Pieter is pet of the week at Animal Shelter Bonaire

Posted on August 08, 2010 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | 1 Comment

Pieter our pet of the week

We couldn’t resist taking a photo of this darling little cat, “Pieter,” hiding out among the branches in the cat cage at the Bonaire Animal Shelter. Jane Disko Madden, kitty guru of the Shelter, explains. “Pieter is a very fuzzy, very funny little guy! He arrived with his sister, Petra, as seven-weekold, very feral kittens. With the love and encouragement of the Shelter staff, they were nurtured into loveable sweethearts now 10 weeks old!

Petra has been adopted and will begin sailing the Caribbean with her co-captain in the next few weeks. Pieter is waiting for his forever companion to arrive. Pieter’s grey, brown and black striped fur is extremely soft and fuzzy and along with his white mittens and socks he’ll be a very photogenic pal. He is not afraid of anything….dog, cat or person…and will play with cats five times his size and win the play battle! But when playtime is done, he’ll curl up in your lap for a dose of pets and an afternoon snooze.”

Of course, like all the other adoptees at the Shelter, Pieter is in excellent health, having been checked out by the vet, had his test for feline leukemia, wormed and will be sterilized when he’s old enough. All this is included in the cat adoption fee of NAƒ 95. You may meet him at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Bonaire Reporter- July 30-August 13, 2010, Story & photo by Laura DeSalvo

Queenie and her kittens

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | No Comments

Just a few days ago this mother cat, “Queenie”, was brought into the Bonaire Animal Shelter. She had been found by a Good Samaritan with her two new born kittens: one black and one striped like its mom. Then, a few days later someone found another newborn kitten, a black and white one, and brought it into the Shelter to hopefully save its life.
Usually a kitten as young as this with no mother is sure to die, but when the new kitten was brought to Queenie, she immediately adopted it as her own and began feeding and cleaning it. That’s why she’s named Queenie – she’s a queen among cats. What a fine character this cat has! After her motherly duties are finished Queenie will be sterilized and put up for adoption so she will have an opportunity for a happy life. You may see her and her kittens at the Shelter.

Bonaire Reporter- July 16-30, 2010, Story & photo by Laura DeSalvo

Gibby in the supermarket of kittens

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | No Comments

Here’s  Bonaire Animal Shelter Volunteer Hettie Holian showing off one of the 15 adorable kittens now available for adoption. (We think it’s 10-week-old “Gibby.”)
What a choice of beautiful kittens right now – all under three months old.
As Shelter volunteer Jane Madden tells us, “It’s a supermarket of kittens.
They come in all colors – red, red and white, black, black and white and everything in between.  And they’re all wonderful!” All these robust little guys and girls are full of fun and love to be cuddled. If you’ve been thinking about getting a kitten to love, now’s the time to make your choice. The NAƒ 95 cat adoption fee covers all: testing for feline leukemia, vet exam, shots, worming and sterilization when they’re old enough.
Meet these kittens and the other pets up for adoption at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm.

Bonaire Reporter – June 4-18, 2010, Story & photo by Laura DeSalvo

Tiny Marie

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | No Comments

Here is the tiniest kitten in the cat cage at the Bonaire Animal Shelter. This little grey tabby is named “Marie.” She’s an orphan and she nearly died before she even had much of a life. Some kind children, out biking, found her and her litter mates. It seemed the kittens were chasing the bikes. Marie was so small and starving that she had to go home with Monique to be fed every few hours with a bottle. The other kittens have been adopted and there’s just Marie now. She’s sure to remain a smallish cat due to her first weeks of malnutrition.

But today she’s in fine shape and healthy and so happy to be alive.

You may see her and the other healthy and social adoptees at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Bonaire Reporter, Laura DeSalvo,  Jan. 22-Feb. 5, 2010

Friday the 13th and black cats are considered GOOD LUCK on Bonaire

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | No Comments

In many places, black cats and Friday the 13th are considered signs of bad luck. But here on Bonaire, where life is different, these things turn out to be signs of good luck!

On February 12 two very concerned Bonaire visitors brought a small, black, golden-eyed female cat to the Bonaire Animal Shelter. Their concern was over some wild dogs that had been killing cats in the area. The two women said they believed the cat was pregnant and did not want her and her soon-to-arrive kittens to be in danger. The sweet little cat, given the name, “Carmen,” was settled into a comfortable cage at the Shelter with food and water and was to be evaluated the next day as to her condition. The next morning, Friday the 13th, the Shelter staff was greeted by Carmen and four tiny, healthy, jet black kittens! Carmen was trusting enough to let the staff hold her tiny babies from the very first day. What a stroke of luck for Carmen that the two tourists cared enough to remove her from harm’s way just hours before she gave birth. The kittens are developing quickly and are a source of joy for Shelter staff and visitors. Carmen and her babies will be ready for adoption once the kittens are between six and eight weeks old. (Ed. Note: The kittens will be six weeks on Friday, this week, March 27.)

You may see Carmen, her babies and the other animals up for adoption at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm, 3 to 5 m. Tel. 717-4989.

Story & photos Jane Disko Madden, Bonaire Reporter- March 27-April 10, 2009

Little kitten Edgar

Posted on January 02, 2009 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | No Comments

So far, this little kitten, “Edgar,” has had a horrible life, then a very happy one. He was found abandoned on the streets of Bonaire and brought into the Animal Shelter. He was so thin, so sick and so terrified of everything that it looked like he was going to have to go to kitty heaven. But there was just something about him that caught one of the staff member’s hearts, so she brought him home with her and nursed him back to life. Look at him now! He’s peppy; he’s perfect; and how handsome he is with his red and white fur. For an even happier ending to Edgar’s short life he should be adopted into a loving and appreciative home. That would be the answer to all his dreams. As are all the other adoptees at the Shelter Edgar is in top health, having been examined by the vet, has had his shots and worming and will be sterilized when he’s old enough. All this in the Cat Adoption Fee of only NAƒ 75.

The Shelter is on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, from 9 to 1 and from 3 to 5. Tel. 717-4989.

L.D. Bonaire Reporter January 2-16, 2009