A DOG SITS WAITING
A dog sits waiting in the cold autumn sun
Too faithful to leave, too frightened to run
He's been here for days, now with nothing to do
But sit in the road and wait for you
He can't understand why you left him that day
He thought you and he were stopping to play
He's sure you'll come back and that is why he stays
How long will he suffer? How many days go by?
His legs have grown weak, his throat parched and dry
He's sick from hunger and falls with a sigh
He lays down his head and closes his eyes
I wish you could see how a waiting dog dies
-By Kathy Flood
On the island of Vieques we at VHSAR are facing many battles in our efforts to help animals. We have a serious overpopulation problem with cats, dogs and horses, many of whom wander the streets putting themselves and people in danger. There are too many unwanted and unvaccinated animals, too many dogs with heart worm, too many dogs chained in back yards. TOO MANY heartbreaking tales to tell. We hope that others understand our passion and our love for the animals of Vieques and are willing to help in some way even if only in small measure. We appreciate any innovative ideas. We need all the help we can get.
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We hope that through education we can reach people in our efforts to save these animals. We want people to know how much pain these animals go through and that more responsible ownership HAS TO HAPPEN. The following examples may be graphic and painful, but a reminder of what we see REGULARLY. It is so easy to look away, but that is what most people do. We will not look away and we will keep fighting for these animals no matter how hard the battle.
We see dogs who at first look beyond help but are given a second chance.
  
Horses are left
roaming and suffer injuries without aid from persons who are
responsible for them. If a horse is injured, it belongs to no
one. The
horse above was left to wander around town and was hit by a car. He had two broken
legs, a smashed hip,
fractured skull and who knows what else.
The horse below with severe
wounds stood for hours without water on
the side of the road before someone called the Humane Society
and then we
were able to come to his aid. With limited help and no large
animal vet on the island, VHS has a challenge on their hands. We do our
best to help the animals but there is only so much we can do.
   
Friends of the Humane Society called about two dogs that were tied up and abandoned. There was supposed to be someone feeding them and giving them water, but that did not happen. We checked on them and gave them food and water and finally after days, with police help, obtained the two and brought them to safety at VHS. They both recovered from skin problems and gained weight. They also turned into happy dogs that were so greatful to be rescued! One has already been adopted to NY and the other is here waiting for the perfect home!
Here are the photos of the dogs tied up, scared and skinny.
   
We hope that through education we can reach people in our efforts to save these animals.
Remache is a well known figure on the island who is frequently seen leading orphaned baby animals piglets, horses baby cows goats and puppies with his bicycle, some in the basket some along side of him. His" love" for helping animals often resulted in uncontrolled over populations and did not include vacinating animals, providing medical services, spay or neutering. Our battle with Remache has been a long and persistant struggle to educate him to first allow us to spay/neuter animals under his care, second to begin to vacinate,test and use preventive medicine. With low cost incentives, he has begun to bring his animals to the clinic. Education can make a difference but often is a long difficult process which can be discouraging until you see the results.
Here are the after pictures....Salem, now Mojo, is prancing around his new neighborhood in Massachusettes. The Shitzu is now living in Long Island.
 
Check out this Website about animal welfare in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Please help us save dogs like this before it is too late. Too many dogs look like this here and all over the Carribbean. See how you can help by checking out our website and others around the islands.
HELP US STOP ANIMAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT! CLICK HERE
VHSAR IS ATTACKING ANIMAL ABUSE IN VIEQUES. LAW 154 WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND WILL BE INFORCED.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THE LAW.
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