That is a fact! I know I will never vacation there and I will advise anyone and everyone I know to not vacation there as well.
But I would come back to help the animals, in a heart beat. For us, helping those that can't help themselves and making the world a better place has more value than sitting on the beach getting a tan or losing money in a Casino. That's what I don't think they understand, we do this to make the world better, we don't care about taking anyones job, head butting with their egos or gaining any kudos. Aggressive high volume spay/neuter, along with education and outreach works. A few vets working 3 days to only do 150 surgeries at a cost that is prohibitive, is not going to cut it. 150 surgeries at $50 per surgery = $7500 or 150 surgeries at the actual cost of supplies, which is $17 (but I'll round up to $20) = $3000
Bottom line is, 150 surgeries is not going to have the effect that is required, 1000 would. The local vets can't handle that, they said so themselves. So drop the egos, drop the money grubbing and get on with it and fix the problem! They would be heroes if they just let this project go forward (which they agreed to do last year), because they would have implemented a multifaceted program that was effective and humane. The world has been watching this and they just need to lick some wounds and get back to what they agreed to. Do the right thing, is that so hard?
You don't have to walk the Ghetto at night to see the packs of dogs. They are all over downtown and the Fish Market area. Yes, packs of them. If they were smart they would stay out of the Ghetto areas unless they want to be robbed at gunpoint, like the volunteers were last year.
Why do say Emma Clifford needs to fck off and mind her won business? My guess from reading some of your posts on the other stories, is that you are either one of the Vets or possibly a family member.
Should everyone who came to the Bahamas to help with the stray dog population just fck off and mind their own business? If so, how do you plan to fix the problem on our own? Petty, childish like yours, simply show your lack of understanding for the situation at best, at worst, they show your mentality. Stomping your feet and having a temper tantrum is not going to do anything fix the issue.
Totally Bizzell behind this. He has done this before and will continue to do it. You can't forget his past......one of his comments about American Vets coming to help in the past...."they just want to come here, drink beer and lay on the beach and get a tax deduction"...........remember that Bizzell? He has a real issue with American Vets in particular.
No one is "dictating what should be done in the realm of animal welfare"! The VMAB worked with the OP directors and they AGREED to support the project, AGREED to doing 1000 spays and neuters for the cost of $30 per dog for the next 5 years, AGREED they could not take on the issue of animal overpopulation and needed a comprehensive project like OP. They were involved from the very beginning!
So if it were me that was one of the volunteers, who worked for the past years to build this project, raised money, took their vacation time, contributed their own resources, set aside differences with other groups to work for the common good of the animals and the community, I would be rather put out, as you say!
and if you had a huge problem, that the dentists, physicians, lawyers or architects could not handle that was causing a public health and public safety issue, they yes, they should ask for assistance to work with them to fix the problem. Those people don't want to stay and take the jobs of Bahamians, they just want to HELP!.........that is why there are organizations like Doctors without Borders, Operation Smile, Vets without Borders, The Red Cross and a million others.............they just want to help!!
For the record, just because you are a Veterinarian, that does not mean you are involved with animal welfare. Those of us that are involved with animal welfare are rather put out by that statement.
Who cares if he was rich?? If you are in it for the animals and have the animal's best interest at heart, then spay the dogs! and if you had half a brain, you would have been super nice the rich guy and talked to him about donating money to your project and kept being nice to him, invite him to fund raisers, etc.
Talk to him about about getting shots for his dogs, blood work done, dentals, etc. You could turn him into a client for the next 10-12 years! That is way more money that you would have made off the spay. stop being so short sighted!!
Why would they reimburse you for supplies they were giving you for free? and I keep hearing you say the vets offered their services for free during OP 2013. Which vets worked? Which clinics? How many days? How long this work each day?
Bizzell, please stop trying to convince people that the Vets are not only in this for the money and can fix the problem alone. If they could have fixed it, they would have fixed it. The problem did not just pop up last year!
You complain about foreigners, yet you are one, correct?
No one is withdrawing support. Operation Potcake organizers have worked with the Vet association from the beginning. They were part of the overall plan....from the beginning. They have been invited to attend every meeting (interesting, when the vets met about this issue, they did not offer an invitation to OP. OP asked to attend and were told no.....great way to show you want to work with others, huh?) The vet association said from the beginning (about 2 years ago now) that they could not take the time to tackle the problem, but offered to do surgeries for OP during the year at a cost of........Wait for it..........$30, this included money for them, supplies and to pay assistants. OP would purchase vaccines. They were to do, collectively, 1000 surgeries during the year, between the big OP clinics. This is what THEY agreed to do, ThEY said they couldn't take the time for the big mash clinics (and they are still saying that, as they can only offer 3 days a year to help the problem) So I would like to see their numbers on how many surgeries they have done during the year? My guess is not many. In the end it is the VMAB that has pulled their support, in the end it is the MVAB that refuses to work with others to fix the problem. You say they have challenged themselves to fix it, yet they have on multiple occasions said they cannot do it. In the mean time, the dogs and cats are breeding while they figure it out. This is not a new problem and having volunteer Vets come in to assist is not going to threaten their jobs. These animals would never, ever end up in their clinics and while they sit in their clinics, the animals suffer on the streets. It is time to swallow their pride and do the right thing. There is a certain grace in accepting help when it is offered.
TruthSayer says...
Let's hope everyone can put this sad chapter to rest and move forward to do the right thing for the animals and the community.
On Overwhelming support for Operation Potcake
Posted 3 December 2013, 6:52 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
That is a fact! I know I will never vacation there and I will advise anyone and everyone I know to not vacation there as well.
