Just returned, and am not happy!! Did a dive at Karpata in the morning, and then was taking the Karpata shortcut back down south. Found a donkey lying on the side of the road.

Thought it was dead, but when I drove past, it kicked its legs. Tried to give it some water and an apple, but it was aggressive! Immediately headed back to town and called the sanctuary. The director said she would try to get a vet and head out some time later on in the day.

Anyway, visited her, and the sanctuary the next day, and she said they had to put it down. The vet said it had tetanus and had probably had been laying there several days.

Said the locals could care less about them, and would never have called. Same for the dogs and cats!! She has a full time job, and runs the sanctuary on the side.

I'd be willing to pay an extra 5 or 10 bucks for the STINAPA fee, just to have them take care of the wildlife on the surface, as well as below the waters. Pisses me off.....!!

Anybody else feel like I do?

No surprise here...I would be willing to pay extra to ensure more money for all of the wildlife, terrestrial as well as aquatic.

Tad, thanks for caring. It is a sad story. I had a similiar experience Aug. in Antigua. It was a horse story and ruined my vacation. Maggie spent our vacation feeding skeletal dogs and dealing with this horse. Although the Caribbean has it's share of problems DO NOT watch Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. The way animals are treated in the US is just as bad. Locals here use their dogs for security. For some reason many are tied 24/7. Not sure how this fends off robbers. It also makes for a life of hell. We do have an animal welfare agency on island. Please if you want to do anything support the shelter with money for the sterlization fund.

I wish we could send some of our animals from the shelter to a no kill shelter in the US. There is one in Sterling MA that takes dogs from San Juan. AA pays for their delivery I think. Tribsy, maybe a project for us to get our next girl scout badge?

Tad, thank you for doing what you did for the animal. Marina does work her arse off for those donkey's, and she loves each one of them. We adopt a donkey each year at Christmas. The money goes toward food, medical care, etc. If folks don't have the funds to adopt one, you can still visit the Sanctuary, and for six bucks help.

The animal shelter is also a great place to visit as well. They really take care of the pets, and it is one of the cleanest shelters I've ever seen.

Again, thanks for caring.

I visit the sanctuary each trip, buy apples and carrots to take with me wherever I go, as well as leave 25 bucks in the box at the airport for the donkeys.

I have no problem with adopting one! Is it a real one that you can meet when you return, or just one in general?

I agree with Ann. These animals (donkeys, goats, cats, dogs, etc.) in need are beginning to have a real effect on my vacation enjoyment. I don't have the guts to also visit the animal shelter, up close and personal. I'm just a softie......

Tad,
What a sad situation you came upon! Marina does a fantastic job at the sanctuary and I wish everyone on island had her heart & devotion to animals

I am sorry the animal had to be put down. Thanks for what you did; you care!!

Kobi

Tad, thank you for caring, you did a good job. Sorry that the poor animal had to be put down, but you did what you could to make it less suffer

Tad, in thinking about this not only did no locals not care..imagine how many divers passes this sad creature and did nada. You enabled him to get proper care and to die without further misery. You are my star.

Nice job Tad, very decent thing to do. Sorry he had to be put down.

Thanks for letting me whine guys........It was still a great trip though! Ann is right about other divers passing right by. A...holes!! Anyway, we all can only do so much back home.

IMHO, trip reports about DIVING are not necessary! I mean, if it wasn't awesome...!! you wouldn't go back year after year, would you? Think that turtle or spotted moray is going to be in the same exact spot when you visit again?

I'm not upset at the locals, as much as I am at those of us who pay the rent!! I LOVE Bonaire, and I wish there were something more I could do!! Back here at home, I just send in the mortgage payments. The puppers actually own the place....I'm just the cabana boy!!

As a resident, I take big offense to the title of this topic. I think it's a pretty general- not to mention incorrect- assumption that locals just don't care.

Have they told you personally that they don't?

I'd also like to let you know that on March 31st (a Saturday)of this year at about 5 in the morning my colleagues and I (who are LOCALS) encountered an injured donkey and did the right thing - called the Donkey Sanctuary.

Edward/Nydia Welcome to Bonaire Talk
I believe that you are very correct to say that this topic is very GENERAL..but perhaps not all that incorrect..IF and that is a big IF that donkey was lying there for several days{ the donkey could have been hidden in the brush and just gotten itself to that place}, not only are the locals at fault but I am sure there were tourists that didn't stop or report it there either.
If it had been me I would have thought the same thing, so we are glad that you came out to debate the subject.
We on Bonaire Talk applaud you that you did the correct thing with the donkey that you found,, thank you.
I am glad that the topic drew you to Bonaire Talk as we really do need the opinion on a lot of topics from people that live there. See good things do happen with general statements..

I have altered the topic title for the sake of a fair debate on the subject if that is where it is going..

