IT was another successful day for the organizers of Help Animal Welfare Saint Lucia (Helpaws) as they continue to embarked on their Spray and Neuter Clinic currently ongoing at the Old Gros Islet Police Station.
The VOICE spoke to Charlene Penney the founder of Helpaws Saint Lucia, a foster base organization based in Soufriere, and this is what she had to say, “We rescue dogs and cats and we also rehabilitate them; most of them are strays and we find them homes as well”.
The organization also works with Taj Weeks, the founder of Toco and together in partnership with World Vets.
Our aim is to sterilize 400 animals in 4 days; we are targeting stray animals and animals from low income families who won’t be able to afford the surgery, and also to stop their animals from making babies.
VOICE: What exactly is taking place in the surgery room at the moment?
Penney: What they are doing they are removing the reproductive organs; for the female it’s called Spay and for the males its called Neuter. They remove the testicles so they cannot make babies and mate. It is very effective in removing the over population of dogs and cats on the island. It is important that the owners do it, because it reduces a number of sexual transmitted dieses that dogs and cats get from mating.
VOICE: After two days, what’s the response like?
Penney: It has been great, on Saturday we did 80 animals, on Sunday 112 animals. We are working fast and making sure everyone is safe. A lot of people from the community have come out and we also have gone out to catch stray dogs and cats to bring them in for treatment.
VOICE: Any casualties yet?
Penney: We can never predict if the animals have a preexisting conditions that we don’t know about or the owner may not know about and sometimes they can have reactions to the anesthesia, but there is a risk and generally everything is fine. They come out ok and recover very quickly.
VOICE: How strong is your team, in terms of people who work with you?
Penney: We have 20 volunteers and World Vet who is the organization that came down to help us, there are 13 of them. We also have a number of local volunteers and international volunteers as well
VOICE: When you leave Gros Islet on Wednesday 10th October, where is your next stop?
Penney: This year we are just staying in Gros Islet; we want to try and hit the communities that are struggling with the stray animals’ population.
VOICE: You have been involved in this for a while now; have you seen a decrease in the number of stray animals on the island?
Penney: I have lived on the island for five years and I actually notice a considerable difference not only in the number of animals on the street, but the way locals are interacting with the dogs. I see people walking their dogs something I never saw before, this is awesome, there has been a mind shift. We need to treat animals like family members, they can get sick just like us and they have feelings too.
VOICE: How much would it cost someone to have what you offering for free if they go to a Veterinary Doctor?.
Penney: It’s a couple hundred dollars, if you can afford it; you take it to the Veterinary, if you cannot afford it, we are offering the service to help you take care of your animals.
Meanwhile, the love and attention for the animals continue today and Wednesday starting from 8.30a.m. at the Old Gros Islet Police Station. Helpaws is urging members of the public to bring in their animals for treatment.
