ANIMAL WELFARE IN TOBAGO

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

IN OCTOBER WE HOLIDAYED AT TURTLE BEACH HOTEL NEAR PLYMOUTH AND BECAME ENVOLVED IN THE TOBAGO ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUE, BECAUSE OF 3 ADORABLE STRAY PUPPIES WE BEFRIENDED ON THE BEACH.

THEY WERE "CRATED OFF " BY THE HOTEL TO THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (TTSPCA), BECAUSE GUESTS COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM BARKING AT NIGHT. WE VISITED THEM AT THE SHELTER WHICH STRUGGLES AGAINST CONSIDERABLE ODDS, TO HELP THE UNCARED FOR AND UNWANTED ANIMALS ROAMING THE STREETS OF TOBAGO.

CONCERNED DOG LOVERS CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THESE PUPPIES AND HELP ISLAND STRAYS IN GENERAL BY LOGGING ONTO OUR BLOG: my.opera.com/blackpatch/blog and check ... TOBAGO[/u][img][/img]

[David Watkins]

No need to shout!

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

No need to shout!

PLEASE EXPLAIN "NO NEED TO SHOUT", WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR MEANING IS?

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Kirk & Alex

Typing text in upper case letters is considered to be shouting in netiquette. Similarly, entering text in bold face and/or in sizes larger than normal is also the equivalent of shouting at your readers. They should only be used for emphasis of short sections, or you could give the wrong impression to readers and simply get 'flamed' (angry retorts) rather than eliciting their support.

Just compare your posts on this page with others written normally throughout the forum. I'm sure you will see the difference.

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Kirk & Alex

Please excuse my brevity - I am in the middle of a major upgrade to this forum and transfer to a new server, so can't really give your post the response it deserves at this moment.

All I can tell you is that animal welfare in Tobago has my 100% support - so much so that I actually provide the TTSPCA with their website and free hosting.

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

Hello Kirk & Alex

Typing text in upper case letters is considered to be shouting in netiquette. Similarly, entering text in bold face and/or in sizes larger than normal is also the equivalent of shouting at your readers. They should only be used for emphasis of short sections, or you could give the wrong impression to readers and simply get 'flamed' (angry retorts) rather than eliciting their support.

Just compare your posts on this page with others written normally throughout the forum. I'm sure you will see the difference.

Thanks for putting us newbies straight. By the by, do you have any interest in our comments on animal welfare i Tobago.

Tank you for your swift response. When you have time can you assist us as follows: 1. Could you transfer our comment on Animal Welfare to the appropriate Forum and let us know where it has ended up?
2. can you inform us who is the writer of the article Tobago stray animals in odds and sods - the date is published and contact details. Or was the article written by you?
3. in one of the write ups a lady by the name of Phillips was mentioned as being in charge - we were under the impression the Manager was Lesly Nurse.
We would appreciate your comments on the contents of our blog: my.opera.com/blackpatch/blog under the heading of Tobago animal welfare

[Jenny]

Your puppies are much better off at the shelter, have no fear that they will be well taken care of. I am a regular visitor to a village on Tobago and a huge animal lover. I have seen dogs hit with stones, hit by cars on purpose, cut with cuttllasses, posioned(one died in my arms), kicked, beaten, shot with slingshots..... The village I stay at does not sell dog food. There is no such thing as spay/neuter or shots or worming or flea/ tick control. When I come, I do my best, bringing flea collars, food, medicine and I did have 3 dogs fixed but 2 of them were later killed. I hang with a few dog lovers and together, we try to help the dogs and educate the locals that tourists do not want to see such cruelty. From what I have heard, the Tobago shelter is a good place and I always donate. Tourists have also taken dogs home but it is a complicated venture. My next visit, I hope to try to get dog food stocked at the local market. My heart goes out to the creatures on the island and my prayers every day to my 3 "kids" I will not see again till Jan 2008! I hope they stay alive. BLESS JENNY AKA PAW PRINT

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

[Hi Jenny, aka Paw Print. We were delighted to recieve your recent response to our posting: ANIMAL WELFARE IN TOBAGO. We need all the support we can get for our campaign as will be seen by anyone wishing to click this link: http://my.opera.com/blackpatch/blog/htt ... ml-1338158

You may be interested to know we did find a minimart at Black Rock that stocks animal food - in particular large bags of puppy food, which we purchased for Faith, Hope and Charity, our special puppies. Also, is Paw Print your nickname, or is it another organisation that we should know about?

The problem on the Island is really one for the Tobago Government and if they really want to change the attitude of animal cruelty on the Island, re-education and a new ethos would need to be introduced at all levels - from the children, to the families - with the support of the Media, Schools and Commerce. In particular Hotels, who benefit most financially from those Tourists who claim to be horrified by the situation. We suspect in reality most tourists put it all on the backburner when they return home. We are writing currently to Gov. official, councillor Hilton Sandy and head of Tourism, Councillor, the Honourable Neil Wilson, to obtain their views and plans to improve the situation and will post our letter and their replies, on the my Tobago website and on our personel blog: http://my.opera.com/blackpatch/blog/htt ... ml-1338158
Watch this space and thank you again for your support. Best wishes, Kirk & Alex

[TTSPCA]

hi Kirk & Alex,

I went in to your blog site and commented on your topic. We, at the Animal Shelter in Tobago, Pamela Phillips - Chairman, Lesly Nurse - Manager and myself -Secretary as well as the rest of the Committee appreciate the campaign for our strays animals you have posted on the site. Faith, Hope and Charity are still at the Shelter. Unfortunately, not many of our dogs are being adopted in Tobago. I took note of your comments re the Manager of Turtle Beach and his offers to help us. He did visit the Shelter Manager and she will follow up, especially with his offer to allow us to hold a fund raising event at the hotel. This is one of the ways we raise funds. You can contact us at our email address: [email protected]
Mary Soodeen, Secretary

[TTSPCA]

Jenny,

I have noted your reply re the Strays in Tobago. Thank you for caring. We at the Animal Shelter do as much as we can and we do try to vaccinate puppies when they come to us. We are presently building a new cattery and puppy enclosure which will give the puppies much more freedom. We are not supported by Government so our problem is fund raising so we appreciate any donations. Our email address is : [email protected]. We are also trying to organise an education package, starting with the schools so if anyone can send us literature etc. we would appreciate that also.
Mary Soodeen, Secretary, TTSPCA tobago branch

[TTSPCA]

Kirk & Alex,

Steve passed on your comments to me, he would not like you to think he is ignoring your mail, especially on a topic close to his heart, but he is presently upgrading the website which is taking up all of his time.
Mary Soodeen, TTSPCA tobago branch

[Kirk & Alex Dickenson]

I am very pleased to report that our article to the Tobago News about the 3 puppies and animal welfare on the Island was published on Friday, 2nd November. It can be seen on our website at:
http://my.opera.com/blackpatch/blog and look at the article: Animal Welfare in Tobago.