I SEE YOU! Can you SEE me?

 Don't look the other way, sometimes the difference between life and death for an animal....is you!

                                OUCH! I did it! Tetanus shot done! Doggies here I come.

In every social movement there is a moment when everything changes. Whether that moment is a university admission, a protest or a speech by a leader is irrelevant. The moment itself is what matters, because afterwards...nothing is ever the same.  
-Annie Hart


How true is that! I have worked in and out of all forms of rescue for a very long time. I always wanted to make changes and though I was doing well at it. But I would also go about my ways and try other things, do other things. But never did I go to the "trenches" I could not bear to see. I knew how bad things could be, but I never though I would have the strength to Go THERE.

I understand why many people shut down emotionally. It is a way of protecting themselves from hurt and suffering in the world. We need to realize if we completely disconnect from the reality of the suffering, inhumane treatment we then disconnect from our thoughts and the real problems around us.
And by doing so, we cause the problem to continue and to become even worse.

Having empathy, makes us see the reality of what is around us. Things we do not want to know about or deal with. I mean sometimes simple Daily life is hard enough. But again, by avoiding these things, we actually make the problems we are avoiding grow to such an extent that we have no other choice but to eventually see it.


Can we fix this? I believe the answer is YES!

We need to recognize the problems instead of avoiding them and thinking:"this is to much, there is nothing I can do." 
We tend to shut our eyes to it and it kind of goes away... But in reality it won't it will Grow.
We need to feel bad to make us take action and then try our best to make a difference. No matter how small.


So someone, actually, several of us are stepping up and taking action, then others will or can fall in and help in little ways. In time we will chip away at the big problem that becomes workable. And in doing so, we can make drastic changes in many lives. Ours included.

Let's open our eyes & our heart, get past the hurt and pain. Make a conscious choice to help in any way we can, and with this Hope, change and survival will emerge. We can truly make a difference.

And on that note; A super easy way to make a difference that is harmless, easy and 
only a few clicks away. 

We only have ONE DAY LEFT for a radio contest to win funds for CARF
contest closes SATURDAY at 1pm

go to www.dolfijnfm.com
on the left side of page is a BLACK COLUMN that says POLL
click on CARF   curacao animal rescue foundation
click on VOTE

The more votes we have, the more money we make. The amount up for grabs is 3,000 nfl approx 1,700.00 cdn dollars that amount will cover the food cost at the shelter for close to a month.
Every little bit helps. Please Share.

Luggage Overload & Read all over!

Today, I started packing, 2 bags FULL! Clothes for the Doggie Rescue Event in Curacao.
Now what do I do about my clothes?
I believe minimal will be the dress code of the day or should I say weeks? :)
But I did pack my "tick picker" that I got via Penny Petz. Thank you Shelley.
And tomorrow I have my appointment for a Tetanus Shot! Did I mention I "hate" needles?! I mean really!!

As I previously wrote, I have made some amazing contacts while on this journey: One in particular is
Dr. Judith Samson-French, she is the founder of "Dogs with No Names."
Today they posted a photo montage of the work they did up in Labrador this past month.
I am adding the Link here for you to check out. Seriously, Kudos to them. What dedicated volunteers
and people. and what about these Innu Dogs?!"Are those dogs not just so adorable ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Wf3v2Kakw&feature=youtu.be
please share if you can, Dr. Samson-French's work is groundbreaking. We need to spread the news.

 ------------------------

So, would you call this "double dipping?" 2 stories in one paper! :)

Seriously, I think I come by my love of animals naturally from my wonderful family. My Grandmother was the town "vet" although not trained academically she had a natural way and knowing with animals. People around her had very little money and no way to care for injured or sick animals. I remember as a little girl, people would always show up with some animal in need and she would never turn them away.

Then you have my Mum who is featured in the News today for her "what we call The Cattage" she cares for as many as 13 Feral cats (they have been fixed) but the hardship they had to endure during the winter was terrible. And hence with 2 amazing friends, Mike & Sue, we created this area for them. & Tahdah! Now they have their "own" Yield sign! So please Slow down for those cats.

And Eureka! News is getting out there about my upcoming trip to Curacao. Thank you James Parry from Your Local Journal for the wonderful article. It gives a good indication to what I am working towards. CARF cares and the dogs desperately need their "Care!"

