ONE LUCKY DOGGIE
A few weeks ago Sarah from the U.K. who was living on the island for a few weeks while she completed her dive master certification came to PAW Sanctuary at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. Of course I was fast asleep, but the barking of my dogs woke me up, and I heard someone shouting my name. I ran outside to see what was going on and Sarah was accompanied by this dog who had blood all over his face.
Sarah told me she was going home after hanging out with some friends and saw this dog going around in circles and their was blood gushing out from its head, so she could not leave the animal there and did not know what to do. She then remembered meeting me through another volunteer from the UK that was here a few weeks before helping out and she decided to bring the dog here.
I cleaned up the largest wound on the dog’s head, stop the bleeding, put some antibiotics on the wound, and gave him meds for pain and infection. We then placed him in a large cage with food and water until in the morning
At first we thought he was hit with something because we could not see his wound that well at night, but in the morning when i checked him over i noticed that he was attacked by another dog and after an investigation found out it was a pittbull. Many men have pitbulls on this island and they teach them to go after smaller or sick defenseless dogs such as this one.
This poor dog had tons of punctured wounds all over his body, plus i discovered he had a huge lump under his neck. In addition i felt so bad for him but he had tons of fleas and they were eating him alive so i decided to bathe him to kill the fleas and at the same time scrape off all the dry blood he had all over his body. So the little guy seemed quite happy and content with this bath.
Since PAW is a cat rescue and we dont have the space for dogs I could not keep him, so i asked Sarah to go speak to the person who I believe was the owner and found out that the dog was homeless but the owner of this bar allows him to hangout there and they feed him but did not want to have the responsibility to nurse him. So I ask Sarah to talk to another woman who helps dogs and the woman said they would come to pick up the dog and kept him for two days until he was a little better but they would then released him.
Nevertheless, I am so happy that I was able to save this dogs life, he was a very nice calm dog and wish i could have done more for him, but as always with limited funds there is just so much that we could do here at PAW.
I want to thank Sarah for her compassion and kindness in helping this dog in need. People like her makes this planet a better place!
Madi Collins,
Founder of PAW
donna Said,
June 5, 2010 @ 5:47 am
Madi … you are a life saver !
many times over !
Donna
Terry Linehan Said,
August 8, 2010 @ 9:01 am
This is fantastic, I have so much respect for you.
Natalie Said,
November 19, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
Maddie you are AMAZING!! I miss you!
Debbie cooper Said,
June 11, 2011 @ 9:13 pm
Regarding One Lucky Doggie.
Facts seem to be forgotton here. Madi called The Caye Caulker Humane Society to pick up this Dog, she is well known on the island. We fostered her out to Linda who kept her for 6 weeks not 2 days. Madi did a great job with helping the dog through the night but it would be great if we could all be friends in the endeavor to help the animals and quit this publicity quest at their expense. Crabber is the dogs name and she is doing well. If a person cant tell the truth then they should say nothing at all.
Donna Said,
June 13, 2011 @ 8:15 am
Regarding Debbie’s comment on “One Lucky Doggie” …
i am wondering what your ‘agenda’ is with your recent (June) posting to the “One Lucky Doggie” incident that happened many months ago, …at least at the end of 2010.
This is a nice story with a happy ending about an event that happened at P.A.W.
P.A.W. was ‘available’ at 2am in the morning, they took care of poor Crabber, and then released him to someone else. Are you upset that she did not specifically mention the Caye Caulker Humane Society?
Are you upset because she quoted 2 days, instead of 6 weeks? The fact remains that when i was there in March, Crabber was doing well but was still at the bar where he seems to be living.
I don’t see the “One Lucky Doggie” posting as a ‘publicity quest’ on the part of P.A.W. Madi’s story is an accounting of what happened one evening. The fact is that they are available 24/7, and obviousily people know it. It’s a wonderful little peaceful place that is there to help out any animal that is in need, anytime of day or night; and it is self-funded, maintained by one woman. You can call it a ‘publicity quest’ … but most people would call it ‘marketing’ …. it is what you do to let people know what you do, and how they can help support your cause if they want to.