But I would come back to help the animals, in a heart beat. For us, helping those that can't help themselves and making the world a better place has more value than sitting on the beach getting a tan or losing money in a Casino. That's what I don't think they understand, we do this to make the world better, we don't care about taking anyones job, head butting with their egos or gaining any kudos. Aggressive high volume spay/neuter, along with education and outreach works. A few vets working 3 days to only do 150 surgeries at a cost that is prohibitive, is not going to cut it. 150 surgeries at $50 per surgery = $7500 or 150 surgeries at the actual cost of supplies, which is $17 (but I'll round up to $20) = $3000
Bottom line is, 150 surgeries is not going to have the effect that is required, 1000 would. The local vets can't handle that, they said so themselves. So drop the egos, drop the money grubbing and get on with it and fix the problem! They would be heroes if they just let this project go forward (which they agreed to do last year), because they would have implemented a multifaceted program that was effective and humane. The world has been watching this and they just need to lick some wounds and get back to what they agreed to. Do the right thing, is that so hard?
On 'Listen to vets and stray dog problem will never be solved'
Posted 2 December 2013, 7:15 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
Tory,
You don't have to walk the Ghetto at night to see the packs of dogs. They are all over downtown and the Fish Market area. Yes, packs of them. If they were smart they would stay out of the Ghetto areas unless they want to be robbed at gunpoint, like the volunteers were last year.
Why do say Emma Clifford needs to fck off and mind her won business? My guess from reading some of your posts on the other stories, is that you are either one of the Vets or possibly a family member.
Should everyone who came to the Bahamas to help with the stray dog population just fck off and mind their own business? If so, how do you plan to fix the problem on our own? Petty, childish like yours, simply show your lack of understanding for the situation at best, at worst, they show your mentality. Stomping your feet and having a temper tantrum is not going to do anything fix the issue.
So I ask again, what are YOU doing?
On 'Listen to vets and stray dog problem will never be solved'
Posted 2 December 2013, 6:52 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
Totally Bizzell behind this. He has done this before and will continue to do it. You can't forget his past......one of his comments about American Vets coming to help in the past...."they just want to come here, drink beer and lay on the beach and get a tax deduction"...........remember that Bizzell? He has a real issue with American Vets in particular.
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 1:19 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
at $30 like you agreed to?
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 12:35 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
No one is "dictating what should be done in the realm of animal welfare"! The VMAB worked with the OP directors and they AGREED to support the project, AGREED to doing 1000 spays and neuters for the cost of $30 per dog for the next 5 years, AGREED they could not take on the issue of animal overpopulation and needed a comprehensive project like OP. They were involved from the very beginning!
So if it were me that was one of the volunteers, who worked for the past years to build this project, raised money, took their vacation time, contributed their own resources, set aside differences with other groups to work for the common good of the animals and the community, I would be rather put out, as you say!
and if you had a huge problem, that the dentists, physicians, lawyers or architects could not handle that was causing a public health and public safety issue, they yes, they should ask for assistance to work with them to fix the problem. Those people don't want to stay and take the jobs of Bahamians, they just want to HELP!.........that is why there are organizations like Doctors without Borders, Operation Smile, Vets without Borders, The Red Cross and a million others.............they just want to help!!
For the record, just because you are a Veterinarian, that does not mean you are involved with animal welfare. Those of us that are involved with animal welfare are rather put out by that statement.
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 12:32 p.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
Who cares if he was rich?? If you are in it for the animals and have the animal's best interest at heart, then spay the dogs! and if you had half a brain, you would have been super nice the rich guy and talked to him about donating money to your project and kept being nice to him, invite him to fund raisers, etc.
Talk to him about about getting shots for his dogs, blood work done, dentals, etc. You could turn him into a client for the next 10-12 years! That is way more money that you would have made off the spay. stop being so short sighted!!
Turn lemons into lemonade.
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 9:47 a.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
Why would they reimburse you for supplies they were giving you for free? and I keep hearing you say the vets offered their services for free during OP 2013. Which vets worked? Which clinics? How many days? How long this work each day?
Bizzell, please stop trying to convince people that the Vets are not only in this for the money and can fix the problem alone. If they could have fixed it, they would have fixed it. The problem did not just pop up last year!
You complain about foreigners, yet you are one, correct?
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 9:40 a.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
No one is withdrawing support. Operation Potcake organizers have worked with the Vet association from the beginning. They were part of the overall plan....from the beginning. They have been invited to attend every meeting (interesting, when the vets met about this issue, they did not offer an invitation to OP. OP asked to attend and were told no.....great way to show you want to work with others, huh?) The vet association said from the beginning (about 2 years ago now) that they could not take the time to tackle the problem, but offered to do surgeries for OP during the year at a cost of........Wait for it..........$30, this included money for them, supplies and to pay assistants. OP would purchase vaccines. They were to do, collectively, 1000 surgeries during the year, between the big OP clinics. This is what THEY agreed to do, ThEY said they couldn't take the time for the big mash clinics (and they are still saying that, as they can only offer 3 days a year to help the problem) So I would like to see their numbers on how many surgeries they have done during the year? My guess is not many. In the end it is the VMAB that has pulled their support, in the end it is the MVAB that refuses to work with others to fix the problem. You say they have challenged themselves to fix it, yet they have on multiple occasions said they cannot do it. In the mean time, the dogs and cats are breeding while they figure it out. This is not a new problem and having volunteer Vets come in to assist is not going to threaten their jobs. These animals would never, ever end up in their clinics and while they sit in their clinics, the animals suffer on the streets. It is time to swallow their pride and do the right thing. There is a certain grace in accepting help when it is offered.
On Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Posted 1 December 2013, 9:28 a.m. Suggest removal
TruthSayer says...
You can find a copy of their letter here:
http://www.operationpotcake.com
On Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Posted 29 November 2013, 6:08 p.m. Suggest removal