Charity racks up unsustainable bills for rescued dogs
(CNS): One Dog at A Time, a local animal charity, is planning a number of fundraising events over the holiday season to cover the costs of the huge amount of dogs and puppies they have rescued recently. ODAT Vice President Caroline Johnston explained that the charity needs donations of food and puppy pads as well as cash to cover bills and homes for the animals.
“We have been inundated with dogs and pups,” Johnston said in a news circular. “At the moment we have 65 furry bundles all seeking their forever homes, from pups of around eight weeks old to adults up to nearly 11 years old, and we are always looking for foster homes.
The charity provides everything temporary carers will need to look after the animals but the bills are racking up. With so many dogs needing care, the vets’ bills are now around $11,000 per month, which Johnston said is unsustainable for a volunteer-based rescue organisation.
“We’ve had to organise even more fundraisers in order to ensure that all our rescues are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and are healthy,” she said. “Unfortunately money doesn’t grow on trees but if there are any individuals or companies who can make a regular donation to us, that would be amazing.”
The lineup of around a dozen events between this weekend and the New Year is as follows:
Saturday, 12 November, 1pm-5pm, Vine and Tap Puppy Roadshow (Printer Way): Meet some of the pups and adults and have lots of cuddles from One Dog at a Time, enter the Christmas Raffle at just $5 per entry, purchase some great Christmas decorations from the One Dog pop up shop and find out how you can support One Dog at a Time.
Sunday, 13 November, 7am-10am, Plant Sale, Mercury Crescent: If your garden is looking a little empty, why not restock your borders and beds with a selection of plants and herbs from Heather’s yard? There will be food to purchase from the BBQ and puppies available for cuddles.
Saturday, 19 November, 6:30am-9am, TRUNK SALE! Kensington Building: Come and sell all your unwanted items before the Christmas festivities begin. To be held at Kensington Building off Dr Roy’s Drive. $25 per car. Email schmeccles@hotmail.com to book your spot.
Saturday, 19 November, from 10am, Puppy Pirates at the Pirates Pooch Parade: Before parading your beloved pooch in their pirate’s costume, why not come and visit some of One Dog’s baby pirates in training?
Sunday, 20 November, from 10am-4pm Public Beach: SMU invites you for puppy cuddles at Public Beach; bring along donations, purchase Christmas raffle tickets and have a great time meeting the One Dog Puppies.
Saturday, 26 November, 1pm-5pm, Pink Ladies Bazaar: Meet Father Christmas, Mrs Christmas and perhaps some little elves.
Sunday, 27 November, Cookies for a Cause at Fresh (see flyer left)
Saturday, 3 December, 8am-noon, CPHS Christmas Fayre: Come and support ODAAT and local traders by purchasing a variety of items from the stalls. Children and adults alike are welcome to attend and participate in a variety of fun games, such as the Coconut Shy, Hoopla, Guess the…? and many more activities.
Thursday, 15 December, from 6pm Scoobyluminations at Rackhams on the Waterfront (see flyer below): Come and see Santa, pulled to shore by his amazing underwater reindeer! Meet some of ODAAT’s Christmas pups, purchase items from the pop-up shop, sit with Santa and soak up the Christmas atmosphere! The ODAAT Christmas Draw will also be held.
Friday, 16 December, Premiere of Avatar at Camana Bay Movie Theatre: Check out our Facebook page for more information.
Sunday, 8 January, One Dog Jog: Times to be confirmed.
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Category: Fundraiser, Local News
We have a large feral cat colony in my neighbourhood and periodically, dogs as well (but not as bad). A few years ago CARE set traps and neighbours assisted in catching a few dogs, which were subsequently adopted (I took one, one went to Jersey CI and one to Canada, amongst other destinations).
After that exercise, I approached CARE again with the feral cat problem and they declined because of resources and options. I recently tried to contact DoA Animal Control Unit repeatedly (no contact). Humane Society took my info but indicated their desperate conditions for space. Respectfully, I doubt they can handle this.
Yes, there may not be enough cooperation between the animal rescue organizations, but the efforts should start where the problem starts – with the public owners of pets. The irresponsible owners who don’t neuter their animals.
Largely uneducated people who breed themselves just like they do their animals!
Sig: generational Caymanian who has witnessed moron mentality take over and who doesn’t give a shit about being criticized.
To 10:25AM – spaying and neutering is a world wide problem – not just a Cayman Islands problem.
Typical expat who come here and talk bad about the Caymanians.
These charities have become permanent residency point collecting centers.
10.02 What an ignorant comment, maybe you should be neutered to avoid spreading such vitiol.
Because locals treat animals like crap.
At least they are out doing the hard work, even if their motive doesn’t suit you.
