The Tribune

CLAIRE Cash, of Nassau, and Phyllis Kemp, of Rock Sound, Eleuthera, are the winners of the annual Bahamas Humane Society B-Humane Award given to people who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist the animals in The Bahamas.

They will be presented with their coveted 2014 awards on Friday at Government House at the Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch B-Humane Banner Launch, where the photographic banners that will traditionally adorn West Bay Street for a month will be featured.

Claire Cash studied at Kingsway Academy before attending Virginia Intermont College, where she studied horsemanship. She began volunteering at the BHS in the late 1970s when Dr Barrie Watson was the veterinarian there.

She said that she is the “typical kid that the puppy followed home”, much to the inconvenience of her mother, Carol Cash, who had to deal with all of her animals.

In the late 1980s, she helped to rescue some horses and this set her on the path to rescuing. After returning from college, she rescued more horses, from Andros. Over the past 22 years, Claire has rescued 18 horses and is currently responsible for the care of seven.

She volunteered as the horse inspector for ARK (Animals Require Kindness), went on several inspections to Andros and attended the monthly Surrey inspections as the ARK representative.

In September 2012, she offered to build a foster home for needy puppies after noticing that there were multiple posts on Facebook requesting shelter and that there were so few available. With support and donations from friends and followers, she opened the non-profit “Puppy House” and since its opening in November 2012 she has fostered 182 dogs/puppies and two kittens. She currently has six needing homes.

The BHS praised Claire Cash for “ her selfless interest and love for the animals of this country” and said she was “an inspiration”.

Phyllis Kemp has been tirelessly assisting as many animals as possible on Eleuthera since 1969, when she began helping the islanders with animal issues, calling Nassau and working with vets in helping domestic pets as well as livestock.

She left Eleuthera for school in England, where she did nursing and while waiting to enter medical school, won a scholarship and went to Canada. She returned home to The Bahamas and managed Chase Manhattan bank for 10 years. When the Bank closed she went to Cape Eleuthera and managed that resort until it closed its doors,

She then worked full time for the animals, and after spending much of her personal funds, formed the Eleuthera Animal Rescue Association over 30 years ago, in order to be able to raise funds. She has helped - and continues to help - thousands of animals all over the island, often working closely with the BHS and other animals organisations. She reports cruelty and abuse cases to the BHS, so that help and support can be sent to Eleuthera. She also provides the BHS with the service of approving Eleuthera adoptions when the society receives requests to adopt from their shelter. She has generously sponsored many educational trips to the island and arranged accommodation.

Tickets for the Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch B-Humane Banner Launch are available at the Bahamas Humane Society shelter, Dunmore Avenue, Chippingham (323 5138) and cost $75.