August 2015 – Mermaid on a Raft

The best laid plans go astray on Roatan

08/26/2015 I worked at the airport on Saturday doing my airport lady gig, which I love doing. You get to meet so many fascinating people who all have stories to tell. I just wish I had the time to hear them all. It was another day that United’s computers were not working and it was taking light years to check someone in. I really feel bad for the people who are waiting in line. I hear them bad mouthing United and that makes me feel bad because I am very partial to United Airlines. It is the airline Bill flew for years when he was working and we are lucky enough to be Premier Gold Elite for life with them. When I got home I decided to sign into my United account and send them a little note telling them of the situation from an outsiders view point. I received a very nice email back and she said she was glad I wrote, she appreciated it, that it was refreshing to get a letter from someone because they cared about the fact that the situation made United look bad. And she gave me 5500 bonus miles. SWEEEEEET!!! They are aware of the issue and are working very hard to find a remedy. She even sent me her personal email so that I may contact her if other issues arrive. YAY for United, we have never received poor service from them.

A few Sundays ago Bill and I went to Turquoise bay for a swim and a float. We each had a monkey lala (drink not the lizard) and I floated and swam for awhile in the pool. It’s nice to go there and not be charged to enter and to be treated like a guest. Kudos to the people running the place.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Pool area and restaurant and bar

This past Sunday we took the pups to Big Bight again for a swim. They went crazy when we got there and couldn’t wait to get in the water.

After that it was home and showers for the 3 of them. I scrub every inch of their bodies to get the sand off of them. They don’t love it but they are getting used to it..I fed them, they crashed and I showered and napped too.

We spent another fabulous Monday with our friends Trish and Dave and friends in Sandy Bay. We ate, floated in the pool and watched a boat motor on by that we all assumed was on fire. Apparently, that’s how it always smokes when it runs. Pollution much? I drank too much wine (I know, hard to believe) came home, fed the pups, ate and went to bed.. It’s Dave’s fault, he kept filling my glass.

This morning Bill and I picked up my friends Brenda and Tony from Royal Playa. We were meeting them at BJ’s and taking a dog who belongs to someone who lives on one of the cays (small island) to get a throat X-Ray. The dog, Grizzly, has had a breathing issue since he was born. It sounds like he is gasping for air. We got him in the kennel in the back of the truck at Oak Ridge and stopped at our house for a minute to drop off Alexi and let the roof rail guys in and then went straight to Dr. Calderone’s. Doc looked at the dog and listened to his lungs and said he felt the dog had emphysema. Grizzly was so stressed out by the time we got there that his tongue was swollen and blue from lack of oxygen. He was almost hyperventilating. We knew he would need to be knocked out before the medical center could get him in position to X-Ray him but Doc didn’t think it would be a good idea to sedate him because he may not wake up, his oxygen level was so low at that point. We came to a joint decision, Tony, Brenda, Bill, myself and Doc and Bethany, that it would be in the dog’s best interest not to sedate him but to try to treat him for emphysema and to reduce the fluid in his lungs. We left Tony and Grizzly in the shade at the vets and we continued on to Coxen Hole. The plan was to take a new dog crate to Coxen Hole for Brenda to exchange for a larger one and return a desk to Nidia that had an unfinished phrase on the back of it (we picked that up in Pandy Town before we met Brenda and the dog). The guy who was to have the crate was not there, big surprise!!! and he wouldn’t be back for awhile so Brenda made other arrangements with him. We went to drop the desk to Nidia and Bill wanted to see if he could make a sturdier desk for the same cost for her so she said to keep it. So we still had 2 dog crates and a desk in the back of the truck.

We put the one crate in the back seat with me (Brenda gets carsick and was sitting upfront) and Tony was in the back with the dog. We barely got down Doc’s road when Tony started yelling, Grizzly had jumped out. We got him secured in the back again and went to the pharmacy to get the meds for him. Grizzly wasn’t looking too good. This is a dog who has never been in a crate, a truck or in traffic, he lives on a small little island and is free to do as he pleases. At that point we decided he would be riding in the back seat with me. Now Grizzly weighs 100#’s easily and he was doing more than drooling. It was coming out in buckets because the poor guy was so stressed. He would get up every so often and take huge gasping breaths of air, his tongue was really thick and turning blue again. I was so afraid he was going to have a heart attack on my lap. We made it back to BJ’s and Grizzly is safe (and probably happy as hell) at home. Hopefully the meds Doc gave him will help reduce the fluid so he can breathe better.

