The Tribune

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis paid a visit to Operation Potcake’s Fox Hill clinic and was amazed by the size and level of organisation on display.

Mr Davis was taken on a tour of the facility led by Animal Balance director Emma Clifford and Bahamas Humane Society president Kim Aranha, and met the volunteers working there.

He expressed his gratitude to the hard working volunteers who are helping make our communities a better place.

Animal Balance is an organisation that helps island nations put together spay and neuter programmes to assist in reducing the number of stray animals on the streets.

“Quite honestly, I believe that providence led me to an Animal Conference in Puerto Rico in April of 2010,” Mrs Aranha said. “I have always dreamed of a huge endeavour with clinics all over the island, and when I met Emma, and heard what she does, I knew that I had found the right partner.”

Operation Potcake is a co-operative effort by all the animal groups on the island along with Animal Balance.

The Veterinary Board, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bahamas Humane Society, BAARK, ARK, Proud Paws, Pink Potcake and Stray Busters are all involved, along with many individual animal lovers.

“We are hugely grateful to the Veterinary Board for their support,” Mrs Aranha said. “Many government ministries and departments have assisted us – Agriculture, Finance, Tourism, Works, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Urban Renewal, and the Deputy Prime Minister.”

Inspector Percy Grant, shelter manager for the Bahamas Humane Society, said: “This is a huge moment for the Bahamas, as no other spay and neuter clinic this size has ever been attempted before anywhere. In three days, 780 dogs have been fixed.

“This will greatly reduce the number of roaming dogs on the streets of New Providence.

Mrs Aranha added: “It is absolutely wonderful to see so many organisations, departments, and people come together to make this happen.

“To see so many people bring in their dogs to us to have them fixed shows that lots of people ‘get it’ and understand how important it is to have your dog spayed or neutered”.

The clinics also provide the necessary shots, flea and tick removal, ear cleaning, and nails trimming.

There are four main clinic locations: Fox Hill (community centre), Kemp Road (St Bede’s Church Hall), East Street (Music Makers Junkanoo Shack, 31 Fowler Street), and Carmichael Road (Oral’s Golden Auto).

“This campaign has been even more successful than we had hope for,” Mrs Aranha said. “We will actually be needing to find donations for further medical supplies.”

Anyone wanting to help further this effort can contact her on 357-4318.