Maybe these organizations could lower their adoption fees – then more animals might get adopted. I know the fees cover spay and neuter, vaccines and microchip, but if they lower the fees it might help the animals get adopted quicker.
I know HS in Broward Florida, they spay and neuter,vaccinate and microchip their animals, their adoption is free. HS in Tampa, their adoption fees are $20.00.
If you can’t afford the adoption fee then you can’t afford a dog. My dog costs more than all my cats. Vet bills each year, training, food, dog sitting when off island, leash, toys etc.
To 9:33 am – the comment wasn’t just made about dogs, it also included cats as well.
These organizations get donations to cover the vet fees, which include, spaying, neutering, vaccines and microchipping.
How about all the veterinary clinics on the island, giving a free spay and neuter clinic one day per year. That might help the problem of so many unwanted animals.
It is already free via the animal charities but stupid people can’t be bothered to get off their fat asses to do it
There’s a breed / make money mentality at play here too.
Probably would need to do once per quarter.
It makes me sad to say, but I think it is about time the animal charities faced facts that there are more dogs than there are good suitable owners.
The ‘excess’ dogs, sad to say, but they need to be humanely sent on their way. They cannot live endlessly in a shelter, or run up huge vet bills for their care.
5:45 pm Sad but true. Maybe that’s the wake-up call we need.
The local animal charities do an amazing job in sending animals off island to shelter partners in the USA and Canada, but that is not enough. These charities are dealing with a basic problem which is a feral population that keeps growing and a local population that refuses to properly look after their pets by not having them spayed/neutered. I cant get over the negative comments posted here. If these groups did not exist the island would ne inundated with roaming packs of wild dogs.
No, if they did not exist the animals would be removed. Catch 22.
The HS has $MILLIONS, there really shouldn’t be any need to raise a cent for any dog on island for decades!
1:53 pm If HS has millions, they are squandering it! And they certainly don’t play nice with other smaller animal charities in Cayman. If they did, why on earth are there so many other rescue groups, including ODAAT who probably have more dogs in their care than Humane Society? And ODAAT doesn’t even have a shelter facility !
I’m all for supporting animal welfare and creating a safe environment for unwanted pets but I think the downvoters may not realise how much the HS has at their disposal.
I personally know of a single individual that gifted multiple acres of land and millions of dollars more than 5 years ago
For reasons unknown (to me at least) they haven’t put it to obvious use when there seems to be a perpetual situation of crisis in terms of funding, space and facilities.
I heard they said the location of the land gifted wasnt ideal, I assume too far from town. Not sure how true that is.
It’s in the Papagallo area of West Bay. They have a planning application pending for the construction of a new shelter on that land.
They don’t. It’s with a trustee, and it isn’t for operational expenditure.
So?
Did not a benefactor recently leave millions to the HS and property. You hear nothing about that.
I think that they should pass a law allowing animals in all buildings as so many people want to rescue a shelter animal but have to deal with asshole landlords and property management companies
You’re probably not a home owner or landlord.
Have tried renting to several tenants with pets and EVERY SINGLE one was a shite tenant who took the piss and damaged the home. AND the deposit DID NOT cover the damage, not even close to covering the damage.
good job the profit from the rent would have more than covered it, eh.
So I should invest my hard earned money for my retirement to rent to people with pets that that take the piss? THIS is why you properly don’t have rental properties.
Sure, I love animals but I do not want your kitten or puppy scratching and chewing up my new furniture and floors in the condo I rented to you.
That’s why you get a deposit
The deposit isn’t enough to cover the costs of what is sometimes big repairs and cleaning costs.
The smell is SO DIFFICULT to get out of the grout and it seeps into the wood furniture and cabinets…NEVER AGAIN!
Maybe I’ll try that next time and ask for 3times the deposit. Interested in renting from me then???
in the apartment or home you’ve owned since time began, has no mortgage, and has been a cash cow for years? that one? the one with the cheap rental special mattress and cheap nasty sofas that only cost $$$ because it’s cayman.
I do own a rental. I do allow pets.
one of the few. and thank you.
Good way to ensure your tenants stay a LONG time and don’t bother moving as you’re def in the minority.
I have always had rescue dogs and we all come with excellent references and full deposit back from our 3 landlords over 16 years. Still almost impossible to move. Very difficult to find a place despite references and deposit.
spay and neuter. let’s face it, Caribbean people treat animals like they treat there women, bitches who should birth multiple uncared for offspring. smh
Wow !!! Racist much?
No, I just have eyes. Do you?
Sad but very true!
How many commercials have i seen on TV asking for Help and donations from American charities and Canadian charities? Countless! What does that say about how you treat your animals? you just cross that the Caribbean men get lusted after by your native females :-))
Um, I’m sorry you can’t face reality. I’m sure your dog tied up in your yard all day and night loves you. Very sad you don’t love it.