Grizzly back home with his buddy. Photo courtesy of Brenda Lee Beckmann

We had plans in order to do everything to be the most resourceful we could and not waste time and Island Time and mañana once again foiled us..

A few other things from the last couple of weeks,

We let the pups in at night to play, sometimes with Frito, sometimes just them. Lola does not like it at all and she just bolts through the window and comes in. One night I forgot to close the window and she was wandering in the bedroom. Three times in 24 hours she ruined the screen. Bill gets so pissed because he has to fix the screen. She could be trained to do it herself but the fact that she lacks an opposable thumb makes it difficult.

Tomorrow is another vet clinic, meeting Brenda and Tony at 9, hopefully not a full day. We are out of vaccines so it is more of a check up on last weeks issues and worms and flea and tick treatment. Friday there is a spelling bee that I am going to go to in Politilly, looking forward to that and Saturday finds me back at the airport.

And that, my friends is how you spend your 26th (yes it’s today) wedding anniversary!!

Rooms full of desks

07/21/2015 On Friday, Roatan Because We Care (BWC) delivered 20 more desks to the school in Pandy Town. For some reason it is one of my favorite schools. It was the first school I fitted TOMS shoes at, so it’s kind of special. It’s also where I got my first hug from this guy.

I was to pick my friend Carmen up and then meet Nidia at the school. On the way to the school I saw the truck with all the desks alongside the road. It had overheated. I took Henry to get a 5 gallon jug of water, Nidia was already calling for back-up so I went to get Carmen and would meet Nidia at the school. The municipal truck must have come right after I left because by the time I met Carmen at the dock, they were just coming across on their boat as I pulled in, we arrived only a few minutes before Nidia, the truck with the desks and the boxes of sandals. Pandemonium ensued. The kinder from Calabash Bight was also there for sandals.

It really is so much fun to go to the schools, especially when the students are anxious for your arrival. Most everyone in Pandy Town school speaks English so it was much easier to communicate with them. I walked around with my photos, showing them to different students and asking if the person in the photo was there. When I found them and gave them the photo I took of them a few months ago they had a variety of reactions. Some were very shy and others got silly and laughed and laughed. I had several students then ask me to take their photo in the hopes I would bring back a picture of them too. These children don’t have photos taken of them so giving them a printed picture is quite fascinating. Their lives are so different than the lives of the majority of the children in the US. Back in the states, most kids wouldn’t care about new desks or a new pair of flip-flops or a printed photo of themselves, here these small things mean a lot to them. It was evident in their smiles.

Thank you to all of you who have donated to Because We Care, we strive to make life better for the kids and families on this island.

Helping Paws Across Borders field team

08/19/2015 Brenda Lee and I have worked together at the last 2 clinics that Helping Paws Across Borders has held on the island. This time when the vets left, they had Brenda keep their meds in the hopes she could have a few vaccine, flea and tick treatment clinics. She and her boyfriend Tony and their friend Tyron had one the previous week and it was very successful so she decided to do it again and asked me to help.

I met them at the water taxi stand in Oak Ridge Bight and we went to the entrance of the bight (bay) on the way to Pandy Town. We borrowed 2 tables and 4 chairs from the church next door and started setting up.

Brenda Lee, Tony’s butt and Tyron getting stuff set up.

Tyron went and got this poor old boy. The ass$ole owner didn’t want the dog so he didn’t bother to feed him. He had hematoma’s in both ears, his ear canals were swollen shut. We think he also had erlichia because his feet were so swollen.

Neither Brenda nor I could take the dog home, I am already overdosed with pets and Brenda and Tony are in the process of moving back to Germany in 3 weeks with their 2 dogs. I called a “local shelter” and after a 10 minute lecture, they decided they would come and get him. Which they did. He was taken to the vet for his ears and will need to remain under a watchful eye until he is able to be adopted. His name is Dash. I heard that after 3 days, a bath and regular meals, he has some perkiness to him.

