If you’ve spent time in Abaco, you’ve no doubt encountered stray dogs, known locally as potcakes. In the past, many of these creatures were left, emaciated, injured and/or diseased, to fend for themselves.
Today, however, non-profit organizations such as the Abaco Shelter (aka Pop’s Shelter) and Royal Potcake Rescue rescue Abaco’s strays, giving them food, shelter, medical care and love, and finding them forever homes.
To help control the local potcake (and potcat) population, Abaco’s animal rescue groups are co-sponsoring a series of spay and neuter clinics over the next few months.
Clinics are scheduled as follows:
- Marsh Harbour — October 24-26 at the Island Veterinary Clinic
- Sandy Point — November 8-9
- Foxtown — December 6-7
- Green Turtle Cay — December 13-14 (cats only)
Approximately 200 animals were sterilized at a similar clinic this past April, and organizers are hoping for comparable results at the upcoming events.
However, the success of clinics like these depends in large part on contributions from folks like you and me.
To donate online, visit the Abaco Shelter website or Royal Potcake Rescue Donations Page. (Royal Potcake Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue organization, meaning U.S. donations to this organization are tax-deductible.)
Donations can also be made in person at the Abaco Shelter (please make checks to Pop’s Shelter.)
In addition to financial support, clinic organizers are seeking donations of the following items:
- # 10 scalpel blades
- 3×3 or 4×4 cotton gauze pads
- Alcohol
- Bleach
- Bottled water
- Canned dog food
- Coloured duct tape
- Cotton balls
- Disposable gloves
- Flea and tick spray
- Gallon-sized Ziploc bags
- Garbage bags
- IV catheters – cats 24g x 3/4″, dogs 29g x 1 1/4″
- Kennels – all sizes
- Markers
- Paper towels
- Pens
- Povidone-iodine
- Q-tips
- Scrub brushes
- Sheets and towels
- Slip leashes
- Surgical drapes (disposable or cloth)
- Syringes & needles – 1cc majority, 3cc, & 20 or 10cc
- Tarps
- Thermometers
- Tweezers
- Vet wrap
If you can contribute any of these items or if you’d like more information about the clinics, contact the Abaco Shelter at (242) 367-0737 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or the Island Veterinary Clinic at (242) 577-0397, Monday through Friday.
In conjunction with the Marsh Harbour spay/neuter event this weekend, Island Veterinary Clinic is offering a FREE Vaccine Clinic on October 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Two hundred units of vaccine will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dogs must be older than six weeks and should NOT have been vaccinated this year. All dogs must have a (free) check-up before vaccination.
For more details, contact the Island Veterinary Clinic Monday through Friday at (242) 577-0397.
thanks for publicizing this very valuable service!!