Written by Mark W. Schmink
Luna Foundation and New Life for Paws recently received a grant from the Last Chance Rescue and Care, Inc. located in New York in the United States. This is an organization that supports the eforts of rescue dog organizations all over the world. This grant award represents the type of positive collaboration that exists between our countries, to reach the common goal of saving these vulnerable dogs that are in jeopardy and in need of food and health care to survive and lead a happy life.
Luna Foundation and New Life for Paws are local rescue organizations that dedicate all their time and eforts in saving the sick, injured, abused, helpless, and neglected street dogs of Aruba. They have a dedicated group of volunteers that go out into the community and capture stray dogs to be neutered and spayed to stop the breeding, and unwanted pregnancies that add to the problem on the island. This problem is a containable issue, as Aruba is an island and is only 20 miles long by 6 miles wide.
The rescue organizations in Aruba are plentiful and pool resources to address and resolve the issue. This is in the best interests of the Aruba Government, Citizens, Community and Tourists who visit the island and contribute to its economic growth and employment rate. The problem of street dogs arose from public and tourist outcry on the stray dogs that were seen all over the island and shocked and alarmed people to act. As the rescue organizations emerged the problems were being addressed and the government took notice. However, these organizations operate on a shoestring budget and subsist solely on donations and contributions made by average citizens, individuals, visitors and now with the help of potential grants from other countries.
The organizations do their best to address the issue daily and sacrifice their own money, health and well-being to reach their goals. They also participate in groups and committees to change the laws on the island to protect these precious natural resources, such as incorporating leash laws and neglect and abuse laws, animal control units and shelters. More is needed to support these foundations in the form of budget allocations from the Aruban Government to bolster the resources of the rescues that will eventually catch up and get control of the problem. They also seek to educate the public through social media (there are hundreds of groups for Aruba Cunucus on the internet with tens of thousands of members) newspaper articles, fundraising e orts, and going into the schools to teach the next generation the importance of treating these dogs and animals with care, dignity, and respect to keep them safe, healthy and secure
Thank you to the Last Chance Rescue and Care, Inc. for their support and the support of so many others to assist and help on achieving the stated goals of all the rescue organizations on the beautiful island of Aruba.
