How Does St Nicholas Rescue Contribute to Life Quality in Dominica?
10 Pillars of Our Activity
As we are approaching second anniversary of our non-profit incorporation, we want to share with you most
important facts about SNAR, and highlight ways of your possible involvement.
- Emergency rescue of injured and abused animals – the core of our activity.
- Non-kill animal shelter (the only one in Dominica)
- Education and Awareness – the key for improvement of animal welfare
- Reduction of stray population through spay/neuter activity
- Animal adoption programs
- Contribution to improvement of health standards in Dominica communities
- Improvement of Dominica’s image abroad and in Tourism industry
- Diagnostic and surgical treatments
- Involvement in many of above activities throughout communities
- Training of S&R dog
1. Emergency rescue of injured, sick, and abused animals
Since our creation we conducted well over 700 rescue missions, some quite daring requiring support of Fire
Brigade and Police. Animals from road accidents and otherwise injured/abused were saved. Terribly injured dogs
rescued from illegal dog fights were rehabilitated, and so on. Rescuing injured and sick animals makes the core
of our activity, and we operate 24/7 hot line for reporting animals in need of our help.
2. Non-kill animal shelter
All rescued animals stay in our facilities during recovery, and until we can find foster homes or organize
adoption. Even if certain animals remain handicapped and can’t find a new home – they will stay with us as long
as they need, receiving daily care, and without looming deadline of euthanasia.
3. Education and Awareness
We believe that education is the key to reduce mistreatment of all animals, be it wildlife, stray dogs, or home
pets. We educate through social media, showing benefits of a more compassionate approach to our everyday
lives. Our volunteer programs for young generation help experience first-hand creation of a bond between people
and animals that receive care, love and compassion – and the uplifting benefits resulting from it.
Our planned children camps allow children to interact with animals – a joyful experience, also removing the
element of seeing animals as a threat, thus changing life-long attitude towards them. These camps are also to
bring visitors from neighbouring islands, spreading the world about Dominica’s progressive attitude towards
animals, additionally helping with tourism.
4. Reduction of stray population through spay/neuter activity
All animals coming to our rescue are being spayed and neutered at our cost as part of our work. If a dog getting
adopted is too young for this immediate procedure, we offer to take care of it FREE to adopting family, when
time comes. This consistent program reduces number of unwanted puppies and limits number of new stray dogs
scavenging through communities, and often ending in our Rescue after a misfortune or accident.
5. Animal adoption program
All dogs and cats rescued by our organization – after all necessary treatments and recovery – are offered for
adoption. They are vaccinated, dewormed, and ready for new, better life. We are offering adopting families free
“starter packs” of food, leash, and other necessities, to make the adoption smoother and easier.
We also work with international animal adoption organizations that can help finding new homes abroad for
animals that are old, or handicapped due to their injuries. Such animals typically have low adoption chances in
Dominica, and such international programs – while complicated and often costly – are the only option of finding
new owners.
6. Contribution to improvement of health standards in Dominica communities
Persistent vaccination of rescued animals AND also population of stray dogs in Dominica helps breaking the
chain of infection by deadly leptospirosis. This disease typically spreads by rats in lower-hygiene areas, and then
often is carried and passed to humans by other infected animals in more densely populated areas. Our initiative
to conduct vaccination of stray dogs, starting with Roseau, will over time reduce number of leptospirosis cases,
leading to improved overall health conditions.
Another aspect of health to be mentioned here is a deep, long-time traumatic effect on children witnessing
animal abuse, or animals hurt in accidents and left suffering to eventually die. While such trauma is often
ignored by adults, when asked – most families will recall having someone affected by that problem. Such
traumatic experience often affects children for life-time, unable to cope properly with these mepmories. By
promptly rescuing animals, we reduce children’s exposure to such trauma, and by education and social media
reach, we demonstrate that there are solutions, and such problems can be improved when we only decide so.
7. Improvement of Dominica’s image abroad and in Tourism industry
The problem of struggling stray dogs (often in poor health) can be seen on many Caribbean islands. Highly
noticeable overpopulation of stray dogs in distress affects many of us locally, but it also creates negative impact
on tourism. An example of such situation going out of control can be the boycott of one of our neighbouring
islands as a tourism destination, a boycott organized a while ago by tourists terrified by sad state of homeless
dogs in that country. This boycott reverberated on social media, Trip Advisor, and other tourism related sites,
reducing number of visitors.
We conducted professional assessment and implemented our findings to improve stray dog situation in
Dominica. We mentioned stray dog population problem in several points above – spread of diseases, safety,
children’s traumatic experiences, impact on tourism, and other factors create a problem that needs to be
addressed.
However, due to complicated factors, this problem can not be solved in long term by simplified solutions, such
as culling dog population. Not only inhumane and cruel, sure to jeopardize our image abroad and adding to the
trauma issue mentioned above – it would be also highly INEFFECTIVE.
Our veterinary and medical professionals agree that removing dogs from streets of Roseau or other towns would
only cause new dogs to arrive. Dog packs are highly teritorial. They keep newcomers out of their zones, which
can be clearly seen as the same dog groups live and roam in small sections of our city. With dogs removed, it
would create opportunity for new dogs to relocate from suburbs, for grown puppies to take these valuable
“vacant” locations. There will be always more unwanted puppies turning stray dogs, and various dogs scouting
our island, to fill such emptied area within a month or two again. New groups will form, and – trying to establish their new territories – they can be also more aggressive.
