About us
Mission Statement
The mission of the Curaçao Society for the Protection of Animals is to raise the quality of life of animals in Curaçao, both pets as well as wildlife on the island, through raising public awareness, particularly in the young, of the importance of responsible pet ownership and nature preservation.The Curaçao Society for the Protection of Animals has one all-embracing goal: to do as much as possible for, and in the interest of, the animals of our island.
The Society strives to meet this goal via the services provided by the Animal Shelter; actions against neglect, cruelty and abuse; the provision of information on animal care and organization of projects in the field of natural and environmental education.
Our Services
1. Services and activities of the Animal Shelter
- Acceptance of unwanted animals brought to the shelter by their owners.
- Collection of unwanted animals at their owners' home.
- Screening of incoming animals and euthanization of sick and old animals.
- Medical examination, treatment, inoculation etc of new arrivals.
- Daily care: feeding, kennel sanitation, parasite control and day-to-day medical supervision.
- Promoting adoption of these animals.
- Provision of boarding facilities for dogs and cats.
- Daily care of the animals in the boarding Pension.
- Offering a volunteers program. Volunteers are welcome to take the dogs to the field behind the shelter and assist the shelter personnel with the daily care of the animals.
- Provision of information concerning responsible pet ownership and daily care to shelter visitors, youth groups and schools.
Capacity of the Animal Shelter
The Animal Protection Society can shelter a maximum of 60 homeless dogs and 20 homeless cats at any time. The Shelter also operates a boarding facility or "pension" which can accommodate 15 dogs and 16 cats.
Guided tours to the shelter are very popular among schools and youth groups. The students get information on responsible pet care and are allowed to play with the kittens and puppies.
Remarks
Working at the Shelter has always been difficult for both personnel and volunteers. The continual flood of neglected, mistreated, sick, old but, unfortunately, also perfectly healthy animals, which arrive on a daily basis can be depressing and discouraging. This is something that even the most committed volunteers can only deal with emotionally for a limited amount of time. Some animals are picked up as strays on the street, some collected from their homes, some abandoned through nothing more than indifference and, of course, boxes and boxes of unwanted puppies and kittens. The Shelter can only take in a very small percentage of these animals, and therefore, only the youngest and most healthy ones are able to be given a chance at life. Fortunately sterilization campaigns and intensified policies on admission of rejected animals to the shelter gradually show an improvement of the situation.2. Action against neglect, cruelty and animal abuse
Complaints about neglect, cruelty and animal abuse can be lodged with the Animal Shelter, tel. 465-4300. The complaint investigator assigned to the Dierenbescherming initially tries to convince the owner of the abused animal to take better care of their pet. If there is no improvement, an official report is issued and an appeal can be made to the Public Prosecutor who has the authority to confiscate the animal.
Cruelty investigator Glen Aniceta (volunteer) deals daily with complaints of neglect and cruelty. In severe cases the animals are confiscated and admitted to the shelter.
3. Animal Ambulance Service
For animals urgently requiring medical assistance, the Animal Ambulance can be called from from 7.00 - 22.00 hours. Tel.: 465 1616. Anyone who is involved in an accident with an animal or confronted with a wounded animal on the side of the road can call this number to inform the Ambulance driver of the location of the wounded animal. Help for wounded stray animals is free of charge. Owners of sick or wounded animals will be charged for the transportation and the vet's bill.
For a reasonable fee the Animal Ambulance will also provide transportation of animals to the veterinarian for consultation. An appointment should be made with the shelter, tel. 465-4300.
Part of the donation 2009 of Oranje Casino was destined for a new animal ambulance which was officially put into use in June 2009.
4. Catching of stray dogs and cats
When complaints about stray animals are received from a neighborhood, action is taken to catch these animals using catch-poles and traps.
Most of the animals are sick and have to be put to sleep but healthy and social animals are given a chance to live.
One of the many stray dogs that are roaming the streets.
5. Euthanization
Old and incurably sick animals are put to sleep daily in the Animal Shelter. Also a considerable number of neglected animals in poor health and newborn or sick puppies and kittens have to be euthanized. This is definitely the most difficult and sad task of all.Information and Education
*Raising awareness of the importance of responsible pet ownership
Dierenbescherming informs the public about responsible pet ownership in order to make them aware that safe, happy and healthy dogs and cats need:
- Special pet food and fresh water.
- Grooming and parasite control
- Yearly vaccinations and regular medical care
- Fenced yards to play in and shelter against rain and sun
- Collars with ID tags
- Love and attention
- Exercise
- Spaying and neutering
Advertisement to raise awareness of the importance of sterilization.