I also do not see anywhere in her blog where there is any indication that she is not trying “to be friends” with anyone.
And finally, I was taught that if a person can’t say something nice, they shouldn’t say anything at all.
So there you have it.
Di Said,
June 13, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
Ditto on Donna’s comment…
Madi, you are an angel to the animals of Caye Caulker, with your no-kill cat sanctuary and assistance to injured dogs at any time of day or night. You have rescued dogs from a life on the streets and found permanent homes for them, rather than taking the easy way out with euthanasia. If you ever leave the island, I sure hope others will be ready and willing to step in and provide the same level of quality care and love 24/7 for the abused, sick and homeless creatures there. In the meantime, keep up the great work!!!!
eddi gregg Said,
June 14, 2011 @ 2:40 am
I have the deepest respect and love for Madi Collins and the work that she has done SINGLE HANDED for some many years in bringing hope to animals that have suffered abuse, torment, negiglence and people who are apathetic or even derogatory of her INCREDIBLE efforts to ensure that defenseless animals have access to care and food and shelter. I am admire her enormously and will be back later in the year because I believe totally in what she is doing. Coming from the UK is an effort worth undertaking. I suggest that others who TRULY LOVE animals and are compassionate and humanitarian do their best to support her and her endeavours
eddi gregg Said,
June 14, 2011 @ 2:41 am
KEEP IT UP MADI – you’re one the most courageous people I know.! Eddi
Debbie cooper Said,
July 3, 2011 @ 9:52 pm
Madi stresses through the same thing we do, wishing for more space, more time more help. Crabber has been an Island Icon for so many years.12 to be exact. I ask only for fair and true information . We took Crabber from Madi the morning after she called us, Madi did great for Crabber , she was not hurt that bad. My question back at you is why cant we correct a story that is full of misinformation?? I just hate to see the animals exploited for the humans use..I have folks around the world asking for reports on Crabber, the dog is my concern like a child of mine..not to be used for self gain.
ex-board members of Caye Caulker Humane Society Said,
July 3, 2011 @ 11:24 pm
We cannot believe how far the hatred, jealousy, envy & insecurity of Debbie Cooper toward PAW and its founder has taken her.
My gosh, we are so embarrassed that we were ever in her so called Caye Caulker HUMANE??? SOciety??
How can she stoop this low? Snooping around on people’s website/blogs wasting time trying to defame people’s work when we still see she has so much work to do with so many dogs running around on the island after she claimed that there were no more dogs on the streets because they found homes for a 100 and something dogs??
Wait, does she mean homes at the dump after her group the Caye Caulker Humane Society killed the dogs and burned their bodies? Because this is what they did a few months ago, their idea of controlling dogs on the streets. They actually put ropes around the dogs neck and dragged a few of them out of people’s yard and killed them.
This is the reason why we resigned because we did not agree on her wasting our energy to try and see how we could block any of PAWS work instead of being proactive. Plus we don’t see her ideas as being anything but humane.
She speaks about being truthful & not using the animals for publicity? SHE USES THE ANIMALS TO SELL MORE OF HER ART AT HER ART GALLERY BY MAKING PEOPLE THINK HER MONEY IS GOING TO HELP THE ANIMALS.
Want to speak about truth & Cooper’s first lie was saying we found a home for our first rescued kitten & none of us including cooper wanted to keep. When PAW offered to give the kitty a home Cooper did not want to look bad, how could she allow this wonderful person with so many animals and yet make time & space in her life to keep the kitty? Instead of looking out for the best interest of the kitty her only thought was not to look bad. Cooper’s decision was to lie and inform PAW that she had found the kitty a good home with a nice family then dump the kitty in kenny’s yard forget that she lied & posted a picture of kitty and whereabouts on their site.
She says she believes in spay/neuter and never even had the decency to do Kenny a favor & sterilized the kitty, the kitty still lives with Kenny and he tells us he recently had the kitty sterilized at one of PAWs clinic. Cooper talks about correcting a story that is full of misinformation? Correct that!
