Pet Assistance Program
This program was put into place to help animals by providing some of the very basic items they need, like shelter, water or food bowls, collars and leashes, traps to capture feral animals for sterilization etc. If you think an animal needs help because their guardian is not providing for them, please contact Monique at 556.1191
Adoption and Foster Care Program
We always need homes for the homeless, whether it is temporary or permanent. Until an animal shelter is constructed on the island, those animals need help from you.
Animal Abuse
If you know of an animal who is being abused, please read what to do on our Report Animal Cruelty.
Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR)
We were doing TNR also with the cats of the the Pelican Resort. But in August 2006 the Pelican Management all of the sudden called the other Animal Welfare foundation to pick up all the Marina cats. The AW trapped almost all the feral cats who were all healthy and sterilized and brought them, without our knowledge, to be euthanized at the veterinarian clinic in Cay Hill. Is ARFSXM other project is now to TNR the cats of the Sonesta. Several stray / feral cats are humanely captured, sterilized, then returned to their environment where a caregiver will continue to feed them. We need donations for the cat food and to pay the sterilizations fee.
Cases and Success Stories
There are many animals whose lives have been saved from horrific environments and situations. These cases and stories are kept by our foundation as historical records.
Approved Projects
Projects approved and funded by AMFO:
- Community Assessment - Planning of the Humane Movement ANG 15,945.
- Community Awareness - Knowledge of importance of Animal Sterilization ANG 83,395.
Future Projects
- More intensive spaying/neutering programs. Many people are reluctant to have their animal spayed or neutered due to lack of finances or lack of Knowledge, programs to provide free clinics need to be improved or created, in order to be successful, the spaying and neutering ratio must maintain a minimum of 70%. Any less is considered failure and animal overpopulation will continue to exist.
- Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR). Animals who have been abandoned and left to fend for them, need to be trapped, neutered and either returned or adopted. A concentrated effort on T/N/R (trap, neuter and release) needs to be put in place. ARF took example from www.alleycat.org For this type of program, we need cooperation with government and local veterinarians.
- Best Friends Animal Society, flagship for No-Kill. Become active with Best Friends Animas Society who believe that killing the animals is just plain wrong. They believed and sought for a better way. The time has come to bring an end to the routine killing of healthy dogs and cats simply because they do not have a home. Back in the 1970's more than 17 million homeless, abused, and abandoned dogs and cats were being put to death in shelters around the United States each year. Since then. Best Friends has become the flagship of a movement that seeks to bring an end to the killing. Last year, just 4.2 million animals were put down in shelters and the objective is to reduce this large massacre as soon as possible, www.bestfriends.org
- Develop more aggressive adoption programs. More aggressive adoption programs need to be developed. Even tourists can be encouraged to take home a loveable pet ff a successfully marketed adoption, campaign were in place. Local adoptions must be encouraged versus importing from puppy mills and this can be more successful if the animals are brought out into the public. Shelter animals give just as much love, if not more, than other breeds, ideas like "Furburbia" where animals are brought to a storefront, or cooperation from government to develop such storefronts would be needed.
- Education and Training Programs. ARFSXM volunteers goes once a year to a local school to talk about animal care. There are many people on the island who have animals, but do not know or understand how to properly care for, feed, and handle animals. Many people still chain their animal 24 hours per day; seven days a week which is cruel ! But the guardian many not realize this. As the days become years, many of these dogs sit, lay, defecate, and eat within the same 10-foot radius. Chained by the neck, they exist without respect, love, exercise, social interaction, and sometimes even basic nourishment. They live as prisoners, yet long to be pets. They deserve better! Please visit www.dogsdeservebetter.com/home.html
- Develop campaigns to involve community. Publicity and media campaigns have to be more consistent to involve the community in improving the situation for the animals. Having a hands-on, action-oriented, photographable project is very important. The more events, press conferences, and 'real' things happening, the better!
- Animal Sanctuary and Shelter. Land for a sanctuary/shelter has been donated by Government. With a sanctuary animals can be retrieved from the streets, and brought back to healthy status, ready for adoption.