The awareness program is implemented via advertisements in the local newspapers, radio spots, TV spots, leaflets, programs and material for schools. A DVD in the local language Papiamento has been produced consisting of several short films on subjects such as the daily care of pet animals and on animal abuse. Read more>>
*Raising awareness of the importance of nature preservation and wildlife
The Dierenbescherming is also concerned with wildlife and tries to raise public awareness, particularly in the young, of the importance of nature preservation. Due to ignorance and indifference the existence of many local species is endangered, and some even face extinction. By publishing a series of books and posters about nature and organizing awareness campaigns, Dierenbescherming contributes to this cause.
Read more »
The 2009 Figures
Sterilization campaigns organized by the several animal animal welfare groups on the island and intensified policies on admission of rejected animals to the shelter proved rewarding in 2009. Sterilization figures increased drastically and euthanasia figures show a remarkable decrease. Motivational talks with owners to point out that they are responsible for their pets, information on proper petcare and active assistance had as a result that many owners changed their mind and did not abandon their animals at the shelter.
Euthanasia Figures
Compare Euthanasia Figures of the last eight years| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Adult dogs | 5379 | 7287 | 3873 | 3730 | 3164 | 3583 | 2962 | 2216 |
| Puppies | 3434 | 2355 | 596 | 1173 | 1147 | 1505 | 1204 | 850 |
| Cats | 766 | 864 | 1030 | 403 | 334 | 266 | 254 | 261 |
| Kittens | 489 | 334 | 266 | 220 | 186 | |||
| Other animals | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9583 | 10508 | 5503 | 5803 | 4975 | 5673 | 4640 | 3513 |
Mange in an advanced stage is still one of the major causes of death. Through providing information on treatment methods at the shelter and when visiting neighborhoods more and more lives are saved.
Sterilization of shelter animals and Sterilization Fund
To reduce the overload of pet animals on our island the Society promotes spaying and neutering of pets to prevent unwanted litters and unnecessary killing of puppies and kittens. Adult shelter animals are sterilized before adoption. When adopting a pup or kitten, the new owner is required to sign a commitment to have that pet sterilized when it is about 6 month old. The owner will be reminded of the due sterilization of his pet by a telephone call from one of the volunteers in charge of adoption control.
Persons who cannot afford to pay for the sterilization of their pet can apply for a contribution from the Sterilization Fund. Evidence of financial hardship and a minimum payment are also required. This Fund has been made possible by donations from people who wish to give those of their fellow men who care for animals but have low financial resources, a helping hand.
Sterilization Figures
Compare Sterilization Figures of the last nine years
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||
| 1. | Shelter animals | 247 | 396 | 333 | 441 | 466 | 532 | 472 | 368 | 441 |
| 2. | Fund animals | 185 | 268 | 418 | 461 | 467 | 485 | 619 | 391 | 377 |
| 3. | OPSC animals | none | none | 60 | 188 | 178 | 99 | 61 | 87 | 127 |
| 4. | Special activities | 163 | 88 | 47 | 38 |
0 |
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| 5. | 'Free Sterilization Project' | 795 | ||||||||
| Total | 432 | 664 | 811 | 1090 | 1274 | 1304 | 1199 | 884 | 1748 |
The grand total of the sterilization figures show a tremendous increase. Row 1 shows the total of shelter animals sterilized, year on year. Row 2 shows the number of animals sterilized belonging to owners who qualified for financial assistance from the Sterilization Fund. Row 3 shows the amount of animals that were sterilized at a reduced fee under the OPSC project. In row 5 you see the fantastic result of the 'Free Sterilization Project', organized in the neighborhoods by coordinator Ivette Knol and her team. Oranje Casino finances in total 1250 sterilizations which is part of the donation for 2009.
There are always puppies in the shelter
Adoption Figures
Compare Adoption Figures of the last nine years
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Dogs | 307 | 344 | 394 | 563 | 529 | 509 | 473 | 303 | 387 |
| Cats | 111 | 154 | 133 | 194 | 181 | 189 | 160 | 142 | 189 |
| Total | 418 | 498 | 527 | 757 | 710 | 698 | 633 | 445 | 576 |
The total of adoption of dogs and cats increased but could be better. Unfortunately many shelter animals could not be rehomed. in 2009 adoption was promoted weekly by the Antilliaans Dagblad, an advertisement in the Amigoe sponsored by Europa Mode, a promotional program aired by Radio Dolfijn, and the "Looking for a Home" page on our website. With this most generous support the number of homeless animals placed in a new home will hopefully increase in 2010!
After an appeal via E-mail shelter manager Cindy van Lieshout-Eman found a home in the Netherlands for Zaida and Sprite.