That’s all Brenda and I wanted was him taken care of. We have been accused of doing this to get attention which is ridiculous. We are volunteering our time to help as many animals as we can and we are posting it on Facebook to draw attention to the PLIGHT OF THE ANIMALS on this island.

On Wednesday we saw so many children with pets in serious need of medical attention. I keep trying to be positive about it by telling myself at least the kids brought their pet in to get help. Most animals arrived with a rope around their neck, or a wire, a chain or whatever. Anything to get them to the clinic. EVERY dog left with a new collar (we ran out of leashes but at least no more ropes, etc around the animals neck). Tony was getting the meds ready, Brenda and Tyron were putting muzzles on, “cross dogs” as Tyron says, determining and dispensing, administering treatment, pulling off ticks and I was registering, cleaning thick black mites out of dog ears, pulling ticks out and squishing them with tweezers or my nail, rubbing young pups w/ flea and tick stuff, cutting way long toenails. We all did crowd control, which was our main issue. Everything is a circus around here, whether it be an accident, a dead cow on the road, a dog getting shots, they MUST SEE EVERYTHING. It is the culture and we need to work the best we can with it.

11875206_10207485942254991_1698714473676475927_o — I finally had to give him up, too busy.

11890037_10207485944215040_8630559164867141804_o — This was towards the end of the day, we were stinky, sweaty and more than likely flea ridden.

After working 9-5 in a dirt alley with a dusty street, I came home and immediately showered. I was so exhausted that evening I think I just sat here and stared at the computer and then crashed very early.

We made a small difference in the lives of 70 animals. Maybe some of what we told the kids and the adults will sink in. Maybe they will understand that all animals have feelings too and that they deserve to be treated well. It’s difficult in a society that have so many children in a family that it’s nearly impossible to provide for them, let alone the animals.

We’ll keep doing what we can. We hope Helping Paws Across Borders will return in November!

***Everything I post on this site, whether it is about Because We Care, Helping Paws Across Borders or Cattleya, it is not about me at all, it’s about the things I am PASSIONATE about on Roatan. I am trying to raise awareness to situations that many people choose to turn a blind eye to. If more people did just a small part, it would make a huge difference.***

Web footed dogs

08/11/2015 It’s been a busy week. Chance arrived on August 2nd, after we picked him up at the airport we stopped by Big Bight to check out the beach. What a gorgeous area that is. It’s a great place to take the pups to run around and play in the water.

We came home and unloaded the car, changed into swimsuits and went to Turquoise Bay for the afternoon. The people there are so nice, they have comfy chairs and the drinks are excellent. We hung out for awhile, chillaxing, Bill and Chance got some food and I floated with my monkey la-la. It was a nice relaxing day.

Helping Paws Across Borders had another spay and neuter day on Sunday but I was not there to help out. That was the day Chance arrived and also the day they neutered the piggy (I missed that), he only weighed about 60#’s. Most of the vets/vet techs left on Saturday and the other vet left on Monday. There were 3 remaining techs on the island so Chance and I picked them up Monday morning in Oak Ridge and we headed to West Bay beach for some sun and snorkeling. It was a gorgeous day and the beach was not crowded at all. We sat at Bananarama because it’s right at the end of the road where we parked, their food is good, they allow you to use their chairs if you are consuming, they have bathrooms and a shower to rinse off and this is the view.

Thanks Bananarama for the great service!! Your employees are the best.

On Tuesday we loaded 3 pups in the car and headed to Big Bight. They had an absolute blast running around, chasing each other, jumping off things into the water, swimming, ramming each other and rolling in the sand.

On Wednesday our friends Carmen and Brett (from S. Dakota) picked us up in their boat at BJ’s and we went to their fabulous home on the water and relaxed and ate and drank, just a little. Then they took us snorkeling in their amazing backyard. I mean, talk about living on the water. They live right next door to our other friends from Snohomish, WA who will be moving down here full time soon. They both have very cool homes with incredible locations, you can’t get more “on a beach” than they both are. They can listen to the waves lapping on the shore ALL DAY LONG. So peaceful. We had a great time snorkeling, lots of stuff to see out there. The sea was a little churned up but not too bad.