I respectfully apologize to any locals I offended by my wording of the topic. I am not a resident, or a vet. All I can do is reiterate what the manager of the donkey sanctuary, who is a resident, told me about the locals attitude.

How long the donkey was laying there is not something I can say with certainty. I am relying on what the vet, who is also a local resident, told the manager of the sanctuary after his examination. If the local vet says it was there for several days, and the manager of the sanctuary said that locals don't care, what would you conclude if you were here in the states?

Regardless, I found it at 10:30. Call me crazy, but to think NO ONE, divers, or locals who live on the road, didn't pass it that morning is a stretch. No one called but me! Just ask Marina?

Anyway, what can I, other divers visiting, and local residents do to help?

Tad, Bonaire Talk raised funds a few years ago to adopt two babies. Sandy, and Gilian. Anyway, the next year, i took over the adoption of Sandy, and Wally Bell and Eva (his better half, sorry wally...lol) took over the adoption of the other one. You get "adoption papers" and pictures of the baby and mother. When Sandy was old enough to let roam, Marina let her "go be free" on the sanctuary, so I would have no idea which one she is anymore, but I know she's there.

Here's the thread that shows them as babies, and the certificates, etc.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/771/127950.html

Also, if you adopt one through www.supportbonaire.org, it's a tax deduction for US citizens.

In regard to the animal shelter, it is so clean, and they LOVE those animals so much, it's really not "too" heartbreaking. They can always use toys, both cat and dog toys.

Here's a way you can donate to the animal shelter if you can't bear to go there:
Animal Shelter Starts Gift Shop

We raised funds a while back to provide medicine for the animals, and here are some pics of them.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/27/269065.html

Edward, also, thank you for your post. I know a lot of people who live on Bonaire who truly care about the animals and nature of the island.

Tad, one easy way while on the island to support the animal shelter is to go to Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn and buy an old Bonaire license plate or shelter T-shirt. All proceeds go to support the animal shelter, and they also have a donation box on the counter for cash donations. Bruce is a good guy, a local, and very much supports good treatment of island animals and you can bet every dollar makes it to the shelter.

We have a bunch of cat toys ready to pack for our trip....in less then two weeks!!

Edward, I for one thank you for making your opinion and a local voice heard on this topic.

YucatanPat...do you have any extra room?! For shelter toys? Small ropes, rings, etc. I have a box ready to go but would love it to get there sooner than the brown truck/plane.

Kobi

I can't speak for the vet, neither for the manager of the sanctuary if they told you that locals don't care, but I can assure you that there are those of us that do!

Thanks for the words of welcome; we're not new to Bonaire Talk, but have lost our original log-in (due to a change in email address). Having lived on the island for 8 years, being married to a local, having a child born in Bonaire, and speaking the local language, I like to consider myself as "kriyoyo" as can get without having been born on the island!

As a daily reader of Bonaire Talk, it was this topic that finally got me emotional enough to speak up.

I think visitors who are generous enough to help ANY foundation existing on-island are good-hearted people, and deserve a big THANK YOU. Please don't forget the many other foundations working so very hard on this island.

Thank you.
Nydia

Nydia, I'm glad you spoke up

Bonaire Talkers have given to the Donkey's, turtles, animal shelter, Hoppner Home, and the day care (can't recall the name right now, but Patty who used to be at Hoppner has been the contact).

Are there any other needy organizations that you think could use help? We are ALWAYS looking for a good cause

Aside from those already mentioned, Fundashon Guia di Famia would be a great place to give baby and children's clothes/toys, etc., and I think the daycares would really appreciate craft-making materials, toys, dvd's, puppets, etc.
Those are two I can think of off the top of my head. Also, FKPD, the foundation working with disabled persons, would also probably appreciate any assistance. There's the Special Olympics and Jong Bonaire too.

Once you start thinking about it, there's plenty....

This is great information, Nydia! I speak, often, to Marlene at Hoppner. We are sponsoring a boy there who's adorable My eyes are now MORE open to other organizations; thank you!!!

Hi Kobi, under normal trip conditions we would love to assist, but sorry, we will have bags stuffed to weight limits with items for new condo we are buying. We are only taking some rattle toys for the cats this trip, and maybe a couple of those run-thru tubes that fold flat if Petsmart has them this week, just no more room, again Sorry.

Patrick

Thanks, Patrick. I was stuffed to the gills in April and July too Good luck with your new condo; how exciting!

Thanks again for your compassion regarding the injured donkey!!!

Tad
I truly believe that there is a special place in heaven for those of us who have an undying love & compassion for those who are unable to speak for themselves. I will see you and all the other posters there someday! My husband & I love all animals & include our donkey, animal shelter & turtle donations right into our vacation budget. That's all we can do for now, but when we retire on Bonaire, we will volunteer to help all the animal shelters in any way we can. Good job Tad, you are my hero :-)