Thank you to everyone who donated clothes to bring down to the island. As I mentioned in the article, American Airlines will be loving the Over extended, over weight bags... We will see how I can talk myself into not being "dinged" to much for the extra. We could use it for additional meds;
It is for a good cause :)

OK, time for sleep, much more to do tomorrow.
Wishing everyone a great and happy day.
Thanks for following.
More news to come soon.

Hey check out Mum! :) She is the Cats' Meow!

Save a Turtle, Lose a Phone! 1st world problems...

A few days in Review:

It has been an interesting week, I must admit, I am tired, excited and encouraged.
Things are moving forward and my trip is close at hand.

* Please cast your Vote for Carf on Dolfijn FM radio
* Thank you to all who donated clothes for a charity event to raise funds for the Dogs
* Turtle vs. iphone and guess who wins?!
* Amazing contacts helping me move forward with this project.

Finding funds is not always easy for rescue, But here is a way you can truly help.
Its really easy.. simply VOTE & SHARE.

CARF animal rescue and rehab group.
is completely volunteer based, receiving NO subsidies or grants relying solely
on YOUR goodwill and support.

Support comes in many ways....
if you can't ADOPT a rescue animal, you can FOSTER,
if you can't FOSTER, you can DONATE,
if you can't DONATE, well.... there's a solution for that too,
you can VOTE FOR CARF in this Dolfijn FM poll AND you can SHARE
with your friends to help CARF win much needed funds to continue our efforts.

So if you are always thinking to yourself how you can help
....there you go...VOTE + SHARE !

Click on this Link:  http://www.dolfijnfm.com

On the website, left hand side there is a black column it says "POLL"
scroll down to the second name you will see CARF click on the button
then click on VOTE
You can VOTE every 24 hours. Please help, it is simple, fast and it can make a big difference in a dog's life.

I have been making phone calls, keeping notes, meeting key people and lots of contacts.
Hence the title of today's blog...
I was waiting for a call back from a Vet, and since I still have some chores to do,
not to waste time,  I figured lets be proactive and clean the pool! As I opened the skimmer, inside there was a baby snapping turtle. Trying to get him out, was to say the least, an ordeal for both of us! As I finally managed to do so, I slipped and ended head first into the deep end of the pool. There was no Olympic medals awarded for this awkward dip. Remember, I was waiting for an important phone call so my iphone was in my back pocket.

Moral of this story; One lucky turtle saved, One not so lucky iphone finished and One very wet, surprised  & slightly embarased person being "me." but dually noted; this was a 1st world problem..

I had contacted Dr. Samson-French after reading about her and seeing her on CBC news.
Dr. Samson-French was working on a project up in Labrador. She started a program called: -->

Dogs With No Names™  a scientific pilot program working to reduce the number of homeless dogs on First Nations reserves through the use of contraceptive implants.

the results of her week in Labrador = 

-->

176 dogs handled (rabies vaccines, microchips, dewormers, and contraceptive implants if females).  63 females implanted = over 50,000 pups not born in the next 40 months. Assuming a worse case scenario of only 10% survival - 5,000 unwanted dogs not born.

Her work is ground breaking. I highly suggest you check out her site and her book. 

-->

https://www.facebook.com/DogsWithNoNames?fref=ts

Dr. Samson-French was most helpful with all my questions and gave me answers I needed and we have discussed possible solutions and have some work ideas in progress. I am so please how this amazing woman was open and giving to my project and plans for the street dogs of Curacao. Looking forward to our next meeting.

I had also put out an appeal for some clothes to bring with me to Curacao, for an event that is happening July 6th on the island. The clothes will be sold and the proceeds will be given to the dog shelter. 

A huge Thank you to the  wonderful people who dropped off boxes and bags  for me. Can you say "Overweight Baggage?" Well all for a good cause! 

Still on the agenda; more meetings coming up, more research and at one point, I think packing would be good idea.

One closing note; if you can, Please Vote daily for CARF, it truly will make a difference .

Sweet dreams to one and all. 

Garage Sale & Pink Flamingos

Today was my "Lets pull this off Garage Sale" to raise funds for CARF.

With the horrible weather we have been having and the constant rain, today, we lucked out! The storm clouds took  a much needed break and let the Sun Shine through.
A beautiful day indeed for a Garage Sale.

