CARF Supporters

Eating sweets and supporting a good cause at the same time — where do we sign? CARF is hosting a Meet & Greet where you can meet some of our adoptable dogs. Friend and long time supporter Sherry-Ann will be selling delicious homemade pies and cupcakes to help raise funds for CARF. How sweet is that?

Meet And Greet Our CARFIES
The Meet & Greet will take place from 10:00-11:45am at Kaya Semikok B3. We'll bring some of our adoptable dogs for a morning of running around, playing with fellow CARFIES, and maybe even meeting their possible new families. If you're interested in offering a rescued dog a second chance in life, make sure to talk to our volunteers. They can tell you more about each dog's personality and which dogs would be a good fit for your living situation and lifestyle.

Preorder Pies and Cupcakes
There will be a stand in a separate area where you can pick up your pre-ordered pies and cupcakes. Sherry-Ann and her family are big supporters of CARF. Sherry-Ann also happens to have a talent and a passion for baking, so you can understand that we were thrilled when she offered to help us raise funds by selling baked goods!

Your options are as following:
- Ponche Kuba Pie (Nafl. 55)
- Chocolate Pie (Nafl. 55)
- Red Velvet Pie (Nafl. 55)
- Pistacho Pie (Nafl. 55)
- Apple Pie (Nafl. 45)
- New York Cheesecake (Nafl. 45)
- Cupcakes (Nafl. 25 for a box of 6)

To ensure you receive the sweets you need, please pre-order your pies and/or cupcakes by sending an email to stichtingcarf@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, September 28th. Make sure you let us know which desserts you would like to order, how many you would like, and your phone number.

We can't wait to taste some delicious sweets and support our rescued dogs in the process!
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Date: Saturday, October 1st, 2016
Time: 10:00 - 11:45am
Location: Kaya Semikok B3
Pre-order your pies and cupcakes: stichtingcarf@gmail.com

Mouth-watering zucchini burgers. Mushroom skewers with sweet potato fries. Carrot cake smothered in a dairy-free cashew frosting. And more. So much more. The first Curaçao Vegan Food Fest brought together an amazing array of cruelty-free food, local foodies, and culinary professionals in a fun and welcoming environment.

Marie-Louise Rigaud of Zumba Curaçao birthed the concept for a vegan food fest and teamed up with Arnold van Putten of Super Nice Cold Pressed Juices to make her dream happen. On Sunday, August 28th, Landhuis Hofi Cas Cora opened its doors for the first Curaçao Vegan Food Festival.

It was a beautiful but very hot day. Despite the heat, the crowds started pouring in the moment the festival started. From 3-8pm, there were consistent lines in front of the food stands. Visitors had a chance to talk directly to vegan food producers, try and enjoy delicious dishes, or simply learn what vegan foods are available on the island and where you can find them.

Curaçao Paletas brought flavored ice creams. Kome Konsiente served taco salad, quinoa with zucchini patties, pumpkin soup, and protein energy balls. Jahman's Place prepared eggplant stew with funchi & garbanzo coconut curry and cilantro. Maia Whole Foods served veggie sandwiches, Japanese blossom salad, and quinoa pudding. Spice Girl brought pita with black bean falafel and mango salad, and roasted sweet potato with tahini dressing. Spotted Banana prepared tacos and vegan roti, followed by pumpkin cinnamon donuts and carrot cake with frosting. And last but not least, Vita offered zucchini spaghetti, falafel salad, and mushroom skewers. You can scroll down for the complete menu.

As the oldest no-kill animal rescue organization on the island, CARF was also invited to attend this festival. Adoptable CARFIES Bowie and Kingsley were beyond excited as they were the "chosen ones" to join us at the festival! Visitors could meet and pet our dogs, they could shop for cool stuff at our stand, or leave a donation to support our cause.

We would like to thank Marie-Louise and Arnold for inviting us to be part of their festival, all the exhibitors for introducing over 600 people on the island to cruelty-free foods, and of course, all guests who visited our stand to show their support.

Oops, seems like we have some extra critters this week! There is an Eevee running around with our CARFIES, a Pikachu trying to eat their kibble, and a Growlithe who just won't stop barking. Sign up for Saturday's Pokémon Go Curaçao 'Conquer the City' and catch 'em all! Part of the event proceeds will go to CARF.

On Saturday, August 27th, Curaçao's very first 'Pokémon Go Conquer the City' event will take place. From 4:00-7:30pm, three teams will be competing against each other in an epic 'Conquer the City' battle.

