Mrs. Silda Beaumont from Amboina and her dog Kisha

The 500th sterilization of dogs and cats on Bonaire is a fact! In May 2009 the Bonaire Animal Shelter started a big project called “Bonny Superdog.” The goal was to sterilize 500 dogs and cats for free. The owner doesn’t have to pay. In this way, the Shelter wanted to contribute towards solving the overpopulation of dogs and cats problem on the island. Too many animals cause a variety of problems for people and the animals: the animals roam around, they are not fed, they get sick or hurt and they become aggressive. Consequently, too many animals have to be euthanized every year… a sad and unacceptable fact.

Number 500 – Kisha from Amboina
Number 500 was Kisha, a dog owned by Mrs. Silda Beaumont from Amboina. Kisha is a female dog of about two years old and she’s had some very beautiful puppies. “I don’t want her to have anymore puppies and that’s why I had her sterilized,” Mrs. Beaumont says. “I made the appointment with the veterinarian myself and then I called the people from the Shelter who came to pick her up, and after the operation they brought her back. She’s doing great. I love animals; to me an animal is just like a person, a child. The love I feel for a child, I feel for an animal too. 

Bonny the Superdog

Since 2002
In 2002 the Animal Shelter set up a fund for free sterilization. Ever since then, pet owners can have their dog or cat sterilized for free. The Shelter pays the bill. In 2004 the Shelter organized a special campaign during which foreign veterinarians sterilized Bonaire’s cats and dogs for free. In two weeks’ time about 250 animals were neutered and spayed. After those two weeks the campaign went on and the local vets took care of the sterilization.

Bonny the Superdog
However, the Animal Shelter felt things weren’t moving fast enough. The island was still overloaded with stray dogs and cats and an excessive amount of animals were being brought into the Shelter. An extra boost was needed. And so, the project of Bonny Superdog was born. The Shelter sought a lot of publicity to make pet owners aware of the Bonny Superdog campaign. All over the island posters were hung by volunteers and, thanks to WEB NV, flyers were delivered to each and every house on Bonaire. Also radio and TV commercials were broadcast and the Shelter put ads in the local papers and people could inform themselves through the website of the Shelter – www.animalshelterbonaire.com.

The Campaign Continues
So far, the campaign has been very successful. Pet owners can still have their dogs and cats sterilized for free. And… every pet owner gets a T-shirt and a bumper sticker as well. Call for more information: the veterinarians at 717-4255 or 717-3338 or the Shelter at 717-4989

From 11.00 am, people started to come in and lots of visitors have been coming whole day. While having a drink or snack, many customers took their time to look around between the many, many items that were for sale, to see if there was something they liked and could buy for little money. They found a lot to buy. The ambiance was great. Many people met friends or acquaintance.

For the Animal Shelter it was a very good day. A container that is a lot emptier and a cashbox that is a lot fuller. for more than Naf. 4.000,00 was sold.

All the money will be used to keep the shelter doing their work and for various smaller projects.

The Shelter would like to thank the We Dare to Care Foundation and Martinus Import nv for placing at the disposal of tables and tents.

Bonny the Superdog is a new initiative of the Animal Shelter Bonaire targeted at reducing the growing number of unwanted and neglected dogs on Bonaire, through a sterilization project. The projects goal is to sterilize 500 more dogs and cats within a one year period, starting May 15th 2009.