Melody received her award, a golden pooper scooper, from Shelter Manager Marlies

At a party aboard the Good Return recently the staff and volunteers from the Shelter got together to say goodbye to two very important people who have done outstanding work with the Shelter while they’ve been on the island. Both will be sorely missed. (note: awards ideas came from Jane and Jim Madden).

Melody Hamilton has been considered a “Queen of Cats” since she’s been a very faithful volunteer in the cat cage beginning in 1999, hardly missing a day. It was a very tearful Melody who received her award, a golden pooper scooper, from Shelter Manager Marlies.

Renata Sanders has been an inspiration for the Shelter in the five years she’s been living and working on the island. She came up with the idea and organized the very popular and lucrative book fairs and flea market. It was she also who put together the weekly Saturday Pakus di Pruga (flea market) in Playa which has been a great moneymaker for the Shelter.

Renata was awarded a golden cash box from chairman of the Shelter board, Paul Wichers

Renata was awarded a golden cash box from chairman of the Shelter board, Paul Wichers, for her devoted work. The next Book Fair/Flea Market at the Shelter on May 5 will be her last one before she leaves the island.

Laura DeSalvo, Bonaire Reporter- April 13-27, 2012

Today april 4 is WORLD STRAY ANIMAL DAY.
Stray Animals Day ambassador is Cesar Millan. Cesar Millan supports April 4 Stray Animals Day.
For the official ‘Stray Animals Day video’ they have used a lot of seconds of the videos of the Animal Shelter Bonaire! Take a look at from second 0:20 till 0:22 and from 0:27 to 0:45. Bonaire and its animals are world famous!

The year before, in 2010, there were 217 adoptions. Of the animals brought in 75% were dogs and 25% cats. Compared to 2010, this last year, 2011, there were fewer dogs in the Shelter. The Shelter staff believes this has to do with the free sterilization program. That program will continue in 2012 and they will focus more on the free sterilization of cats.

Story by Laura DeSalvo, Bonaire Reporter- Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2012

Laura De-Salvo, Bonaire Reporter – November 11-25, 2011

Farah, the full of fun Dalamation

What a great pal “Farah,” our Pet of the Week, could be. She is full of fun, she’s energetic and would love to find an owner who could appreciate her. She’d make an excellent watch dog who would be protective of her owners, but she’s also very sweet and playful. Those humans who exercise would really make a good fit for her. Farah is about two years old and has some Dalmatian background which gives her that snowy white coat with black detailing – very attractive.

She’s a medium sized dog but with a big personality. Keep in mind that Farah has been checked out by the vet, has been wormed and given her shots and the adoption fee includes that as well as sterilization and even a micro chip that’s been inserted under her skin for identification.

You may see Farah and the other pets up for adoption at the Bonaire Animal Shelter on the Lagoen Road, open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to1 pm and 3 to 5 pm. Tel. 717- 4989.

Bonaire Reporter – October 14-28, 2011

Pet of the week: Maurice the cat

Jane Madden Disko, considered the “Bonaire Animal Shelter Cat Guru,” writes (very knowingly) about Maurice, our Pet of the Week. “Maurice (he insists on the French pronunciation: more-EESS) is an absolutely stunning young man.

He is definitely not your typical orange tabby. Maurice has a distinctive, elegantly shaped head in the style of Egyptian cats and his pastel orange coat is unusually and exotically marked. Despite his incredible good looks, he is not at all conceited or stand-offish. Maurice is extremely people-friendly.
He loves to be held and stroked and will happily join in a game of go fetch the ball. He is loving and affectionate to his feline roommates as well. Maurice is about eight months old and will be a large, lean adult. He is sterilized, vaccinated and just waiting for someone who would like to have an unusual and loving cat in their home.”

Things go in cycles, even at the Shelter, where right now there is a number of red furred kittens available for adoption. Stop by and see for yourself. The Shelter on the Lagoen Road is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am-1 pm and 3-5 pm. Tel. 717-4989.

Bonaire Reporter – Sept. 30, – Oct. 14, 2011