Humane Society of Grand Bahama
"Protecting Animals, Educating People"
REPEAT VISITORS: Please REFRESH (click the button at the top of your computer screen
that has arrows going in a circle) your browser so that you have our most current page
in front of you!
$200 tax-deductible donation needed - please!?
We've been awarded a grant for medical supplies delivered to our island to help the pets and our ongoing island-wide Spay/Neuter Program! We simply have to pay for the shipping of the items, which amounts to around $200 every 3 months.
Can you please help us to get the medical supplies here by sending us a tax-deductible donation toward the shipping?
ANY amount helps SO much! THANK YOU!!
Are you adopting a ROYAL BAHAMIAN POTCAKE?
CLICK HERE FOR THE ADOPTION FORM!
Please print out the form, fill it out, and fax it to (242) 351-7438,
"ATTENTION: Tip Burrows."
Secondary fax to use, if phones are out in the Bahamas due to a storm:
(305) 251-4408, "Attention: Jana Sheeder/GBHS"
B.A.R.C.
Our non-profit organzation is called B.A.R.C. (Bahamian Animal Rescue Committee), and it was created for us by the incredible people at The Kohn Foundation. Click here for information about the Foundation.
Enter "The Kohn Foundation," as your cause!!
ARE YOU READY TO SAVE LIVES AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Humane Society of Grand Bahama would like to encourage you to become an annual member this year! Your generosity and thoughtfulness help to make our continuing efforts possible. Please join our membership and help us to make a difference!
CLICK HERE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP FORM!
Please print the form, fill it out, and fax it to (242) 351-7438,
"ATTENTION: Tip Burrows."
Secondary fax to use, if phones are out in the Bahamas due to a storm:
(305) 251-4408, "Attention: Jana Sheeder/GBHS"
You may also scan the form and email it back to us, or simply email the details back to us (not using the form) at tip@coralwave.com. (If this email doesn't work for some reason, the alternate email to use is tjburrows7@gmail.com) Thanks!
Click here to use safely, quickly, and easily use Paypal for your membership!
About Us
We are the only animal rescue organization on Grand Bahama Island, which is 73 miles long and 1 to 7 miles wide, with a human population of around 50,000, and a large homeless animal population.
We are working hard to alleviate the homeless animal problem through our free spay/neuter and educational programs, but with only three full-time employees, two part-time employees, and a few volunteers, it is a constant struggle.
Unfortunately, only about 30% of our operating expenses are reimbursed by a local government entity. The rest (which equates to more than $.70 of every single dollar...and we need to raise money to buy pet food, even...) must come from private donations and fundraising events. We desperately need a new facility as our current building is too small, outdated, and is seriously dilapidated, so we're raising money through our Building Fund (link below). Please help!
At present, our maxiumum capacity (which is often exceeded) is only 50 dogs and puppies and 20 cats and kittens. Stray, homeless, unwanted, and abandoned dogs are by far our biggest problem on the island.
Unfortunately, with such a small human population on our island, our adoption rate for dogs is AT BEST, 5 - 10%, and since we take in between 100 - 200 pets per month, we sadly...and tragically... do not have the luxury of being a no-kill shelter.
Our fundraising ability is also limited by the finite pool of potential donors as we are only one of many charities on the island, and unfortunately, animal welfare is low on most residents' list of priorities.
About The Potcake (aka "Royal Bahamian Potcake") Breed
The majority of our dogs are of mixed breeds, locally referred to as "Potcakes." This name is derived from a popular dish here, peas and rice. The "cake" that sticks to the bottom of the pot was usually thrown into the yard for the dogs (and in many cases, it still is). Potcakes are an officially recognized breed in the Bahamas!
Potcakes typically have smooth, short fur with little or no undercoat, cocked ears, a hound-like rib cage and long terrier-shaped faces. More rare are the shaggy or rough-coated Potcakes. The "typical" Potcake is brown, but colors range from party (brindle) to black, white, cream, yellow, and red. Adults stand about 24 inches high at the shoulder. Normal adult weight is 25 pounds in the bush, but once healthy and homed, they can weigh 30-45 pounds, depending upon bone structure.