Although as previously mentioned, a broken down printer put a wrench in my project & posters,  I managed to get a couple of photos printed of Before and After CARF doggie  and a donation box set up with the basic information.

People came by to see me and some broke down in tears when they saw the photos of the pups. I told them to focus on the "after" results and how many are saved due to the efforts of the volunteers of CARF.
People truly opened up their hearts & their wallets today.

I had many goodies for sale, many did not need or  buy but took the time to drop in looney, twonies, even fives & tens into the donation box.  It was amazing the interest that they showed, many questions and requests for more information on the organization. Several asked to follow my blog, and I was more then happy to give them the link.

For those of you who would like to know how the Sale went;
Well the flamingos and the flashy turquoise boa, were  the first items to fly off the rack, and once the ball started rolling, more items followed suit.

The grand total for today's effort is $368.50 
I still have some items left to sell; So I will try and sell them online and hopefully be able to top up the amount to at least 500.00 before I head back down to Curacao on July 2nd.

All in all, it was a good day. I would like to Thank everyone who took the time to drop by and see me and for the kindness of your donations. It is for a very worthy cause, your donations will certainly help these wonderful animals. Once again, a very sincere THANK YOU!


This story bodes well with today's efforts:

An old man was going for a walk, when he noticed a little boy feeding a thin, shaggy looking dog with bits of bread. He went up to the boy and asked him why he was sharing his bread with the dogs.

The little boy answered, "Because they have nothing. No home, no family, and if I don’t feed them they will die." “But there are homeless dogs everywhere," the old man replied. “So your efforts don’t really make a difference” The little boy looked at the dog and stroked him. “But for this little dog, it makes all the difference in the world.”

I LOVE NAKED DOGS!

Yesterday I went to see my favorite hairdresser named Libby.
I walked out blonder & she threw in a few well placed not in your face burgundy streaks just for the heck of it :)  
Libby works from home, she is a very busy mum of 2 adorable kids and a whole lot of rescues.
From ducks, goats, geese, turtles, cats & dogs.
I so love getting my hair done there, you sit with a cup of tea and a cat or 2, then a dog or 2.
You walk out feeling happy, zen and looking good :)

I believe hairdressers are very akin to bartenders, part of their work is to listen &I am sure they know more of what is going on around town then the Town itself... So of course we talk and has she listened, Libby learned all about CARF and all the great work they do. I then pulled out my camera and showed her some photos of the dogs.
Many of the dogs have very little fur due to sickness and mange in their before photos. She found them adorable and proudly proclaimed: "I LOVE NAKED DOGS!" its like the new "bald" for men.
Was not expecting that from a hairdresser. lol

So tomorrow is the Garage Sale, I really am pulling this one out of the hat! With little time for prep, and on my 3rd printer trying to print photos and information and it is not working. One printer not compatible, Printer number 2 out of ink, printer number 3... check cartridges.. So Posters will not be what is expected. I managed to fill my trailer with odds and ends, some fun and funky items will be up for grabs tomorrow and Hopefully people will open their hearts and their wallets to help support the dogs of CARF.
Items up for grabs: A choice of a beautiful plastic pink flamingos, an over sized rubber ducky, a turquoise retro typewriter, a vintage old chest, a table set, lamps, nick-knacks  and other odd items.

Weather is looking good! So fingers are crossed and now time for bed, up early tomorrow morning for set up and lets see what we can bring in for the dogs...
Wish me luck!


"My doctrine is this: That if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and we do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt".~ Anna Sewel

We have a "YOU"

Today was a day of getting hands dirty and getting drenched via a surprise downpour while rummaging in, out and through a garage to find treasures for an upcoming Town wide Hudson Garage Sale. I am setting up a booth to sell some fun items to benefit the dogs of CARF.
Long range forecast bodes well.. Warm & Sunny and hopefully lots of willing buyers.

By mid afternoon, I was meeting "Claudine" a volunteer from Tierra de Animales, a dog rescue in Mexico. Claudine & I had met via a FB request on a neighboring town site; Requesting donations of leashes or collars etc. to bring back to Mexico with her.

We met in a very typical Canadian coffee shop; "Timmies"
Over coffee we discussed and exchanged as much info as we could. Both proudly showing the before and after shots of some of the rescues.

