This week Jane Madden,Bonaire Animal Shelter Volunteer Extraordinaire, sent us this darling photo of adoptees, Morris, Thomas and Otis.

Jane writes: “ The many kittens that the Bonaire Animal Shelter has taken in during the last month really need homes. There’s been an influx of kittens in the last six weeks. All of them came in very young (some had to be hand fed for a few weeks) and they are growing quickly. Most of these kittens are only 9 to 12 weeks old, only two are four months. The following three in our photo are all 9 weeks old.

Adorable little Morris has pale grey fur with black and white stripes and spots, particularly on his head and belly. He is the little brother of all black furred Maude, but much smaller. He will likely grow up to be a small cat but big on giving love.
Red and white Thomas is a new arrival. He’s still a bit shy, but once he's in your arms he turns into a purring little fur ball of affection. Otis has grey and black stripes with a couple of white toes. Otis is sweet and loveable but a strong little man. He survived a dog bite that resulted in the need for early sterilization but he is hearty and healthy with no scars either physically or mentally.”

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter, June 27- July 11, 2008

There are Tabbies and there are Tabbies.
“Felicia,” our Tabby Pet of the Week, is very unusual and special: she loves dogs and is just fascinated by them. How rare is that in a cat? She’s so attractive with her three colors and happy little face. As a very young kitten she had the brains to look for refuge off the streets after she’d been abandoned. But the people whose garden she went to couldn’t keep her so they brought her into the Shelter. Felicia is about eight months old and is very affectionate with people. So if you’re looking for a friendly cat to be friends with your gentle and friendly dog, Felicia is the perfect one. The cat adoption fee of NAƒ 75 includes shots, testing for feline leukemia, worming and sterilization. You may be sure that the animal you adopt from the Bonaire Animal Shelter is in perfect health and is socialized with humans.

Speaking of socialization, the volunteers who have been working with the cats have been doing a fantastic job. I’ve never seen so many affectionate cats before. As I entered the cat cage to take some photos, many of them came running up to me. As I sat in the chair several of them jumped up on me, purring like mad and looking for attention. One of those cats, I learned had been brought in as a wild, scary kitten, terrified of people. But with the love and care of the Shelter staff and volunteers that cat is now one of the most social, affectionate ones.

Everyone is welcome to stop by the Shelter. It’s even on many of our tourists’ lists to visit. It’s on the Lagoen Road and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm, 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

The Shelter staff is now maintaining the website and they’re doing a fine job. They’re keeping things up to date and you may even find The Reporter’s Pets of the Week.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter, June 13-27, 2008

Meet handsome “Henk”, a big stunning Rottweiler mix, who looks very menacing but is a sweet, friendly boy inside! He has the sturdy, broad physique of the Rottweiler. Henk is three years old, is sterilized and has been a family dog for all his life, but his owners moved and had no more space for him. What a pity as he is such an affectionate and nice dog. He’s only been at the Shelter a short time and he shouldn’t last long as an adoptee. So if you’re looking for a great family dog who can protect you and your family, Henk’s the guy. Stop in soon to see him at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm.

The puppies and kittens are still coming into the Shelter, and they’re always welcome. But it emphasizes the extreme importance of the Sterilization project which provides sterilization for those animals whose owners cannot afford it. Please, if you can, support this program with your donations: “Sterilization Fund,” MCB Account #10616410. The money goes ONLY for sterilizations. Or use your credit card to donate through Support Bonaire: www.supportbonaire.org.

What to do with your old car license plates? Give them to the Shelter which in turn will sell them, with all proceeds going toward running this safe haven.

The Shelter is on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Telephone 717-4989.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter, May 16-30, 2008

The Bonaire Animal Shelter is bursting at the seams right now with puppies and kittens. “So many are coming in every day,” says Shelter Manager Monique Degenaar.

“They’re very cute and very healthy. We’re happy to get them and we encourage people to bring in their unwanted puppies and kittens – no questions asked!” Some of these pets have been brought in by good Samaritans who have found the little animals dumped by the side of the road or even at the landfill.

Seeing these large numbers of kittens and puppies makes one realize how important the Shelter Sterilization Plan is because the Shelter can accommodate just so many pets and do try to find good homes, but sometimes it becomes an insurmountable task – there are just too many. When people bring in their litters of pups and kittens the Shelter staff encourages them to bring in the mother so that she can become sterilized.