Potcakes are genetically-engineered to tolerate heat, long-term physical stress, extreme competition for food, and a low protein diet. As pets, Potcakes comprise the "traits of the Potcake breed" and are highly-intelligent, fiercely loyal, and very enthusiastic, bonded companions. These dogs are generally uncommonly smart, easily-trained, and make the most loyal and loving companions you could ever want. They are usually so grateful to live in a house, that they almost housetrain themselves!
Please make a difference and save the life of a truly unique and WONDERFUL Potcake!
Adopting A Lifelong Friend
Since most owned dogs here are kept strictly outside, we require a secure, fenced yard, which we confirm with a site visit, as well as an application and informal interview process.
For animals to be placed within the U.S., we require they be "house dogs" and real members of the family. We don't necessarily require a fenced yard, but we do ask for references, particularly from the adopter's regular veterinarian. We also try to arrange for a local rescue group or animal shelter to make a home visit on our behalf.
Our adoption fees are normally $75 for dogs and $50 for cats. They include one vaccination, basic deworming, and sterilization. For kittens and puppies that are too young to be spayed or neutered before leaving here, we require that adopters have it done at their own expense, by the time the pet is five months old, and send us confirmation. The cost of the health certificate ($10 -- required by U.S. Customs) and rabies vaccination for animals older than three months ($15 -- not required in the Bahamas) would have to be added for U.S. adopters. However, because we ship many adopted pets, we constantly send our only airline-approved crates overseas! We would really like for adopters to purchase crates for our pets, instead of sending money for adoption fees. We cannot buy these crates here in Grand Bahama, so when we send the crates away, we have to go to the United States to buy more! Remember, we cannot send pets to adopters without their being in airline-approved crates!
GREAT NEWS! Our adopters are now able to easily and inexpensively transport their pets from the island to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, via GB Express, a local import/export company with whom we've aligned to make stateside adoptions possible. Their fees to you are VERY MINIMAL -- only $.45 per pound, or ONLY $20 -- whichever is greater. Just imagine -- For less than the cost of going out to dinner - or even just spending an evening at the movies - you can fly your new pet to the United States, AND you'll truly be saving a life and changing yours forever!! We are so thrilled that our special pets have this wonderful opportunity for reaching their loving, forever families!
NOTE: The cost and responsibility of transporting the animal further than Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is the adopter's, although we have established a network of animal rescue people stateside, who on occasion are able to help with temporary housing and/or transport!
Can you imagine what a fun trip it would be to fly down to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to meet your new pet? Visit a dog park, go to a dog beach, dine at an outdoor cafe, enjoy some rest, relaxation and your RESCUE(!), then fly home together!? WOW.
How You Can Help Right NOW!*
*SHOP TO HELP THE GBHS ANIMALS!! Up to 26% of each purchase that you make with iGive.com goes to The Humane Society of Grand Bahama! Your shopping at hundreds of online stores helps GBHS with each purchase. It's free and completely private. Join today by clicking on this link: http://www.iGive.com/GBHS and filling in your email address! Then simply shop and help us to save animals! Thank you!
*ADOPT ONE OF OUR SPECIAL PETS and save not just one, but TWO, lives! You save the life of the pet that you adopt, and you make room for us to bring another homeless pet into our facility in hopes of finding a loving, forever family and living a long and happy life.
*SPONSOR A POTCAKE (dog) TO BE VETTED AND TRANSPORTED TO A NO-KILL FACILITY IN THE STATES! This is the perfect gift for an animal that you are not able to adopt, yourself! It's only $175 to sponsor one of these precious and special pets and give him or her a chance at a long and happy life!
*SPONSOR A SHELTER CAT OR KITTEN TO BE FULLY-VETTED AND MADE ADOPTABLE! Already have enough pets of your own? Landlord doesn't allow pets? Allergic to cats, but love them? What a wonderful lifesaving gift to give an animal who, because of you, will live a long life! It's only $100 to sponsor a cat or kitten!