Susan Stein Said,
July 7, 2011 @ 12:05 pm
I run a rescue and I always keep abreast of happenings around the world concerning animals. In doing so, I came about this blog and I wanted to make a comment on Debbie Cooper’s last comment below:
“Crabber has been an Island Icon for so many years.12 to be exact, I just hate to see the animals exploited for the humans use..I have folks around the world asking for reports on Crabber, the dog is my concern like a child of mine..not to be used for self gain.”
Island Icon? The dog is my concern like a child of mine? People all around the world asking about him?
Well even Icons deserve a home. And if you say so many people around the world are asking about her how come you have not placed her in a home yet? Some way to treat a child leaving him on the streets? HOW PATHETIC and SAD!!
That innocent dog deserves a home, a safe peaceful place to end his last days, don’t you think?
Patty Label Said,
July 7, 2011 @ 12:58 pm
I disagree with Debbie Cooper’s last posting and comment below:
Madi stresses through the same thing we do, wishing for more space, more time more help.
I visited Caye Caulker this year with my husband and two kids. We saw a flyer on the front street that animals would be eradicated and were very upset.
We found out from expats and locals that there was a local Humane Society and went there everyday to try and speak to someone but we never saw anyone there. Someone told us they were there only on Saturdays and we went that day but there was a sign that they would not be having a clinic.
They had a fenced in area in the back but there were no animals so my question is why would Cooper say they stress about space?
Expats and locals also informed us that they had a policy where they did not accept any animals if someone came with an animal they usually euthanized them, or sent them to PAW or Kennys.
We later found out that the same Caye Caulker Human Society we were going to for answers had put up the sign that dogs/cats were going to be eradicated & lately read their own posting on their blog that they did eradicate some animals and seemed to be proud of their way of controlling the stray dog population and we were disgusted.
We wonder why they would decide on something so sad when PAWS had already have homes waiting to take the animals in.
Nevertheless our vacation had a happy ending when we got the address of PAW and visited the animals everyday and the kids had tons of fun cuddling the animals.
I was amazed by Madi Collins’ love & commitment to share her home & life with all the unwanted animals of the island and I have all the respect in the world for this one woman powerhouse to be available 24/7 to any and all animals.
Good luck PAW.
John Said,
July 7, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
Hi, I just wanted to say that I love Caye Caulker .
I rented a home there for 6 months and this kitty became a friend but I knew i could not take him back home so i started looking to see if i can place him. i found out about the humane society and went for their help but they told me they did not accept animals and that was their policy. I wish they would have told me about PAW, they never mentioned anything about this place.
Sadly, i found out about PAW the day before I was leaving and it was too late to do anything with so much I had to do. My heart still aches as I wonder everyday what must have happened to this poor little fur baby.
Its sad that the humane society refuses to see that they are hurting animals by not mentioning PAW to people who come there wanting help for animals. IF they are not going to help animals why not send them to someone who will.
Lisa Wintrip Said,
July 13, 2011 @ 8:03 pm
Wow thank God for Madi. I have traveled to and from Belize and lived on Caye Caulker for sometime in the last two years. I was there recently in March and saw the dog eradication signs as well as on the local TV channel. So sad. When I first was on Caye Caulker I knew of some dogs who had been killed back then as well. And very loved ones but the village council doesn’t seem to care about that if they can get to a dog, they’re gone. I know Kenny well and so admire his love and caring for the animals. I volunteer with a dog rescue organization in Calgary, Canada fostering dogs from native reserves and any dog saved is a life miracle. I didn’t search on the internet and find Madi until after I returned in March or I would have brought home and rescue a dog from that recent kill. I plan on returning to Belize soon and bringing home a dog to love and give a home to. Debbie seems to be way out of line and I am embarrassed for her and the Humane Society. Madi is up against a lot and I admire her strength as animals are not treated well in Belize and she is up against alot of ignorance. So every bit of love and treatment for any pet goes a long way.
Norman Macksoud Said,
January 12, 2012 @ 11:12 am
Love this post! Good job on outlining the why and how in a way starters can fully understand and experienced bloggers can refer to. Definitely one to bookmark and share.