I don't believe anyone is suggesting that. However the VMAB does seem to be suggesting that animal welfare groups should be responsible for finding $50 for each spay and neuter whether for a stray pet or those owned by indigent owners. The problem is not their fault either.

My God no wonder this country is sinking when no one gives a damn about human lives lost. It's almost like people and this government are HAPPY that human beings DIED. Rather than work on a meaningful solution with the government of Haiti that might result in something positive. And where is the concern that RBDF planes are inoperative. What the heck is happening here. Our borders are obviously open to any and everyone including drug smuggling criminals. No wonder our crime rate is out of control.

Pro bono means FREE, not $50 per. Wonderful that you did over 7000 surgeries ($350,000!) but...then why is there still such a problem? Obviously because that was not nearly enough. And again what is the plan by the VMAB to actually solve this problem instead of continuing to do a trickle to be paid for by struggling humane societies and rescues, and to stop efforts that might actually have a meaningful impact in a shorter period of time?

What do you mean by ineffective canine control programs? If you are implying that more animals need to be killed you are so woefully behind the times it's not even funny. Please do your homework on effective and HUMANE solutions to pet over population problems. If you are advocating catching and killing more animals, that does not speak well of you as a veterinary professional. Not in 2013. It has not been recognized as an effective method of animal control, for many many years now.

Local vets have agreed to this providing their expenses are paid??? Why should animal welfare orgs be held hostage like this if there are people willing to come in here and do more in a shorter time frame than local vets are able to do? There is no shame in that, but there is shame in local vets stopping such efforts without a comparable effort being made and maybe just maybe a little TRUE pro bono, i.e. FREE, work being donated. You are not helping the reputation and public opinion of local vets with posts such as this. People are disgusted and frustrated and your reasoning is irrational and defensive. Not one iota of concern for the helpless animals. THIS is the problem, and the disconnect that the VMAB caused with that highly offensive letter, absolutely needs to be rectified if they hope to salvage any public support at all. You cannot beat reasonable, ordinary, caring people over the head and expect them to capitulate to unreasonable and ineffective demands. Being negative and defensive only makes you look worse. If indeed the VMAB is committed to dealing with this problem, then surely face to face meetings would have been preferable to that awful negative letter; and waiting til almost the 11th hour before Operation Potcake was to commence has not helped.

The rest of who??? People who had nothing to do with this problem's proliferation to begin with? Wow. This just goes to show why the letter from the VMAB is receiving such negative attention.

Sorry but while I have the utmost respect for anyone who made it through vet school, that does not necessarily imply a concern and compassion for the plight of homeless animals and an out of control pet population. And I agree; respect is earned, it's not automatic because someone has a degree in anything. Where is the respect for the animal welfare advocates who are in the trenches every single day and have to scrap and battle for every dollar they must pay to local vets even at discounted rates, this adds up tremendously. No one has proclaimed to be a veterinary expert, but if going to vet school also makes you an expert in animal welfare issues, then why have local vets not solved this problem already? This is not a medical problem; it's a cultural one. And if medical school training does actually convey a superior knowledge of how to deal with pet overpopulation, how come this country still has this massive problem?

Spay neuter is the most logical solution to an ever increasing animal over population problem, and with good reason. The only way it actually works as a solution is when it can be targeted and hard hitting in a massive way in the biggest problem areas. Not by chipping away at it little by little. The VMAB admitted they cannot perform the number of surgeries hoped for during Operation Potcake 2014. Many of the foreign vets bring donated supplies so it does not necessarily cost $50 per animal in supplies. A cat neuter for example does not require $50 in drugs and supplies and neither does a dog neuter. Not all cat and dog spays require that amount either.

The VMAB admits they cannot do high volume and they need remuneration for what they do do. The VMAB says they can solve this problem but they need to explain exactly how they intend to do that; when to date, they haven't even come close. Expecting overburdened, struggling shelters and rescues to find even more money to pay local vets, and be content with doing a small percentage at a time of what needs doing, is not realistic. We'll still be swimming in cats and dogs a decade from now.

Pro bono is not charging $50 per surgery or giving discounts to rescues. Pro bono means FREE and completely donated.

This is not about respect for Bahamian vets. Any vet who is offended by this backlash should try to read that letter through the eyes of non-vet animal advocates who are working hard to end the suffering of animals in this Bahamas. It comes off as arrogant and self serving, and now it has gone international. That letter did not inspire any affection or respect for Bahamian vets, which is a shame as those of us who live here do understand what a challenge it must be to have a successful practice given the cultural mores and attitudes towards animals.

If a vet is unable financially to donate their time and supplies, there is no shame in that; God knows in this economic climate, many people are struggling and everyone in this Bahamas can understand and sympathize with that. It's obvious that there are simply not enough local vets to effectively deal with this problem. No one is saying that foreign vets are better in any way than local ones. Right now this country is suffering horribly - thousands of our citizens don't even know where their next meal is coming from. Many of them have pets. This is where the majority of problem lies.

We have a huge problem here that has been ignored for far too long, with thousands of suffering animals, and if it takes outside help initially to rectify it, there is no shame and disrespect for anyone in that. What would be shameful is if the VMAB continues on this obstructionist path, and the animal population continues to spiral out of control, as it is doing as I type.

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB) will stand with BHS on this. As the only animal organization/shelter on Grand Bahama, with not one bit of Government support (financial or otherwise) and no Government agency dealing with animal issues on this island, the HSGB cannot absorb one more dollar in costs. The HSGB is a private, non profit registered organization, and never expected to be dealing with the myriad of animal problems and virtual flood of animals in need that we have been inundated with for far too many years. Many of which should rightfully be Government's civic responsibility. Imposing any VAT on us would likely be the final nail in our coffin as we are struggling now to overcome many issues Government has ignored for too long. Simply keeping our doors open is literally a daily challenge.

We share the same issues as our counterparts in Nassau at the BHS. A large number of non or slow paying clients. Already exorbitant costs for pet food and medicines, cleaning supplies, repairs and maintenance, electricity, and shipping costs, to name but a few. We cannot survive if 15% or 20% is added to this. Plain and simple.

This issue needs to be addressed forthwith so that all NGO's can be informed, and act accordingly. Hopefully it will not result in any having to close, given the vital and otherwise unfilled roles so many contribute to their respective communities.

Doesn't seem to matter what objections anyone has. Acres of mangroves, which are supposedly protected under the laws of the Bahamas, have already been destroyed, and it seems this government is intent upon killing every single thing that is natural and good about Bimini. What is that barge getting ready to do - build a monster cruise terminal right on top of natural reefs to destroy them forever, and for what? And to whose benefit. Bimini people need to be out there in front of that dredge every day to prevent it doing its damage. Sadly most will not even think about doing that for fear of repercussions. Is this Bahamas really a democracy? Does the government really care about the people and the environment?

Does anybody really think that government approved rate increases will result in better care for the horses? The operators will rejoice at the increase and continue to "care" for the poor horses as they have always done - abysmally. There are never any sanctions or consequences so why should they do better? They do not love their horses they only use them, until they literally drop dead on the street.

Google dolphins in captivity and you will get plenty from both sides to make up your mind.

It's not a question of this particular facility being acceptable. The fact is there is no such thing as an acceptable prison for dolphins. It can't be deep enough or sheltered enough or big enough if it's keeping them prisoner and using food deprivation to make them perform stupid tricks to entertain people.