The ticket price is Nafl. 25.00,- each. This includes a T-shirt for the event with the emblem of corresponding Pokémon Go Team, and one cold free drink during the event. Wear your team color and let's see who becomes the top ruler in Pokémon Go. Tickets can be purchased at the UTS Store (Renaissance, next to the circular water fountain), Albert Heijn Zeelandia, and Mensing's Caminada.

Part of the proceeds will go to the following two foundations: CARF, and Leerinstituut Klimop. So, what are you waiting for? Let's catch 'em all, and save some strays!

Visit the Facebook page for more information.

'Pokémon Go Conquer the City' is made possible by Pokémon Go Curaçao, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, Banco Di Caribe, Coca-Cola Curaçao, Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino, Curaçao Tourist Board, Downtown Management Organization DMO, Royal Dutch Cheesery Curaçao, and Don's Ice Cream Shop.
​

Today, on Saturday, August 13th, CARF attended the Passionistas Pop-Up Fair from 3-7pm. It was a fun-filled afternoon during which we were able to inform attendees about our foundation and raise money for the care and treatment of our dogs. Local businesses added flavor to the day with homemade food stalls for both savory and sweet tooth lovers, accompanied by a range of other stalls ranging from jewelry, accessories, and home decorations, to gifts and artwork.

Attending companies included: Gely's Food Lab, Crafty Teacups, It's Yummy - Infused Water, Crafted by Angel, My Love For The Kitchen, Siomi's Arts, Alive Body Care, QuesilloQueen, Bold Fashion, TasH, and Mrs Bliss.

​To everyone who visited our stand and purchased some of our products or left a donation, we are so grateful for your contribution and cannot thank you enough for your generosity. A special "thank you" goes out to Evita from Passionistas Pop-Up Fair for inviting us and hosting this fun fair.

​The next event that CARF will be attending is the Curaçao Vegan Food Fest at Hofi Cas Cora on Sunday, August 28th. Mark the date in your agenda - we hope to see you then and there! For more info, visit the Facebook page.

On Sunday, August 28th, the Curaçao Vegan Food Fest 2016 will be held at Hofi Cas Cora from 3:00 to 8:00pm. A unique fest during which you can enjoy delicious vegan food and find helpful information on protecting animals, the environment, and your health. CARF has been invited to join the festivities and we would love for you to join us!

Marie-Louise Rigaud birthed the concept for a vegan food fest, and she teamed up with Super Nice to make Curaçao Vegan Food Fest happen. Together with several event partners, they look forward to welcoming young and old to a fun-filled day of enticing food, great fun, and lots of inspiration.

The combination of a delicious vegan international food court, food demo's, kids’ activities, animal adoptions (that's where CARF comes in!), an eco-marketplace with over ten different vendors, empowering speakers (on both health, environmental, humanitarian & animal topics), and more, will make for an unforgettable earth-friendly experience that is sure to be enjoyable for all.

Whether you are a long-time vegan, a new vegan, interested in going vegan, or if you are just looking forward to having a good time with family or friends, then Curaçao Vegan Food Fest is for you! Get ready for an all vegan experience featuring cruelty-free food, refreshing drinks, adoptable dogs (we'll bring some of our cutest furry friends!), zumba dancing, and more.

Admission is Fl 5,00 for adults and Fl 2,50 for children.
​For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

In addition to CARF, other event partners of Curaçao Vegan Food Fest include Curaçao Paletas, Hofi Cas Cora, Kome Konsiente, Jahman's Place, Maia Whole Foods, Spice Girl, Spotted Banana, Super Nice Sustainable Curaçao, Vita, and Zumba For Kids.

On Saturday, August 13th, you can find CARF at Passionistas Pop-Up Fair. Passionistas Pop-Up Fair is more than just a fair, it's a platform for creative individuals who live by the philosophy “handmade & homemade with love”. Intrigued? CARF will be there with its own stand selling books, home decorations, merchandise, and more to raise money.

There will be handmade products, homemade food and drinks, and a creative workshop for kids. Find us to purchase your very own CARF merchandise, including caps (Nafl 25,- each), bags (Nafl 10,- each), and stickets (NAfl 2.50,- each). Admission is free!
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Date: ​Saturday, August 13, 2016
Time: From 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Kaya Pergola 16, Willemstad, Curaçao

For more info, visit the Facebook event page.