It was a great day spent with friends on the water. Even when you are on their porch you are still “on the water.”

Thursday was another day of adventure. We went to Marcia and Dennis’s home for some first time newbie kayaking and some snorkeling. After a great lunch that Marcia made, she, Chance and I set off for the deep blue sea. Neither Chance nor I had ever kayaked so it was an experience to say the least.

We started off with a tour of the mangroves. The mangrove tunnels were built by the Paya Indians a long time ago. The tunnels allowed them to navigate from one area to another without having to enter the rough sea. I have been through the mangrove cuts before but not the tunnels and not propelled by the paddle in my hand. It was amazing.

Another fantastic day on the water, does it ever end? We left Dennis and Marcia’s and came home and napped. After the huge lunch she had prepared we didn’t even have dinner.

Friday was a day of running errands, getting food, trying once again to pay our cable bill (they can’t get the card to process) and a variety of other mundane things. Friday night we finally made it to Cal’s for dinner. We got there early and it’s a good thing we did because they were busy. We had a great meal, as always and most of the neighborhood was there!

Saturday I prepared eggs for the dogs, eggs for me, chopped veggies for the afternoon at Trish and Daves’ and a cucumber salsa that was refreshingly different. The recipe is as follows:

6 peeled and diced cukes, 1 can of Rotel, 1/4 c. cider vinegar, 1 package of ranch dressing, 1 chopped medium size red onion. I added a seeded chopped jalapeno also. Served with chips, it was really good.

We spent the day eating and floating in their wonderful pool. I feel so fortunate to have met Trish on-line and to have the friendship we now have!

Fabulous view over Sandy Bay, Chance, Bill and Dave

I love the umbrella and the way it blows in the breeze

Michael face timing with his sister Natasha. She is back in Toronto working…

On Sunday Chance and I picked up Brett and Carmen and went to La Sirena for lunch. We made a pit stop at Roger and Jeanies to clip Cessas toenails and take Roger some get well goodies (Gatorade and bananas). We had a great lunch @ La Sirena and some kick ass rum punches. Holy crap, Selena fills the glass 2/3 full of rum then adds a splash of punch. One is my limit, whether I’m driving or not, if I drink two I fall asleep.

Monday Chance and I ran around looking for things for him to take back to the girls. Once we got home I decided we should take the pups for a swim to the lagoon so Bill, Chance, Alexi and I loaded all 3 in the car and went to Parrot Tree. The pups went crazy again, they love to swim so much. They were not still for a minute. Bill noticed someone out in the middle of the lagoon swimming towards us, it was our friend Walter. He came over and talked to us for awhile and some lady walked over when she saw the pups on the beach. She loved watching them play, she said it made her miss her dogs. Once we got home I had the pleasure of bathing the 3 little monsters. That’s the only not fun part of taking them swimming is the bath afterwards but you have to get the sand and grit and salt water off of them, otherwise they will itch like crazy.

Tuesday was overcast, hot but not brilliant sunshine. Bill had a dental appointment this morning and then took his truck into get it fixed (trouble starting it) and Chance and I ran and got him. Next my car goes back in because the headlights smell like they are burning up, again. This was supposed to be fixed by the electrical guy but quite obviously something is amiss. UGH, this car shit it crazy. Last night between the cicadas and Frito wanting out at 2:30 AM, I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. I needed that nap for my sanity. Kathy stopped by to give the dogs their final puppy shots and worm them and then we went to Cal’s for a “sad to see you leave dinner” with Chance. He heads home tomorrow, back to Rapid City, South Dakota.

We walked in to Cal’s and Lynda and Dave were sitting there, so happy to see them, favorites for sure! The last time Bill, Teri, Olivia and I rented here it was their house, Toucan Blue. They joined us for a windy dinner on the balcony, superb meal by Carl as always.

Today is a sad day, BOOHOO, Chance leaves, not ready for him to go home. It’s always so difficult saying good bye to the boys, one of the hardest things about living down here. I guess having their next visit to look forward to makes it semi bearable..I have to remain positive about these things and be grateful he came to spend some time with us.

