou, i would love to know how they are doing if you get any up to date news from Tobago. I particularly got fond of a big tan male dog with pointed ears and no collar.
Was it a male or a female dog that got poisoned? That must have been so disturbing for you to witness. Is there anything we can do to help them from the uk? i also noticed that the dogs barked at one local like they hated him.

[Lou W]

I've actually just phoned out there now and they all seem to be fine.

The dog that was poisoned was a tan male with a red collar so we knew he belonged to someone, but he was my daughters playmate. Luckily she didn't see any of it. It was upsettin, to all that were there. Even Scouty from the RTB watersports was cut up by it.

Nothin much can be done from this end, think when i go back out i might take some bits out for the dogs (program, wormer etc) and see if i can help that way. The only way this doesn't happen anymore is if people are more vigilant around the place and have a bit more respect.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi All

Have you read my article on Stray Animals (available through the Miscellaneous/Health & Safety menu at the top of each page)?

I totally understand how you feel. The best way you can help is to provide donations to the Tobago SPCA. They are a really lovely bunch of people are doing really wonderful work for Tobago's strays, with sod-all resources. Sadly they do not have credit card payment facilities for donations, so its difficult to do from across the pond.

Anna you mentioned about the dogs not liking one local. I had a similar experience on Grafton beach last year. About once a day a scruffy heavy-set guy with a really nasty look would walk down the beach. All the dogs would jump up and start howling and barking. We were looking after a puppy (see below) at the time, and one of the other locals told us to hide the puppy or this guy would kill it. Given the reaction of all the dogs, it was pretty obvious that there was some substance to the allegation.

And here is Tiny Tim who was the sole survivor of a litter of four or five.

[Lou W]

Just thought i would give a quick update about the dogs at the RTB. One of them, a black and tan female gave birth to a litter of 6 girls and 2 boys on the 15th of July.

Lou W

[Lou W]

Hi,
I spoke to my boyfriend last night and he told me that someone has stolen all the puppies. If anyone from tobago reads this, especially from round the Plymouth area, please can you help find them. They are 10 days old. They wont survive and there mum is distraught. One of the puppies was gonna be mine as they we born on my birthday. Please help find them.

I know dogs are hated by some people but please have a heart

Louise

[Lily Mel]

Steve, did you bring the puppy to the Tobago SPCA?
Is there room for more dogs and cats?

lily

[Steve Wooler]

No, we didn't, Lily.

The problem is that you can never be sure whether the dogs are strays or not. A lot of them belong to fishermen. The dogs hang out on the beach during the day while the fishermen are out at sea. If you take a dog that belongs to someone, you are technically guilt of theft. Obviously if the dog was in clear need of medical attention, I guess you would be fairly safe from prosecution.

Like refuges everywhere, the Tobago SPCA is normally fairly full but they always seem to find room for one more.

[Tracey Harrison]

It seems no matter where we go there is always going to be an animal welfare issue of somekind. I can't bring myself to go near Greece because of the stray cat problem - it's all just heart breaking.

In connection with helping the Tobago SPCA - is there any provision to be able to donate left over holiday money? I'd love to be able to help in some way and always end up with change left over that gets left sitting at the bottom of a drawer - or spent on useless coco balls at the airport (still not used them 2 years on!).

[Steve Wooler]

That would be a brilliant way that everyone could help, Tracey, but as far as I'm aware there's no mechanism in place that could make it possible.

It would be wonderful if they could provide boxes at all the major hotels and airport. I have no contacts at the Tobago SPCA, but if anyone on the island reads this and does, please suggest to them that they might like to respond here and let us know how visitors can help.

[Wanda]

Hi
There is a collection box (in the shape of a dog would you belive!!) in the departure lounge at Crown Point airport where i always deposit all my unused change and $1and $5 bills. Think it is for the SPCA but not sure. Also there is a box at the tills at Morsehead supermarket into which i put my change after shopping. Every little helps.
Wanda

[Cornelia Montgomery]

Hi, Wanda,
I've seen both of those containers. The airport one is about knee-high, so some people might not see it, depending on where they are sitting.Once, when we had locked ourselves out of a rental car at Moreheads and were just sitting around waiting to be saved, we got to talking with an American woman ex-pat who's lived in Tobago for several years. She assured us that the money donated went to the animal shelter, so I started leaving more. She is very active in the animal effort.

[Lou W]

There is also a collection box in the recpetion of the Rex. It's not on display as a lot of the time security stand in front of it but there is one there.

Still no sign of the puppies, we are now fearing them dead.

[Alexa O]

Steve mentioned earlier it was hard to make donations from across the pond as they have no credit card facilities, but wanted to remind everyone that it is quite easy as cheques drawn on foreign bank a/c can be cashed without charge.

You can check out the ttspca website at http://www.ttspca.org (Steve has menitoned this in his posting on another forum) - Bertrand is a good contact and can help you with any questions you may have about making donations.

[Anna M]

When i visited the Rex turtle beach hotel a few months ago, there was a large dog shaped collection box by the main entrance doors.

[James Blackshaw]

Anna,
So glad you were kind to the dogs. We did rescue two dogs Mummy dog and Sunday named after the Sunday School party, where they first found us. Mummy had the one pup at foot and four new litter pups.

They were in a desperate state, but gentle and kind. What's more Mummy although sick and emaciated was still doing everything she could for her offspring. We just felt they deserved a chance.

We took them to the TSPCA shelter, where the wonderful Mrs Phillips and the caring hard working staff, looked after them. We visited them every day and took them treats. We gave the TSPCA a donation to cover costs of nursing them back to health. Mummy had a broken leg, heart worm, mange to name just a few things. The TSPCA did the most wonderful job.

In July last year we were able to get Mummy and Sunday flown to England. Their ordeal was not over as they had to then spend six months in quarantine in Newbury. We were however able to visit them regularly. They had not forgotten us and the excitement when we first saw them again was a joy.
They were released in January and our 'Tobagonian Terriers' are the happiest little dogs you could imagine. We know from the look on their faces how grateful they are.
Mrs Phillips of the TSPCA spent two years going round all the schools on Tobago educating the children in the care of animals. Problem is encouraging the locals to spay the bitches and neuter the dogs. They are not great on the neutering bit, but it needs to be done.

You are absolutely right that the dogs themselves are extremely friendly and gentle, and given normal precautions and health aspects involving any animals I fully support your request that others feed and look after the dogs. You are also right that the shelter is heaving with poor animals and any support for them would be great.

Tobago at present is not part of the British pets scheme where the quarantine can be done locally, even though there is no rabies on Tobago. Flying animals home is a costly business, but the end result is so rewarding. We were also lucky that we were able through the help of other kind friends to make a donation to help cover the flights and care. Some Germans we met had also rescued a couple of dogs from the Island shared the view that they all have the most wonderful nature and gentle mouths.
Please do feel free to contact me should you decide on a bring home a stray and you want some assistance.
Well done you for wanting to help
regards
James