Pet of the week: Lovely Rita

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | Comments Off

Pet of the week: Lovely Rita

Shelter Cat Maven, Jane Madden-Disko writes: “Lovely “Rita” and her sister, Roseanne,” arrived at the Bonaire Animal Shelter about eight months ago as beautiful, small kittens. Affectionate, but not pushy, they usually sit quietly off to the side watching and waiting for potential forever home families to notice them, rather than yelling “Pick me! Pick me!” Their laid back attitude is probably why they are still at the Shelter, because when you do notice these sisters you won’t walk away. They are affectionate, playful and have the most amazingly soft fur….more like rabbit fur than cat fur. Rita is a beautiful grey and white tabby with that fabulous cat eyeliner! Sister Roseanne is a very unusual calico tabby…..red, grey, white, black and brown STRIPES instead of calico spots with the same lovely eyeliner. Rita and Roseanne will be small cats. They are now full grown….so they won’t take up very much room in your house, but they will surely fill up your heart!”

Keep in mind that for the $55 cost of the Cat Adoption Fee, much is included. The cats have been checked medically, shots given, worming, tested for feline leukemia and sterilized. And they have been proven “social.” It’s the best deal in town and you can be assured of getting the best in pets at the Bonaire Animal Shelter!

See Rita and Roseanne and the other adoptees at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday-Saturday, 8 am–1pm, 3-5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Bonaire Reporter – Nov. 25-Dec. 9, 2011

New Shelter Video: episode 7: KIDS!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Marlies in News | Comments Off

Kids love puppies, dogs, cats and  kittens. Kids always have a very good time at the Animal Shelter on Bonaire Take a look at the newest Shelter video shelter and see for yourself!

Watch episode 7 of the the Animal Shelter Bonaire video series: Kids.

Pet of the Week: Hans the kitten

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | Comments Off

Hans the kitten

This face says it all…..” Hi! Can I go home with you?” When “Hans” arrived at the Shelter at just eight weeks old the Shelter staff took notice. Cats with his coloring are quite rare in male cats, and especially rare on Bonaire…dark grey striping with just a touch of “coffee with cream.” His coloring coupled with his curiosity and love of human affection made him a very special kitten.

Hans is now about 3 1/2 months old, still a kitten, and continues to delight both his human and feline friends. He’s the first at the compound gate to say “I missed you, can you pet me now?” Hans and his roommates are all healthy, vaccinated and just waiting for you to come and visit and welcome one or more of them into your heart and home.

You may meet Hans and the other healthy and social cats and dogs up for adoption at the Bonaire Animal Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am—1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Jane Madden Disko, Bonaire Reporter – August 5-19, 2011.

Pets of the week: Sammy and Holly

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | Comments Off

Pets of the week: Sammy and Holly

Sammy Sellars from San Diego, California, made his first visit to Bonaire last week and one of the things he wanted to do was to visit the Bonaire Animal Shelter, especially the cat cage.

Sammy has his own tuxedo cat, “George,” at home. At the Shelter right now there are so many cats to choose from – kittens, young cats, older cats, all different colors. It was difficult for him to pick one to pose with. But here he is with darling “Holly,” a beautiful young black, white and gray kitten who’s like a purr machine. She cuddled up with Sammy and really hoped he’d bring her home with him on the plane. That didn’t happen but everyone had a good time anyway. Holly has a brother, “Harry,” and the two of them together are a fun loving pair.

All the cats up for adoption are healthy and sociable. They’ve been examined by the vet, given their tests for feline leukemia, wormed, given their shots and will be sterilized when they’re old enough. All this is included in the cat adoption fee of $55.

After his Shelter visit Sammy got a Shelter T-Shirt, that are for sale at the Shelter gift shop. They are very cool shirts and it’s a great way to help support our Shelter.
There are all colors and sizes, adults and children. (Note: A number of animals have been adopted from the Shelter and brought home with their new owners to Europe or the US. The Shelter can take care of nearly everything, including putting in a micro chip).