After explaining how I am proceeding with marketing,  planning and contacts for "CARF" Claudine exclaimed.."We have a YOU!"  With a smile, she said, Tierra de Animales has someone in the US who basically; we never met face to face, yet through internet, social networking etc. She being the "YOU" is a big part of the volunteer organization and helps tremendouly in funding and awareness.
 
I must admit, it is a very nice compliment, and truth be told; I LIKE being a "YOU"!

Claudine will be on a plane heading back to Mexico this Sunday with several items that were donated from FB neighbors, friends and members through that one simple request her sister posted on FB.

It was a pleasure to meet you Claudine, wishing you much luck with your continued volunteer services and look forward to keeping in touch through the magic of Social media.

Safe travels.

The Gathering....

The Gathering...
So much to do, so much to accomplish, so here we go...

My days are now filled with requests. Dog shampoo, flea shampoo, heartworm, tick medication, collars and leashes... ideas for fundraising to put towards medication and spay/neuter. The simple things to help these animals get back on their feet.

Research, contacts, networking are all part of the project.
It is funny how at times some things just fall in to place;  I am a member on a garage sale facebook site in my area and noticed  a post that someone was requesting collars for a dog rescue in Mexico. The member's sister was home for a visit as she now lives in Mexico and works with a shelter. I contacted them and explained what I am trying to accomplish, we got along great and we will be meeting up this week to discuss ideas, strategies and how things work in other countries.
I have pen & paper ready to take notes! 

"I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man" ~M. Gandhi

Am I ready for this?

How does one start a Blog?
How do you get a message across?
How do I tell their stories?
How will I be able to help them?

...there comes a time when one must take a position, that it is neither safe, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him that it is right..." ~ Martin Luther King

I am fortunate to travel a fair bit and I when I do, I always follow my heart and make a point to meet the people, understand the culture as best I can within a given time period.

There are so many beautiful places in the world; and I found one such place on the small Island of Curacao. The beautiful turquoise beaches, the sand & coral, the people of the island, the artists... and the list goes on.

As you step off the plane and feel the heat, waiting in anticipation to get through customs, smiling at other passengers and visitors, exchanging light hearted banter. We prepare ourselves for the weeks ahead. The Sun is shining as we head out the doors of the airport and hop into our cab to the resort.

As beautiful as all this is, there is a dark side, and once all the fervor and sights have filled your senses, a gnawing feeling befalls you, and  you will see for yourself... the "dogs." 

The first time, I did not notice "them," well not so much as I do now. They are everywhere, on the roads, in the city, on the resorts, in the ditch, left on their own to fend for themselves.

I come to find out the HATO airport is one of the major dumping grounds for these poor animals.
Starving, hauntingly thin,  mange, crippled, I came to find out many other things as well, that I wish I did not know.

"To say nothing, to do nothing, stops nothing" ~Roni McCall

 I have forged many friendships on the island and I understand somewhat the situation with the dogs, there are so many, that the idea to "fix it" seems  so insurmountable that as much as they want to help, they can not see the light at the end of the tunnel, so this tragedy goes on and on.

I have read some "stats" saying that estimates of more than 70,000 strays (cats & dogs) across the island.
It is mind boggling.

There is hope,  I have found a grass roots volunteer group that does wonders. "CARF" I am amaze at the before and afters of this volunteer rescue. These dogs seem to understand that they now have a life, and the gentleness they bestow is incredible.

So I come to the main subject matter: HOW DO I HELP?

I am creating this Blog and in the coming weeks, I am going to start fundraising for this amazing Rescue in Curacao, I am going to tell their stories. YES! There are some amazing ones. You will feel good to know they are not all lost.

I am returning  to Curacao in July to spend a couple of weeks with the rescues and learn all I can and how it would be possible to set up an education campaign, how we can implement more Spay Neuter. How can we save them and most of all How can we save "us."

I will be "Out in the Open", with the dogs, I will write my 2 week Open Diary while I am there, and I hope, I truly hope, I can make a difference.

"Kindness to animals and respect for all life are the only meaningful foundation for a civilized world." ~ Michael Mountain

It will be an interesting Journey, I must admit, I am very sensitive to others pain and sufferening, so it will be a huge challenge for me. My Dutch is rudimentary, Papiemento, not even close. But it will be a baptism by fire. Ticket in hand....