So very blessed by the amazing supporters on- and off-shore. Those who have a monthly standing order, those that skip a cup of coffee and donate whenever they can, those that volunteer their time to play, cuddle, walk, feed our rescues.

​The fosters, the ones behind the scenes who keep things rolling (it is no small feat), all of you who in one way, shape or form contribute to being part of the solution. We are very grateful and could never accomplish this much without your trust and support.

Thank you!

We! We! We! On Sunday, April 17th, a group of volunteers came together to spend their morning taking some of our CARFIES for a walk. These walks help the dogs get used to walking on a leash and being around other dogs and people. The dogs had a great time and so did we! A very special thanks to everyone who came out and made this possible.

This time, the CARF Walk took us to the salt flats. Volunteers included young and old, families and individuals, all excited to take our dogs for a fun walk. At the end of the walk, the CARFIES were treated to refreshing 'pupsicles'. Scroll down for more pictures of this fun group outing.

If you would like to join us during one of our upcoming CARF Walks, please feel free to send us a message at stichtingcarf@gmail.com.

Good news! Customers at THEA Gifts & More at Cas Coraweg 39A can now make in-store donations to support CARF. THEA Gifts & More has placed a donation box on their counter, plus, they will also be accepting material items for CARF including dog food, cleaning supplies, preventives, treats, and toys.

And during the month of April, when you purchase any Yankee Candle product in the fragrance 'Macintosh', all profits will go to CARF! How amazing is that? We almost candle believe it ;-) Visit the store, to see it yourself!

THEA Gifts & More
Cas Coraweg 39A
Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean
+5999 738 3616

Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

What are your plans this Sunday? Local artist Rachna Blom will present her first solo exhibition at Landhuis Chobolobo and during this event she will be creating awareness and raising funds for CARF Curaçao. What an awesome gesture and a wonderful example of how you can make a difference in different ways!

‘Starting out’ includes 30-35 never before seen art pieces - both paintings and drawings. Rachna Blom is a self-taught artist whose work is personal, intuitive and responsive without being over-thought. Although Rachna started off at a early age – inspired by an artistic mother – she has only recently rekindled her passion for painting.

The work in the exhibition ‘Starting out’ forms an complete insight into rediscovering a passion that lies close to each of us -  each art piece a snapshot of a small step, conversation, place, time or mood in Rachna’s newly discovered passion. If you want to hear more about her personal journey - join us for the official toast and speech at 11.00

Enjoy a lazy yet elegant Sunday vibe – start with a free (bubbly) welcome drink and wander the courtyard enjoying the exhibition. During or afterwards – sit-down and relax – take in these historic surroundings while soaking up the last rays of sunshine and enjoying the finer sides of life.

Come and support local talent and a local charity! We hope to see you all there. Thanks Rachna!

Exhibition Details
Date: Sunday, March 20th 2016
Time: 10:00 – 17.00_
Official Toast: 11.00 (sharp)
Location: Landhuis Chobolobo
Entrance: Free

Landhuis Chobolobo
Elias RA Moreno Boulevard
Salina Ariba, Willemstad
Curaçao
Telephone: 465-3169 / 689-4824
Email: info@chobolobo.com
www.curacaoliqueur.com

Earlier this week, our friends of PiDiS Pet Department Store Curacao at the Dr. Maalweg have placed a donation box for CARF on their counter. If you haven't checked out their store yet, you are in for a treat!

PiDiS does not sell any pets (thumbs up!), but they do carry a wide range of high-quality, all-natural/holistic pet food brands as well as a variety of supplies and accessories for your pets.

PiDiS is not just for dog lovers though, you can also find food and other products for cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, birds, fish, turtles, and iguanas. They also sell gift certificates in case you would like to surprise your pet-loving friends or family members with a unique gift. And you can have personalized tags made on the spot. Just select the tag(s) that you like and they can be engraved while you wait. Definitely worth the visit!

PiDiS Pet Department Store
Dr. Maalweg 21-A
Willemstad, Curaçao
+5999 465 0861

Monday-Friday
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Saturday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

You can also find PiDiS on Instagram and Facebook. Our donation jars were made by and graciously offered to us by 2ndLife Curaçao.

Support from the local community is crucial to carry out our mission. One of our supporters is Kelly Theunissen, who you might know as 1st Runner Up Miss Curaçao Teenager 2015. But Kelly is not just pretty on the outside, she's the kind of beautiful that's on the inside and shines right out.