Laura DeSalvo, Bonaire Reporter – July 8-22, 2011

Shelter Statistics

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Marlies in News | Comments Off

Everything you always wanted to know about the Animal Shelter Bonaire, but were too afraid to ask!
Stuff worth knowing about the shelter Bonaire. Fun facts and fascinating numbers about the cats and dogs that live in the shelter and about the people that work there.

Did you kow that the dogs at the Animal Shelter Bonaire produce 25 kilos of poop… every day. And cats 5 kilos. Did you know that about 30 volunteers work at the Animal Shelter… that is 7300 volunteers hours per year. And did you know that the shelter dogs daily need 25 kilo of dog food and that the Bonaire shelter spayed/neutered 800 pets in 2 years. That is more than 1 a day and for free…at no costs! And did you know that in 2010 there were 53 cats adopted from the shelter and that we use 5 cubic meters of water each day…

You want to know more shelter statistcs, watch the video below!

Pet of the week: It’s A Supermarket Of Kittens!

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | Comments Off

Supermarket of kittens

Spring is kitten season and many of the unwanted or discarded kittens have luckily found their refuge at the Bonaire Animal Shelter. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a kitten or kittens now is the time. The Shelter has a veritable supermarket of kittens! You name it, they’ve got it! Boys, girls; long hair, short hair; short, tall; tabby, black, black and white, orange, grey, calico, white and black and every color combination in between. The 19 kittens (yes, you read it right, 19!) range from five weeks to five months and all are loving, social and healthy. In addition to the little ones, there are also 14 terrific adult cats that are looking for a loving home. If a kitten is what you are looking for, and you don’t have other cats, you should consider adopting two kittens or a kitten and an adult cat.

Young kittens need a lot of attention and activity to help them develop into a good companion, both physically and psychologically. Having a playmate or role model keeps them occupied and entertained. If you are not at home for most of the day, a single new kitten or cat will become lonely and bored which leads to mischievous activity like shredded curtains and furniture. In addition, just as it often happens with humans, lonely, isolated cats tend to become shy and reclusive and don’t make for particularly good companions.
However, if you have your heart set on a single cat, there are several adult cats at the Shelter that prefer the company of humans to other cats. Just ask the Shelter staff for a suggestion as to which cats would enjoy being a single cat home. If there’s a certain cat or kitten you are looking for, now is the time to visit the Shelter and browse the “cat supermarket.”

To meet the kittens visit the Bonaire Animal Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Jane Madden, Bonaire Reporter- April 29-May 13, 2011

Pet of the week: Prince Edward the Tuxedo Cat

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Marlies in Pet of the Week | Comments Off

Merle and “Prince” Edward

Merle Marsman, a student at the Aquamarin School, got a nice surprise as part of her 8th birthday celebration: a trip to the Bonaire Animal Shelter. Meeting all the pets was a special treat as her own two cats at home came from the Shelter.  Here’s Merle enjoying a cuddle with “Edward.”

Thanks to Jane Madden for the following biography of Edward. “Edward, affectionately known to the Shelter staff as Prince Edward, is a delightful four-month old kitten who is a classic Tuxedo Cat. As the name implies,  the white paws, chest and belly of his coat resembles a tuxedo. They are also sometimes called “Jellicle Cats” which comes from T.S. Eliot’s poem made popularly famous in the musical play “Cats.” Many people claim that Tuxedo Cats are significantly smarter than an average cat, and Edward certainly lives up to that reputation.

Many of the Shelter staff spend a lot of time just watching Edward play as he obviously has a vivid imagination that sparks laughter in any onlooker. A leaf becomes a giant monster that Edward attacks by puffing up his fur and jumping at it sideways. A hanging stuffed toy must be approached on his two back legs and embraced in a giant hug. And the list goes on. Edward is a good candidate for someone who is looking to have only one cat as he can certainly entertain himself, but he also loves to play with others and so will fit right into a multi-cat home. After his play sessions, he’s ready to be held and loved and purrs like a fine-tuned engine. Edward has long legs and will be a tall, slim and handsome adult.

Whoever adopts the lovable Prince Edward will join the ranks of Sir Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare and Beethoven….all Tuxedo Cat lovers and owners.”

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

Laura DeSalvo, Bonaire Reporter, October 8-22, 2010

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 | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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