To solve this situation in long term, our professionals recommend approach that already proved to be successful
in Cuba: Progressive vaccination, spay/neuter, testing and tagging all animals, one by one, pack by pack, can
turn desired solution into reality. Dogs being picked from the street, treated, entered into our database for
monitoring, tagged – and then released back to their groups.
This approach would gradually reduce number of strays by reducing number of newborn puppies. Spayed dogs –
being typically less aggressive – will help improve street safety issues. Vaccinated dogs will help stop spread of
various diseases, and in turn – being healthier, tagged and monitored for any signs of sickness, will reduce
negative psychological impact and also improve the “feel” of our streets, helping our health professionals and
our tourism image abroad (some of them may even end-up being adopted). This Cuban approach is being
implemented by our Rescue organization now.
8. Diagnostic and veterinary surgical treatments
All rescued animals need to go through tests and diagnostic process, be it for possible virus infections, or more
complicated assessments of injuries and other medical problems. All these are conducted with assistance of
volunteers and third parties, and supported by our very limited funds. It does not only limits potential scope of
our operations, but it also proves to be often inadequate due to limitations in professional equipment available in
Dominica.
9. Involvement in many of above activities throughout communities
While all our volunteers-professionals are passionate about our work, to achieve best results we can’t work
alone. We need to coordinate and plan our ambitious projects with others, including authorities such as City
Councils, and others. The best example of such cooperation is our current discussion with office of Roseau
Mayor, in regard to this Cuba-style stray dog project, or our previously organized “Adopt-a-Puppy Fairs” in
Botanic Gardens. We are looking for new opportunities to get involved with other organizations and authorities
for common benefit of our communities and animal welfare. We also look forward to be contacted with ideas of
collaboration, through our website, social media, or other means of contact.
10. Training of Search &Rescue dogs
When rescuing dogs, we always professionally evaluate them for possible rare qualities allowing them for
special training. Thanks to that, we already selected and fully trained a dog that showed excellent skills for a
search and rescue operations. Professionally trained in line with high international standards, and adhering to
strict Canadian requirements, our first Search & Rescue dog is officially certified, and ready to assist authorities
in Dominica and neighbouring islands in case of disaster or any such emergency – helping to save human lives.
This already proved vital, with our Search Canine Team actively helping Police (for many days) in case of a
missing girl.
We hope you found the above information interesting, and our efforts worth supporting. However, these are not
everything we try to achieve and undertake. While the veterinary diagnostic equipment mentioned above will
open a new chapter for our activities, we always actively look for more ways of expanding and improving our
work. An example of that can be training of select dogs to become visiting “companion therapy dogs” in
Dominica-China Friendship Hospital – an idea being currently explored by our Rescue and Hospital
management.
How Do We Manage All that?
Our non profit rescue organization is volunteer-based. We put thousands of work hours towards our operations. We open our humble pockets to support financially every step of our work (with founder of our rescue using her life savings toward this cause). We use our vehicles for rescue missions and supplies-shopping. We open our homes to foster animals in need. And sometimes we receive donations from people who are impressed with our work or want to contribute towards a specific animal medical expenses.
We do it all out of our passion. Among us you can find lawyers, veterinarians, medical doctors, teachers, and also people with only basic education – all sharing the passion and commitment to help and belief that through our actions we can improve lives of animals and also our fellow neighbours. We do not receive any financial assistance from government of any country. It is tough and challenging, but it also is rewarding. And it proves that – when we really try – we can make a difference. If you think you can get involved, please read on…
How Can You Get Involved?
If you wish to help, please join us. We can exist and expand only thanks to people like you. There are so many
ways of helping. We need dedicated volunteers for different tasks. From animal care, logistics, organizing
transfer of adopted animals abroad, to running daily tasks, maintenance of shelter facilities, and much more.
As with every organization – volunteers come and go. Some stay for long. Some become board members,
deciding on future steps of our organization. It can be as little or as much involvement as you think you can
offer.
We also need donors. Donations can be so much more than cash. While money are necessary for day-to-day
operation and medical treatments, we also seek donations (also from overseas) of pet food, gently used pet toys,
professional equipment, bedding of all sorts, collars and leashes, medicine, pots, and so on (ask us if not sure).
We dedicate our time and expertise as volunteers to run rescue operations, shelter, and all other tasks. However,
all expenses – from veterinary treatments and medicine, to sheltering, animal food, bedding, and much, much
more, are covered from our pockets and from donations from kind people like you. Every Dollar helps and your
contribution will make a difference.
You can also sponsor us by donating unneeded building materials (plywood, roofing, blocks, tiles, etc.)
volunteering your skills (handyman, carpenter, welder, builder, truck driver, electrician, etc.)
volunteering with your land/property to become a blessed haven for rescued animals (we will name it after you
or your loved one to honour her/his memory)
And, of course – you can adopt a pet, finding a new friend for life. Whatever you think may be a good way for
you – contact us, and lets see what can we do together. Thank you!
Contact Information
Tel. +1 767-245-6000