Kelly has a big heart and feels a great sense of joy and fulfillment from helping others, especially animals. That is why, in her free time, you can find Kelly supporting CARF. We had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly and ask her some questions.

First of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
"My name is Kelly Theunissen and I am 18 years young. I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Curaçao where I still live with my family. I am the youngest of three siblings, I have one brother and one sister. At the moment I am in my last year of high school, I'm working hard to finish my study successfully."

"I am jolly and spontaneous person who likes to have fun and help others where I can. Growing up with bunnies, different types of birds, fish, turtles, guinea pigs, and of course dogs, I developed a love for animals early on."

Do you have any dogs of your own?
"Yes, I do. I have a three year old Chihuahua called Baby that I love very much. I am currently also taking care of my sister's dog because she is studying abroad. My family also has two bigger dogs that help guard our home. I don't think Baby would scare many people, haha."

How did you first learn about CARF?
"I first read about CARF when I was having dinner at a local sushi restaurant named Chopstix. One of the items on their menu is the so-called 'CARF Roll', which caught my eye. For every CARF roll they sell, part of the proceeds are donated to CARF. When I got back home after we had finished our dinner, I went online to search for more information about CARF. That is when I first found out who they are and what they stand for."

What inspired you to become a volunteer for CARF?
“I volunteer because I can’t handle seeing any animal suffer or in distress. It absolutely breaks my heart. Like I said before, I absolutely love animals. Helping them makes me feel worthwhile, alive even. Last year, when I participated in Miss Curaçao Teenager, I was encouraged to do volunteer work and contribute to the community around me. I immediately knew that I wanted to choose a project which would allow me to help animals and I choose CARF as my charity of choice. It was always in my plans to volunteer for CARF or another animal related foundation and this was a good opportunity for me to get started. I enjoy helping the ones without a voice, helping the animals."

Why do you think it's important to volunteer?
"I personally think that it's important to help others who can't help themselves, whether it's other people or animals. Animals can't defend themselves or speak for themselves. They're at our mercy. It's up to all of us to be their voice."

​As a volunteer, what's the most rewarding experience you've had so far?
"Last year, I had to honor to help CARF raise money to buy Heartgard, a monthly oral pet med used in dogs and puppies as a heartworm preventive. Together we organized a special Meet & Greet event at Hofi Cas Cora with the aim to not only raise money to purchase Heartgard but also to educate the public on how to take care of dogs and be a responsible pet owner. We arranged a bouncer for the children, and offered our adult guests the possibility to buy snacks, drinks and even some decorations and accessories for their homes. Visitors could discover and enjoy the beautiful environment of Hofi Cas Cora and there were even some CARFIES attending the event, so people could not only meet with the people behind CARF but also some of the adoptable dogs. It was a successful day, we raised a total of Nafl. 1200,- which allowed us to buy 14 packages of Heartgard as each package costs around Nafl. 85,- With the number of CARFIES at that point of time, this was enough to provide all CARFIES with Heartgard for three months. This was definitely a very fulfilling day and a rewarding team effort."

Would you recommend others to volunteer, and why? 
"Absolutely. It's such a rewarding experience, both for the animals you are helping, and for yourself. You learn so much, you meet new people who share the same goals as you, and you do good to others. Why would you not want to volunteer?"

Do you have any particular hopes for the future of the animals on Curaçao?
"Personally, I hope that in the future there will be no more homeless, abandoned or neglected dogs, or any other animals, on Curaçao. I wish that one day everyone knows what the responsibilities are of owning an animal and the commitment that come with adding a pet to the family."

If you find some free time in your busy schedule, what do you enjoy doing most?
"Sleeping! Haha. I have a very busy schedule so I enjoy the free moments at home with my family and dogs around me. On the days that I don't have any responsibilities, I like to give them extra attention. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, they are always there for me and they supported me for hundred per cent during and after my participation in the Miss Curaçao Teenager competition. Their friendship is very important to me.  I also try to exercise regularly if my schedule allows it. Eating fresh food and living a healthy lifestyle is something I have been extremely passionate about. Not only does it make me feel good, it also helps me to focus better on school."

You sound very busy! Where can we expect to see you the following months?
"First of all, I'll be spending much time at school, working on final projects and preparing for my final exams. This is my key for future success. Secondly, I will continue with my commitments as Miss Curaçao Teenager First Runner Up. One of them is do good to others. All the International Beauty & Fashion Foundation (IBFF) queens are part of the group "Beauty For The Community". Together we organize several community projects for the less fortunates. Other projects that I'll be busy with the upcoming months are modeling events for several clothing stores, a TV promotion, carnaval campaigns, and of course you can expect to see me at upcoming CARF events as I will keep working as a volunteer to support CARF!"