*SEND A DONATION FOR THE FUND FOR ITEMS FOR OUR NEW, HURRICANE-PROOF FACILITY! Due to its age and the number of devastating hurricanes (including multiple HUGE hurricanes during the last season) that have battered our island and our buildings, our shelter facility has been falling apart. It is woefully inadequate for housing the number of pets that come through our doors, and we have finally raised enough money to build a new facility! It is so beautiful...and it's thanks to you! Even though it is already built, we still need to install cages for the pets, put in cat trees, install a washer and dryer, etc! Your thoughtful gift will forever change the lives of the animals on Grand Bahama and will dramatically impact the future of the island.
We know that there are many organizations requesting your help with donations, so we are especially grateful to you for caring about us.
*SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT US:
Tell your friends about your potcakeTell people how to adopt one of their own, unique, phenomenal pets from GBHS!Write "Letters to the Editor" in your hometown newspaper and share our information with those in the community!PLEASE HELP US BEFORE THE NEXT STORM HITS!
Thank you for making a lifesaving difference!
Our Wish List
Our shelter and pets are in desperate need of help. Because we take in so many pets, we need many things to help get them adopted (as well as to keep them comfortable while they're awaiting their forever families)! Will you please help us?
Gosh...new toys? A soft bed? Treats? YES, PLEASE!!
(NOTE: Please send certificates for the shelter to tip@coralwave.com)
We need:
PLASTIC "BARGAIN HOUND" TRANSPORT CRATES FROM PETSMART!These can be bought with gift cards (and this will save shipping costs)! They are the least expensive crates we've found, and they are perfect for our pets' needs! We need sizes from small to XL.
Click here to order PetsMart gift cards SPECIFICALLY TO BUY TRANSPORT CRATES.
Mail them to:
Luv A Pet c/o D. Shields
For Humane Society of Grand Bahama
1128 Royal Palm Bch Blvd #203
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
561-951-1102
PETSMART GIFT CARDS THAT DON'T EXPIRE (there are no chain stores here, so we have to go to the mainland every few months). We always need to buy crates, pet toys, pet treats, ferret hammocks for our cats, pet shampoo, and LOTS of other things!
Click here to order gift cards online!
Mail them to:
Humane Society of Grand Bahama
P.O. Box F-42741
Freeport, BS 33404
FREEBIE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS TO GIVE TO ADOPTERS to entice them to adopt and to tell their friends to adopt!
FUNDS TO PAY OUR HIGH VET BILLS! You can donate with a credit card, and the money will go into the fund to pay vet bills and help us to save lives! Thank you!
Sadly...sometimes we can't afford to feed or treat the animals (or even run basic medical tests on them), and we have no choice but to euthanize... so PLEASE HURRY AND ADOPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time is of the essence!
Visiting Us
Please Come Visit Us on beautiful Grand Bahama, in the city of Freeport, on Cedar Street! If you visit our island, please stop in at the shelter, we'll be happy to give you a tour! Come see the difference that you are making in the pets' lives and on the island, itself!
Our hours are 9 - 4 weekdays, and 9 - 12 Saturdays.
Please note: we do not have internet access at the shelter, so please allow for delays in response time as animals are posted and emails are answered after hours by our staff and volunteers. Telephone calls are also forwarded to one of our cell phones after hours.
Humane Society of Grand Bahama
P.O. Box F-42741
Freeport, BS 33404
Phone Tip at (242) 727-2477
Emails: Tip Burrows, Shelter Manager (tip@coralwave.com)
Dan (dan@humanesocietyofgrandbahama.com)
ALTERNATE EMAIL ADDRESS (IF #1 DOESN'T WORK) FOR Tip Burrows, Shelter Manager (tjburrows7@gmail.com)
For URGENT animal matters, contact:
Lavarre Thompson, Animal Control Officer, at (242) 727-2478 or
Sameir Wildgoose, Animal Rescue Officer, at (242) 727-4279
If email is down in the Bahamas due to storms, Contact Jana (volunteer) (Jana@humanesocietyofgrandbahama.com). If phones are out in the Bahamas, use secondary phone: (786) 256-1000
"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare, and love we can spare. ...and in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made."
-M. Acklam
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