The Ninja Vets invade Roatan’s East End

08/05/2015 I spent the better part of Saturday the 25th at the airport waiting for the majority of the Helping Paws Across Borders vets and vet techs to arrive so I could help Kathy shuttle them and all of their gear to Oak Ridge. Bill got to the airport at 3 to help also, there were a lot of people and lots and lots of luggage (medical supplies, etc.) After some shots of tequila @ BJ’s (trust me, there’s the same amount of tequila in each of these glasses, even though some were shot glasses and some were drinking glasses), they got a boat to the Reef House Resort where they are staying. The Reef House is very close to Oak Ridge where the clinic will be.

On Tuesday I loaded Lola into my car and we were off for the vet clinic at 7:40 AM. Lola was getting spayed and I was volunteering at the clinic. We were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO busy. I was trying to check people in and I had no clipboard to lean on to even write. My friend Mac came with his 2 gorgeous well behaved dogs and he gave me his clipboard, Damn, where is Bank of America’s BIG BLUE when you really need it??

It was a scorchingly hot day, I felt sorry for the animals and people waiting. When Lola came out of surgery we had a hard time rousing her. Some dogs handle anesthesia differently than others. I, myself, used to be a puke fest with it until I started telling the docs and they put anti nausea meds in it. What a difference. We got some ice packs for Lola and I was rubbing her tongue with ice, she was starting to come around. I called Bill to come get her but it was still awhile after he got there until they were comfortable to let her go. She took a few days to get back eating but seems to be doing fine almost 1 week after. We kept her away from the pups the first day and that only upset them and her. They adore her and were missing her terribly. Once we let her back out with them they didn’t stop licking her face..They love them some Lola.

I spent Tues, Wed and Thursday there from 8-5 everyday except Thursday when I got there at 9. (I was busy making the vets rum balls for their after work treats). The vets took a much deserved day off on Friday and we were all back at it again Saturday. I love working with this group of people!

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, here are the pics..

11222453_10207075164854623_2771116972534452687_o — Saturday morning and it was pouring.

11792105_10207075139173981_7267755859066332620_o — Joe and Jetty on Tuesday

11794197_10207075160974526_4429327212827949140_o — Cleo and I checking in dogs on Thursday.

11816228_10207075137613942_5574810149247508801_o — Me, trying to check in dogs on Tuesday

11834808_10207075162054553_3727651473410640614_o — They all had a pet!

11834943_10207075139053978_2433293566030284882_o — Dr. Chante Wildgoose from the Bahamas, Tiffany, Dr. Allison Kean and Amber Stickel.

11844934_10207075148014202_5642806424608952231_o — This poor guy needed some serious treatments.

It is hot sweaty work for me, I can’t imagine what it’s like for the vets working with the animals. The temperature was over 90 everyday, the tents were hot, the people and their pets were waiting, it was stressful all around. We saw some very poorly cared for animals but they did take the time to bring them to us so they must care a little at least.

The first day was chaotic as always, the second day we were SLAMMED.

All in all it was a fabulous experience to help so many animals. some were well cared for, well fed and healthy, others were teeter tottering on the verge of death. That’s when it really gets to you. EVERY SINGLE VET AND VET TECH ASSISTANT in this group is madly passionate about animal care. They raise money to buy supplies, they pay for their own flights, their own rooms and food, all because they want to help the animals. If you are interested you can donate to this group, they are a legitimate 501C and would be grateful for any donation, no matter the size.

11233340_988143631205936_5283819014071180495_n — This guy is as happy as a pig in shit. The pig is neutered…

11253926_988143484539284_8547535642788302738_n — Smiling Ninja Turtle Vets

11703184_985167931503506_2331205429397126900_n — The one and only Dr. Chante Wildgoose. Can you say GORGEOUS??

11800267_951593801528089_5463910751081319491_n — These 2 are scary Ninja Turtle Vets, especially the one on the left. She has skills..

11822535_10207373419279624_1576942791437004225_n — Jennifer and Jenn with Buddy..

If I was mentally and physically exhausted after 4 days of vet clinics can you imagine how the vets and the techs felt?? I am in no way complaining, I am so grateful they came and that I got to know them all a little better. They are compassionate, committed and an absolute blast to be around. It’s nice to see a group of people, (some who met for the first time the day they arrived) with a common cause come together to try to make a difference. They were like a well oiled machine, I can’t say enough about them.

