Ecuador (October- November 2013)
After being on the Galapagos for 6 months, it was time to leave since our visa would expire. But we still had a lot of time left for the mainland, Ecuador.
On Galapagos we heard from Clients about the 73 year old lady (Hertha) with 93 dogs and 40 cats, but no money and no help. We decided to visit her together with the niece of one of the clients who lives in Quito and is able to help Hertha as well.
The Amigo Fiel Shelter was founded by Hertha amongst others, and takes care of the injured and the strays, although at the moment Hertha is running this shelter alone. Everyday she collects food from nearby restaurants, to feed her dogs.
The biggest problem Hertha had at that moment, besides little money, was that the dogs and cats were living in 3 different locations, in the city. It took Hertha a lot of time each day to go to all the dogs and cats, not to mention the neighbours complaining. We stayed about 3 weeks helping her out. We set up a website and a Facebook page for Hertha so that she could start fund raising and get animals adopted. We also tried to get some new board members in, that way she will have more help saving the animals! And we donated dog food and an electrical clipper so that she could trim the dogs, which was really necessary for some of them.
Fortunately they just found a new piece of ground where all then dogs and cats can stay together, and it is only a little bit outside of Quito!
For more information about Hertha, please visit the website and hopefully we can get her some more funding to be able to pay for the food and care of the animals and the rent of the new location! www.amigofielquito.org
After 1,5 month we visited the "PAE shelter" in Ambato, Diego Barrera is the manager and veterinarian in this shelter and the "Municipal Shelter" that lays right next to it. The shelters looked good and the animals are well taken care of! Diego also organises a spay and neuter program each year in February. He gets veterinarians over from other countries and has a stationary and a mobile clinic for two weeks. He really would like us to help get him veterinarians for this reoccurring project, but he warned that it is hard work and no holiday!
So anyone who would like to help Diego Barrera, feel free to contact us!
We went to two rescue centers. One is called Merazonia in Mera (www.merazonia.org), ran by Frank Meijden. He takes in injured wild animals and takes care of them, if possible they will be rehabilitated. Because of the rehabilitation process (and government license) they do not let tourist get into the park, only volunteers are allowed near the animals. They have a small improvised clinic and all help is needed. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us!
We also went to Parque Condor which is near Otovalo and runned by Joep Hendriks. This center is only for birds of prey, the ones that live in the cages are injured in a way they aren't able to fly anymore, and they can't be rehabilitated. By showing the birds to the public the Ecuadorian people and the tourists learn more about these birds so that they are not hurt or held in captivity anymore!
When Jochem came into the little village of Canoa at the beach he saw the problem they have with the dogs and cats. There is no veterinarian there and people don't have the time or the money to drive to the next town 45 minutes away. He discussed this with Elizabeth, the owner of 'Coco Loco' hostel, and she was so happy someone was going to be able to help her and the village! Since Tjarda was travelling with Carlien Oost (also a Dutch veterinarian!) we had a team ready to help Canoa!
In the end we spayed and neutered 16 dogs and cats, not bad for a 3 day campaign, since the biggest problem was getting all the supplies in time in the right place!
Next year we will go back for another campaign, if you have interest in a spay and neuter campaign please contact us!
After being on the Galapagos for 6 months, it was time to leave since our visa would expire. But we still had a lot of time left for the mainland, Ecuador.
On Galapagos we heard from Clients about the 73 year old lady (Hertha) with 93 dogs and 40 cats, but no money and no help. We decided to visit her together with the niece of one of the clients who lives in Quito and is able to help Hertha as well.
The Amigo Fiel Shelter was founded by Hertha amongst others, and takes care of the injured and the strays, although at the moment Hertha is running this shelter alone. Everyday she collects food from nearby restaurants, to feed her dogs.
The biggest problem Hertha had at that moment, besides little money, was that the dogs and cats were living in 3 different locations, in the city. It took Hertha a lot of time each day to go to all the dogs and cats, not to mention the neighbours complaining. We stayed about 3 weeks helping her out. We set up a website and a Facebook page for Hertha so that she could start fund raising and get animals adopted. We also tried to get some new board members in, that way she will have more help saving the animals! And we donated dog food and an electrical clipper so that she could trim the dogs, which was really necessary for some of them.
Fortunately they just found a new piece of ground where all then dogs and cats can stay together, and it is only a little bit outside of Quito!
For more information about Hertha, please visit the website and hopefully we can get her some more funding to be able to pay for the food and care of the animals and the rent of the new location! www.amigofielquito.org
After 1,5 month we visited the "PAE shelter" in Ambato, Diego Barrera is the manager and veterinarian in this shelter and the "Municipal Shelter" that lays right next to it. The shelters looked good and the animals are well taken care of! Diego also organises a spay and neuter program each year in February. He gets veterinarians over from other countries and has a stationary and a mobile clinic for two weeks. He really would like us to help get him veterinarians for this reoccurring project, but he warned that it is hard work and no holiday!
So anyone who would like to help Diego Barrera, feel free to contact us!
We went to two rescue centers. One is called Merazonia in Mera (www.merazonia.org), ran by Frank Meijden. He takes in injured wild animals and takes care of them, if possible they will be rehabilitated. Because of the rehabilitation process (and government license) they do not let tourist get into the park, only volunteers are allowed near the animals. They have a small improvised clinic and all help is needed. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us!
We also went to Parque Condor which is near Otovalo and runned by Joep Hendriks. This center is only for birds of prey, the ones that live in the cages are injured in a way they aren't able to fly anymore, and they can't be rehabilitated. By showing the birds to the public the Ecuadorian people and the tourists learn more about these birds so that they are not hurt or held in captivity anymore!
When Jochem came into the little village of Canoa at the beach he saw the problem they have with the dogs and cats. There is no veterinarian there and people don't have the time or the money to drive to the next town 45 minutes away. He discussed this with Elizabeth, the owner of 'Coco Loco' hostel, and she was so happy someone was going to be able to help her and the village! Since Tjarda was travelling with Carlien Oost (also a Dutch veterinarian!) we had a team ready to help Canoa!
In the end we spayed and neutered 16 dogs and cats, not bad for a 3 day campaign, since the biggest problem was getting all the supplies in time in the right place!
Next year we will go back for another campaign, if you have interest in a spay and neuter campaign please contact us!