The Sterilization Fund has been set up to pay for this service for those people who cannot afford it. For every animal that is sterilized an untold number of unwanted offspring can be avoided. If you know someone who has a pet that is giving birth time after time, tell them that they may come to the Shelter for help.

Please, if you can help at all, donate to the “Sterilization Fund,” MCB Account #10616410. The money goes only for sterilizations. Use your credit card to donate through Support Bonaire, www.supportbonaire.org The Shelter on the Lagoen Road is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Telephone 717-4989.

Taxi 7 driver Farid Ayubi found these pups abandoned at the Landfill (dump)

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter, May 2-16, 2008

It was a Good Samaritan who found this adorable pup, “Benno,” and his three siblings and brought them into the Bonaire Animal Shelter. The other pups have all been adopted, but Benno, one of the cutest of them all, is still at the Shelter, waiting for just the right person to come along. Little Benno is very sweet and enthusiastic
and is a favorite of the Shelter staff. He has soft, caramel colored fur that’s so easy to stroke. He’s about four months old and of course is full of health and has been examined by the vet, tested and given his shots. The adoption fee for dogs, NAƒ 105, includes all this plus his being neutered when he’s old enough.

We salute the Good Samaritan as Benno and his siblings are not the only dogs that this person has rescued and brought into the Shelter. Consider their lives had they been left to wander, homeless and uncared for.

You may meet Benno and the other healthy and sociable cats and dogs up for adoption at the Shelter on the Lagon Road, opened Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

You can help keep down the population of unwanted puppies. Donate to the Shelter Sterilization Fund, MCB Account #10616410. All the money in this account goes directly to pay for sterilizations of dogs who otherwise would be left to have litter after litter of unwanted puppies.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter March 21-April 6, 2008

Quizzical “Miranda” poses for the camera, wondering, “Who is going to see my photo and come in to the Bonaire Animal Shelter to meet me?”
This pretty little pup with attractive black, brown and white colored fur is about a year and a half. She’s so alert and friendly and is especially adorable when she perks up those big ears. She’s considered a “medium sized dog,” and to make her even more interesting she has the telltale “Ridgeback” reverse growing hair down her back. Unusual for a smaller dog, no? Miranda is the picture of good health, having been examined by the vet and given her tests and shots.

You may meet her at the Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter March 7-14, 2008

Josie Estill and her husband vacation on Bonaire every year and every year she spends much of that time volunteering at the Bonaire Animal Shelter socializing with the cats. About seven years ago, reading in the Pet of the Week column that the Shelter needed volunteers, Josie decided to try it out. “I missed my pets at home anyway,” she says.

A true cat lover she found herself falling in love with two Bonairean kitties from the Shelter and arranged to have them fly home with her to Rochester, New York, where they are living happily ever after. “It is so easy to bring a Shelter pet back to the States,” Josie explains . “The vet here will give a health certificate and shots if necessary, and it was no problem on the plane or through Customs.” For more details she suggests going to the US Customs and Immigration website.

So does a volunteer make any difference at the Shelter, “socializing” with the animals? “Absolutely,” declares Josie. “I see a marked difference between the time the animals come in – maybe they’re scared or angry – and then after they’re here for awhile and have gotten loving attention they’re relaxed, affectionate and wonderful to be with.” See her here with three very pleased tabby cats in the Shelter Cat Cage.

Josie mentioned she met another tourist volunteer who loves spending some of her vacation time at the Shelter. “She told me, ‘I get fed up with too much diving!’” So all you tourists who miss your pets at home, think of spending some time at Bonaire’s Shelter. It’s a happy place where the pets are housed together, not in separate, lonely cages like in many other places. And know you can make a difference.

The Shelter on the Lagoen Road is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 1pm and 3 to 5 pm. Telephone 717-4989.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter February 22 -March 7, 2008

Meet Randy, a blue-eyed nearly Siamese cat who’s really still a kitten.
Somewhere in his background there was a Siamese family member who bequeathed him his white fur with soft brown accent colors on his face, tail and ears.
He’s only five months old, a perfect age to be adopted, young enough so he can easily get used to his new owner’s life style.

Right now, though, he’s having a good time in the cat cage at the Bonaire Animal Shelter where he plays with all the other young cats. He’s friendly with the human
visitors too and he’s a favourite with the volunteers.

Randy has been examined by the vet, been given his test for feline leukaemia, had his shots and will be sterilized when he’s old enough.

You may see him at the Shelter on the Lagoen road, open Monday through Saturday, 8am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm. Telephone 717-4989.

L.D. - Bonaire Reporter February 8-22, 2008