HELPING PAWS ACROSS BORDERS ROCKS!! Love all of you guys and thanks so much for what you did for the animal population on the east end of the island. Many thanks to Kathy Shupe, the absolute ultimate co-ordinator…

I apologize that I lost track of who took what photo. The main contributors are: Morgan Rivera, Nina Stively and Susan Neas and myself. If I missed you, I’m sorry, I was just grabbing photos whenever I could so I could show what actually went on at the clinic..

P.S. Any vets or vet techs needing a vacation are welcome to stay in our guest condo, anytime…warning though, we have 7 dogs.

A Mother and Child reunion

Click here to listen to appropriate music for this post.

07/26/2015 What a special day this was for me. As you all know, I grew incredibly attached to the puppies Frito blessed us with on April 15th, almost 1 month after she had her leg amputated due to a compound fracture she had when I found her.

I don’t recall ever feeling like this towards an animal. Don’t get me wrong I love my dogs and cat, I have loved all of my pets but these little buggers really got a hold on my heart. The 2 AM, 4 AM, 6 AM feedings were not my favorites, nor was making food every day for them when Frito no longer wanted to nurse, but you know what, I did it. And as they got bigger they got into more trouble and I still loved them more and more.

I knew from day 3 that Lisa and Rob were taking Sable and Bandit. I realized that those 2 pups would be loved, and they are. But at around 6 weeks it was time to try and find homes for the remaining pups. I had asked my friend Marcia but she wasn’t ready, however, I asked her again while she was in the states and she sent her sweet hubby Dennis over. He liked the pup we called Buddha and asked if he could take him that day. I know Marcia and Dennis are dog lovers and that they are good pet parents so between tears, I said yes.

I cried after Dennis left, he took one of my babies. The next day Rob and Lisa came for their two. That was a little easier because I knew it was coming, but still, they took my little girl. Sable was the only girl in the litter and she was a feisty little thing. With 6 brothers, she had to be.

That left us with 4 pups. I had asked my friend Claire and Kevin several times but Kevin kept saying NO PUPPIES!! The day we went to the airport to pick up Bill’s sister and Jen we took Max. Kevin and Claire were there and when Kevin saw him he took him to Claire. He then asked me if he was the biggest and I said no, that Tank was. He said they would probably take him. Another pup to a good home and the biggest perk is, Kevin and Claire own Blue Reef Properties and are at the airport all the time. Tank is their mascot and HE is at the airport too so I get to see him the days I work (volunteer). Seeing Tank absolutely makes my day, what a sweet HUGE pup he is!!

That left us with 3 pups, Lola, who is 8 mo. old and 3 other dogs, (1 with 3 legs who is the pups momma). I have 7 dogs and a cranky cat.

We know Highway loves the water and Lola hates it. I saw Marcia post on FB that Duke loves the water so Bill and I threw the 3 pups in the car and went to Parrot Tree. They were still on their leashes and walked into the water with no hesitation and swam. It was awesome!

We wanted to take them swimming again so I contacted the other 3 owners to see if they wanted to join us. They were all in, plan was to meet at Parrot Tree at 11. Rob and Lisa arrived when we did with Kevin and Claire right behind them. All 6 puppies were out sniffing each other but when Marcia pulled up with Duke and they all went to investigate, he ran under the car. WHO ARE THESE 6 DOGS AND WHY ARE THEY HERE??

We walked over to the lagoon and let him get adjusted (he was also carsick on the way over). We took the pups off the leash and they were all running around, Duke came and started smelling them thinking, HMMM, I may know this gang. I walked down to the water and this happened. I was in H E A V E N!!

The pups were great together, so much fun to be around them all and see how they are thriving in their new homes and how much they are loved..

We were there for 2 1/2 hours of fun and frolicking in the sand and the water. All the pups went to their respective homes, got showers/baths and fed and they were passed out for the day.

So many thanks to Marcia, Kevin and Claire and Rob and Lisa for taking our pups and loving them so much. This reunion was a blast, it made my heart so damn happy, we need to make it happen on a regular basis!

Here’s to Frito and her 7 amazing dwarfs. You 7 are the luckiest pups, you are loved…