Cassandra Bowers

Here are some tips on how to avoid losing your dog, and in the unfortunate event that your pet does get lost, how to find them back.

1. Dog Tags
Identify your dog with a collar with your phone number, name and address tag at all times. If your dog ever escapes or takes off, chances are someone will find him of her. If they have a number that they can call when they find your dog, you might have your dog back in no time. You can buy your personalized tags and collars at PiDiS Pet Department Store (Dr Maalweg 21A) and other pet stores. Ready while you wait!

2. Collars With Phone Numbers
There's always a chance that your dog might lose its dog tags while he's out. Use a permanent marker to write your phone numbers on the outside of the collar, in case the tags gets lost.

3. Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Through neutering, you can help your dog live a happier, healthier, and longer life and also help reduce pet overpopulation. A spayed dog is less likely to run off because they are not searching for a mate. Since they are less likely to run away, they are less likely to be hit by cars, or receive injuries from fights with neighborhood dogs.

4. Be Careful During Holidays And Weather Extremes
Be extra careful during holidays with fireworks (New Year's Eve) and weather extremes (fireworks, storm, heavy rainfall, etc.). Dogs can become very stressed by loud noises and even dogs who normally don’t jump fences can leap over them easily in fear. Lock your dog in the house if there’s a chance he or she could dig under or jump over the outside fence.

5. Have Your Pets Microchipped
Talk with your veterinarian about having your dog microchipped for permanent identification. You can contact stichtingcarf@gmail.com to schedule an appointment with our vet. Once microchipped, make sure to register your dog at els-angels.com and keep the info in a safe place and updated.

6. Take Pictures Of Your Pets
Remember to always have updated pictures of your dogs in case they do get lost. Also make sure to take pictures of any unusual markings or scars. If your pet does get lost, you will have a picture to print and spread lost-flyers in your area. You can also create awareness on Facebook.com/curacaopets.lostandfound.

Real Life Case Study
​Pancho was one of our many CARFIES that suffered from heartworm. Pancho was a sweet dog that came to us with tick fever, heartworm, liver failure, and a paralyzed leg. Even with all his issues Pancho was always happy to cuddle and guarded his foster’s home like no other.

Pancho had been bitten by a mosquito carrying the heartworm larvae. The larvae traveled to his heart where they nestled and fed on the blood flowing through the heart. The early stages happened unnoticed. Then, as Pancho’s heart began to fill with worms he started coughing occasionally. When Pancho arrived at his foster home, his foster noticed that his tongue would turn blue after a big meal or that he would sit down to rest while eating. When his foster would play fetch with him and the other dogs, Pacho would soon lag behind, give up, and sit down and pant.

When Pancho was finally healthy enough for treatment (taking his other ails into consideration), the vet gave him an injection in his muscle next to his spine. This made him very unwell that evening. Pancho needed to be restricted from exercise and remain in a cool area during treatment. After a month he had to go back for the same injection, followed by another one the next day.  Not only is this a painful treatment and an even more painful disease, it is a costly one!

Poor Pancho passed away during an operation on his leg due to his enlarged heart from the heartworms.

1. Your dog will have a better chance in life. According to research, a male neutered dog lives 18% longer than un-neutered male dog. A female spayed dog lives 23% longer.
2. Less chance of your dog wanting to roam outside of your property, getting into fights with other dogs, car accidents, and other dangers on the street. The chances of fighting with your other dogs in your yard will be much smaller too.
3. Neutered male dogs have smaller chances of getting testicular and prostate cancer.
4. Un-spayed female dogs have a greater chance of developing pyrometra (fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer, and cancer in the reproductive organs.
5. Clinical evidence indicates that female dogs spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.
6. Male un-neutered dogs are more prone to urine marking their territory. Even some female dogs present this behavior.
7. Some dogs are more aggressive when not neutered. Aggressiveness can put you and your family’s life in risk. Some cases of dog aggression have led to people putting their dog down or dumping him or her in a shelter.

​If your pet isn't spay or neutered yet, please make an appointment at the vet and get it done with. It will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make for your pet. You can contact your vet, or Claus Clinic, to schedule an appointment. Keep in mind, no food for your pet past 7:00 PM the day before neutering/spaying.

There is practically a new dog coming in every day. Most of them are in bad shape and in need of extensive medical treatments for ehrlichia, heartworm, mange... you name it!

[ For Dutch, click here. ]

Please help us continue to help our street dogs by:

• Donating dog food.
• Donating preventives (Frontline, Heartgard, NexGard, and Bravecto. All can be purchased at vet stores).
• Donating cleaning products (Bleach, towels, kitchen towels, laundry detergent, etc.)
• Donating money. Monetary donations, no matter how small, are welcome at Maduro & Curiel's Bank 21199501 or Banco di Caribe 301647 500 001 100 01. You can also send a secure PayPal donation through our website.
• Donating your time. We can always use your help and there are lots of opportunities for voluntary work. Volunteers can help with everything from feeding our dogs, cleaning benches to fundraising or taking our CARFIES out for a walk. Whether you can spare an hour a week or more, there are many ways to get involved.
• Opening your home to a CARFIE. We are in urgent need of foster homes. Our foster program works like this; you provide the space and TLC, we provide food, medicine, toys and other supplies.
• Spreading the word. Even if you are not in the position to donate, you can still help us. Simply by liking and sharing our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram you can help us reach the people who are in the position to donate. By talking about the overpopulation of stray dogs with friends, family and colleagues, your church, school or sports club, you can inspire someone else to step up and help out.

If you can help, please send us an email at stichtingcarf@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook.com/carfcuracao. We will arrange a date and time for you to drop off your donation or have one of our volunteers come and pick it up at a time and location that is convenient for you. All help is appreciated!