For more information about Kelly and to stay up-to-date about her whereabouts, like her page on Facebook. If you feel inspired after reading this interview and you would like to become a volunteer as well, please send us a message at stichtingcarf@gmail.com.

We absolutely love our supporters, volunteers and sponsors, as they are the only way CARF Curaçao continues to exist. One of the biggest compliments that we can get is when our work is seen in other countries. We have been getting it more and more, people from all around the world reaching out because they have somehow heard about us and support our cause. We love it when they are holidaying on Curaçao and they make time in their schedules to visit us!

Let's take a look at some of the wonderful people who visited us recently.

Look at this wonderful donation! One of our supports, who would like to remain anonymous, has donated a big pile of treats and toys. Our CARFIES sure are going to love these!

A big 'Thank you!' goes out to our rescue friends from Tennessee for visiting us and showering the CARFIES with love. They also made a generous donation to cover the medical and food costs of our rescued street dogs. As you can see, CARFIE Sol was really grateful and enjoyed all the attention.

When Annelies visited the island earlier this month she didn't travel lightly. During her stay on Curaçao, she made some time to visit us and she did not arrive empty handed! With the help of friends and family back home in The Netherlands, she was able to collect a large amount of leashes, collars and harnesses which she donated to CARF. With over 140 dogs in our care, these will be put to good use. Thanks a million, Annelies and friends!

Robert & Jenna from the USA visited Curaçao for their honeymoon. This lovely couple surely has a lot of love to give, since they visited us not once but twice during their trip! How amazing is that? Many thanks to you Robert and Jenna, we wish you the absolute best in your marriage and hope you have enjoyed your honeymoon as least half as much as our CARFIES enjoyed all of your hugs, cuddles and belly rubs!

Earlier this month, one of our supporters from The Netherlands came to visit Maxim, the little puppy with the injured leg. Maxim was a little shy at first, but our supporter gave him praise and treats whenever Maxim would walk which helped to break the ice. With the help of his colleagues back home, our supporter was able to raise a wonderful amount of money to donate to CARF. Many thanks Centrum Oosterwal and Apotheek Pharmacor!

And last but not least, during the first CARF Meet & Greet of 2016, many people came out to meet and play with our puppies. Longtime friend Kelly Theunissen, 1st Runner Up Miss Curacao Teenager 2015 dropped by for some puppy love, and wasn't disappointed as you can see. Thank you for your continued support, Kelly and family! 

   

We received another wonderful donation from our friends at Curaçao Vastgoed Management (www.cvmbv.com). Thank you for helping us help the abandoned, neglected and homeless dogs of Curaçao - you are making a difference!

About Curaçao Vastgoed Management
Curacao Vastgoed Management is een toonaangevend bedrijf op het gebied van beheer, verhuur en verkoop van de karakteristieke tropenvilla's op Curaçao. Via Curapools legt Curacao Vastgoed Management zich toe op de bouw van zwembaden en het verzorgen van landscaping rondom het zwembad. Daarnaast is Curaçao Vastgoed Management partner in de marketing van de B-sectie van Blauwbaai (Bluebay), genaamd "Blue Bay Heights". Hier verkopen zij villa's en kavels.

Voor meer informatie kunt u mailen naar info@cvmbv.com of bezoek de website via ww.cvmbv.co. Curacao Vastgoed Management B.V. is gevestigd te Curaçao en is bij de Kamer van Koophandel geregistreerd onder nummer 122992. 

Bon dia! This morning, Kelly Theunissen, who you might know as 1st Runner Up Miss Curaçao Teenager 2015, came out to help us feed our CARFIES.

CARF is run by volunteers and relies on donations from supporters in order to function. It's because of our volunteers and supporters that we are able to do what we do.

This morning, Kelly not only helped feeding our CARFIES, she also cuddled the dogs, pet them and played with them. She was rewarded on the spot with (many!) puppy kisses.

A big thank you goes out to Kelly (and her mom!) for lending a hand and giving our doggies a hearty breakfast to help kick-start their day.

Check out the photos below to see some of the work that is done by CARF volunteers on a daily basis.

We depend on the work of dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we would like to hear from you! Please drop us a message at stichtingcarf@gmail.com.