JOIN US on March 10 to ROCK OUT FOR ISLAND DOG!!!!
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January 27, 2012
January 04, 2012
The strays of Puerto Rico: Los Machos Beach, where a dog’s life is no kind of paradise
by John Woestendiek via www.ohmidog.com
This excerpt from the award-winning documentary ”100,000″ focuses on the work of Island Dog, an animal welfare organization in Puerto Rico founded by Baltimore native Katie Block.
Block left Baltimore in 1999, looking for paradise, she admits. On her first day in Puerto Rico she came across a homeless dog and brought it home. When she took it to a vet and explained how she had found it, he laughed at her.
She quickly learned the stray she’d found was just one of thousands — and that many of them spent their lives at a particular beach, called Los Machos, where they’d either been abandoned, or, sometimes, born from those previously abandoned.
She tried to do what she could. At her bartending job at a resort, she persuaded guests to take dogs home to the states. She enlisted her parents help in getting dogs shipped to new homes. Making a small dent in a very big problem, and swamped by veterinary bills, she, after three years, threw in the towel — but only temporarily, as it turned out.
In 2002, Block returned to Baltimore. She finished college and ended up in Puerto Rico again, where in 2006, she established Island Dog.
Today, as the founder and director of the organization, she works full-time to rescue dogs, find them homes in the states, and supply strays with food and medical attention — all while focused on longer term goals.
Those include teaching responsible pet ownership, expanding the practice of spaying and neutering, and increasing awareness around the world about the cruelties animal face in U.S. territories in the Caribbean. Her hope is to make Puerto Rico more animal friendly, and get an animal education program started at every school in the territory.
Island Dog estimates that 98 percent of the dogs that end up in Puerto Rico’s few under-equipped and under-funded shelters are euthanized; and that about 500 dogs and cats die a day.
Only about 10 percent of Puerto Rico’s pet population ever visit a veterinarian, it’s estimated.
In the documentary “100,000,” which we’re featuring all week on ohmidog!, director Juan Agustin Marquez captured the scene at Los Machos beach, and a lot of the work Island Dog does — feeding and medicating homeless animals, rescuing and rehabilitating strays, and finding them homes in the states.
The organization also offer clinics for free or low cost spay/neuter services and vaccinations, provides a humane education program for children that encourages kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership, and supplies medication and food to other animal welfare organizations working in the U.S. Caribbean.
You can find Island Dog listed with our other animal welfare friends on our rightside column, and you can visit its website and learn how to donate to the cause here.
(Photos courtesy of Island Dog)
December 31, 2011
Happy New Year from the Island Doggies!
There is still time to reap the awards of a 2011 tax deductible donation!
Love and Hugs! Happy New Year!!!!!
Click here to make your donation!
December 27, 2011
December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
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December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas from our Island Dogs!!!!
Tis the season to be grateful and festive! On behalf of all the volunteers and dogs, I wish you the happiest and Merriest Christmas! May you and your family have a wonderful holiday! WOOF!
December 23, 2011
December 15, 2011
Fantastic Art for the Holidays!!
One of my favorite art galleries, City Folk, is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Three years ago, the owners of the gallery, Karen and Rick Anderer, contacted me about adopting one of our Island Dogs, Chico. Chico was one of my personal favorites, and I had a very hard time separating myself from him. But after speaking with Karen, I realized she was the most perfect mom for Cheeks. Cheeks is now Pablo and he can often be found in City Folk Gallery, with his mommy and brother Argus.
Through the years City Folk has become huge supporters of Island Dog and recently gathered their favorite artists to donate works to help us raise funds. As part of the City Folk Mission Project artists, Jac Johnson and Seth Cluley donated two wonderful pieces of art to support our dogs. Both pieces will make great holiday gifts or add whimsy to your art collection! Check them out! For more information and bidding options, please click on the photos.
I for Island Dog by Jac Johnson
C for Island Dog by Seth Cluley