Are you intoxicated right now because what?
Facts.
It’s almost impossible to have a dog if you rent, with or without references establishing a history as an excellent dog owning tenant. If landlords were a little more dog-friendly I’m certain more people would step forward (as I did) to adopt/foster. Its sickening that we still have such a huge problem after all these years.
The problem is the litters of unwanted puppies & kittens. Neuter all the animals or pay a $5,000 per annum pet breading
License.
The Humane Society has a vet on staff. Perhaps they should merge with them.
12:28 pm Are you serious? Part of the reason Cayman has so many animal rescue groups is because the Cayman Humane Society can’t get their sh!te together. Poor management at the Board level and personality clashes have created a toxic environment there. ODAAT, CARE, PAWS and Feline Friends are all excellent charities doing amazing work. They deserve the public’s support !!
Not to mention the rudeness and arrogance I was met with in the thrift shop and the callous rejection of an ideal adoptive mum for kittens for no logical reason apart from the fact they could.
Unfortunately I have to agree with this comment, whoever is running the shop now is the rudest woman I have met in a long time. Very different to the lady who was there previously who was lovely and very helpful. She wouldn’t even accept high quality donations when the shop was open, saying quite rudely that it was the ‘wrong day’ to drop off! I took my donations to The Red Cross instead.
give them to ODAAT from now on.
Let me guess…a Brit?
I’ve noticed that as well with offering to foster several times. I currently have 3 of their cats and offered to take on more as I have a large home and they wont even take me up on the offer yet get on social media begging for fosters. So weird to me and I’ve stopped offering. Humane Society is their own worst enemy.
The HS is busting at the seams, they wouldn’t be able to accommodate all the puppies ODAAT receive practically on a weekly basis! Government needs to have a campaign in place to educate communities about spay and neuter programs that are available for free! It would also be nice if govt could open their pockets to these charities that do so much for the homeless pets that are a product of human ignorance!!!
Why does this fall to Govt??
Govt did import the dogs.
Why does the public have to pay for someone elses problem?
Charge a penalty or issue a Fine to the persons you rescued the dogs from, including those temporary residents that get dogs when they come here, then leave and expect Cayman to deal with the animal instead of taking it with them
Government has failed over and over to tackle the problem by enforcing leash laws and the biggest issue: the animal abuse.
Actually government tried to deal with the stray animal problem and the Humane Society injuncted them from doing so.
no, they wanted to cull cats. not the solution.
Actually, it is, if no one is willing to adopt them, or pay for their upkeep in captivity.
I do.
Human ignorance emphasized by the Humane Society blocking all reasonable, rational and necessary efforts to control stray cat populations, leading to to destruction of fragile ecosystems and even possibly the extinction of native species. They have already cost government too much. They should be trying to make amends. Government support should be for the National Trust and the others trying to clean up the Humane Society’s mess. I wish ODAAT well, and will support them.
2:04 pm The most ignorant comment so far. How on earth is it the Humane Society’s fault we have a stray cat problem. By the same logic they would be responsible for the dog overpopulation which we all know is false.
The Humane Society went to court to prevent the capture and removal (with euthanisation where appropriate) of the feral cat population in the sister islands. They prevented any action being taken for years during which period the population multiplied and devastated the native fauna, causing the populations of some endangered species to crash – potentially to irrecoverable levels.
I like the Brac cats better than the iguanas.
4:19 pm Get a grip. The feral cat problem existed here long before the Humane Society started fighting for humane treatment of all animals.
It’s the Governor’s fault, he needs to get the National Defence “Farce”‘ aka Dad’s Army patrolling the streets and shooting down all these unwanted strays with their high powered catapaults.
CIG can’t even fund Meals of Wheels for humans, yet seems to have bottomless money for not one, but two, beauty pageants, not to mention steady burn of over $10mln a year just for turtle chow. Waste and priority misfires everywhere.
These animal charities are like the churches. They can’t get along so another is started. They would be so much stronger and more successful as a single merged entity. Seems like a case of too many chiefs.
I don’t know, but CARE fixed the 9 feral cats at my place so kudos to them.
1:50 pm Not a bad idea honestly, but truth be known, all the smaller rescue groups get along fine with each other and serve different aspect of the animal overpopulation here. For example, CARE does a fantastic job sponsoring spay/neuter. One Dog At A Time is incredible with saving strays and finding them good homes. The problem is that many people still think that the Humane Society is the be-all and end-all in animal rescue in Cayman, yet they alienate volunteers and other rescue groups, have a toxic staff/volunteer relationship, and run an inhumane animal shelter….overcrowded conditions of unadoptable dogs and cats.