The Starving Dogs That Give Curaçao A Bad Name

6/6/2016

Do you see this poor creature that the good Lord put on this earth? Do you see his ribs protruding out? Do you see the suffering and pain in his eyes? I drove by heading to an appointment and saw him in the parking lot waiting for someone to have mercy on him, feed him, give him water, something. On the way back, I had to stop.

What you see is him finish in up some nuggets I bought for him. The employees and passerby's looked at me like I was crazy and some has some foreign words that didn't sound too kind. I'm done holding tongue.

I have been asked by so many people, "why are you leaving Curaçao?" Believe me, there are A LOT more other reasons but the treatment, or lack thereof, of their canine/feline community disgust me. Yes, DISGUST. Any one who knows me knows animals have been part of my family since I breathed my first breath.

Witnessing horrors began since I landed. During my first week in 2014, as I drove into the parking lot of my job, I sobbed on the phone with my sister, not sure I would be able to remain in this island... just because of all the atrocities I saw happening to the dogs. She helped me gain perspective by saying: if people don't have money to keep food on the table for their family, a dog's life won't matter. If the government has other issues to worry about, canine control will come last. I get it, but enough is #@-& enough.

Don't have animals if you can't take care of them. Do the right things and have them spayed and neutered. I have seen too many dead dogs and cats on the road as if normal. IT's NOT!!! Dogs living chained. Dogs having litter upon litter upon litter. Dogs being starved even when they have owners. Dogs carcasses remaining on main roads for weeks on end, in the heat of this sun.

I'm pissed. I'm annoyed. There are a few people, like the volunteers at CARF, here doing their damnedest to help these animals and trying to educate the community, but the push back is real. Lord knows I can't feed all animals, but I'm lacing up my sandals now and getting that cutie pie some real food. If anyone knows of any shelters that take international animals, please let me know. My heart hurts.

Submitted letter by: Anj.

7 Comments

Robert Gaida

6/7/2016 10:04:36 am

That is a great article. My wife and I first came to curacao on out honeymoon in January where we saw the same thing. Instead of buying t-shirts and other tourist stuff we decided to feed the dogs. We bough a few bags of food, some box's of treats and off we went. We then met the woman who run CARF and we're taken back by the amount they do with no help from the government. We bought shampoo, bags of food, treats and brought them to the rescue where we got to play with dozens of loving dogs....they hey just wanted attention and love. Nothing more!!! Well 4 months later (4/16) we returned.....this time we returned with an entire suitcase full of toys. Well over $1500 with and it still isn't even close to enough.....again we got to go to the shelter and play with some really loving dogs and puppies. It's a damn shame that it goes on like this. You get off the plane and there are starving dogs all over. GREAT 1ST IMPRESSION. we will be back in another 5 months and we will do it all over again. Everyone at CARF has a free ticket to heaven cause they deserve it.

Cathy

6/7/2016 01:16:22 pm

CARF is one of the Best for helping strays in need.
I know first hand how kind and loving they are to these souls that are starving and wondering the streets.
All animal volunteers are angels in my book. I have written to Curacao with the same concerns of first impressions no reply of course.

6/7/2016 01:16:35 pm

Nathalja link

6/29/2016 09:09:49 am

Wake up Curaçao, please wake up!!!

The Dog's on Curaçao are sufferig everyday and its heartbreaking to see them in the terrible condition that they are in. Pups being dumpt in an oil barrel in the hot sun, a dog that broke his jaw and could eat for two weeks, and he had an owner. The cable guy noticed the dog and rescuers came to help. The vet could only put him down so he didn't have to suffer anymore. Curaçao may look like paradise, but behind the scenes its hell. All the rescue organizations big or small are treu hero's to me, cose they are the ones who don't close their eyes. Educate. Sterilize, build a sanctuarie and help the dogs in need. Adopt if it's possible, donate if you can, share the Facebook pages and make everybody aware of what is really going on at Curaçao. Because it's not only the strays that need us.

6/29/2016 09:10:38 am

6/29/2016 09:12:35 am

6/29/2016 09:12:50 am

The Starving Dogs That Give Curaçao A Bad Name

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