The Humane Society of Grand Bahama officially opened the doors to their new Animal Welfare and Adoption Centre Saturday night, June 21^st. Two hundred benefactors, supporters and volunteers enjoyed food, drink, live music, and tours of the new facility. Father Rudolph Cooper of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Eight Mile Rock gave the invocation and later asked a blessing for the building and its staff and animals. President of the HSGB Chris Johnston gave the opening remarks and thanked the contributors, particularly Sir Jack Hayward.

Commenting that without Sir Jack’s support, the building would not have been possible, Mr. Johnston said, “To you, Sir Jack, we would say a heart felt thanks from all of us assembled here today”. Cutting the ceremonial ribbon to open the centre were Frances Singer Hayward, Erika Gates, Edith Kadar and Tip Burrows. HSGB Managing Director Tip Burrows then delivered the closing remarks.

The highlight of the evening was the new shelter itself and the animals already in residence. The cheery yellow building sits on two and a half fenced acres and includes two completed dog kennels, two dog kennels still under construction (scheduled for completion in late summer), two cat rooms, 24 outside dog pens, laundry room, surgery room, exam/bathing room, office space, retail shop, and food preparation and storage rooms. The site also features The Amigo Friendship Park, and The Emmie Rose Memorial Garden. The park will be used for exercise, as well as training classes and shelter events. The Memorial Garden will be a tranquil space, landscaped with native plants and trees, and will feature personalized brick pavers, available for purchase through the HSGB.

Guests marveled at the open cat colony room, in which eighteen adult cats are residing quite comfortably without cages. They enjoy high perches and comfortable beds while they await adoption. The dog kennels are clean and spacious. Mrs. Burrows says “we are thrilled with our new facility and look forward to providing much better care for these animals than we were previously able. Our hope is that the public will feel more comfortable coming to such a nice place to find a pet, and that our adoptions will increase greatly as a result.”

Humane Society of Grand Bahama MEDIA RELEASE-April 21, 2008

West End Spay & Neuter Clinic

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama, in partnership with The Kohn Foundation, is pleased to report their third successful field spay/neuter clinic, which was held in West End from April 14 – 18, 2008. This clinic had a few new challenges, which included a mad scramble at the eleventh hour for a clinic venue, and the distance from FreeportAll were overcome in the end and the clinic ran very smoothly.

The clinic was held in the Burrows Investment building on the back road of West End in what was formerly a small grocery store. It was a bit smaller than our previous venues but it worked out very well. The HSGB thanks the Garvey-Burrows family for making the space available and supporting this project.

A total of 189 dogs and 25 cats were sterilized during the week, for a total of 214 animals. 222 were checked in, 8 were either previously spayed or too sick for surgery (but treated and HSGB will follow up for future surgery). 3 dogs were treated for transmissible venereal tumours. One little dog was successfully treated for a horrendous abscess on his side, which required daily treatments and care all week. Numerous eye and skin ailments were also treated.One dog had a badly injured paw; two of her toes were amputated. She will be able to get around just fine; left untreated, she might have faced leg amputation or even death.

All the dogs and cats received flea/tick preventative, vaccines if needed and deworming, which should lead to a healthier overall pet population. They also had their nails trimmed and ears cleaned while in recovery. Pet owners received educational information on how to better care for their pets.

15 dogs and 40 puppies were surrendered to the HSGB during the clinic. 8 dogs were euthanized, which were too sick, or too feral or aggressive to potentially rehabilitate or re-home. The rest are at our shelter. 12 puppies are going to Florida Tuesday, April 22, to a rescue group that has been standing by ready to assist. More puppies will be going to Florida and New York in the next week or two. The HSGB is pleased to have the support of several rescues and shelters that are willing to help save these puppies while we work very hard to eliminate the surplus through this project. Local residents who have been thinking about adopting a dog or puppy; we have never before had such a variety of gorgeous puppies so please come in and have a look.

The total of 269 animals either sterilized or relinquished means that we have (conservatively) prevented at least a thousand unwanted puppies and kittens born in the next six months alone. Sterilization is the proven, best answer to a pet-overpopulation problem. The HSGB asks all pet owners to be responsible and spay and neuter their pets. Our ongoing voucher program is still active and any residents we missed can call the HSGB at 352-2477 to schedule their pets for surgery.

The HSGB is grateful to the West End Foundation for funding this clinic, and to Old Bahama Bay for providing accommodation for our visiting veterinarians and technicians. Our Freeport volunteers were amazing and tireless; and provided invaluable assistance and support, as always.

Veterinarians for this clinic were chief vet Dr. Robin Brennen of New York City, Dr. Bridget Barry of, NY, Dr. Louis Lembo of Columbia, TN, Dr. Deborah Sonnen-Campbell of Boston, MA, and Dr. Kristi Crass of Madison, WI. Technicians/assistants included Gregory Carastro of Amity Harbor, NY, Sloane Smith of Columbia, TN, Stephanie Neufeld of New York City, Amy Brinkman of Stoughtman, WI, Dustin Dennis of Ithaca, NY, Kristin Dennis-Peralta of Rio Rancho, NM, and Martha Kohn of Syosset, NY.

The HSGB is overwhelmed once again at the generosity of these professionals who willingly give up their precious vacation time, and even pay their own way here, to help Grand Bahamas’ animals. The goal is an island with no roaming, diseased, starving dogs and cats and it is attainable with the support of the entire community. For ways you can help us continue this vital project, please call the HSGB at 352-2477.

Thanks to our friends at Bahamas Islands Info and Keen i Media Ltd., a Video Tour of the new shelter.

Our original building was completed in 1973 and contained 16 indoor/outdoor dog kennels and a handful of cat cages. Over the years we added outdoor dog pens and squeezed in more cat cages, but the building outlived its usefulness and was far too cramped and dilapidated to adequately house the number of animals in need these days.

After years of planning and fundraising, Phase One of our new facility is finally a reality. Construction commenced in earnest in August 2007 and the Grand Opening was held June 21, 3008.  The new Animal Welfare and Adoption Centre is located on 2.5 acres with plenty of room for future expansion.

Please see our Wish List for things we need to equip and furnish our new facility! We also appreciate any financial support as our operating costs have increased.