Stichting Dierenbescherming CuraÇao
CuraÇao Society for the Protection of Animals

General Information

About the society and Animal Shelter

Goals
The Curaçao Society for the Protection of Animals has one all-embracing goal: to do as much as possible for and in the interest of the animals of our island, for pets as well as for the wildlife of the island.
The Society strives to meet this goal via the services provided by the Animal Shelter, External Services (e.g. acting against neglect, cruelty and animal abuse) and by providing information about animal care and organizing projects in the field of education.

Services and activities of the Animal Shelter
• Accept unwanted animals that are brought to the shelter by their owners.
• Pick up unwanted animals at their owners’ home.
• Screening of incoming animals and putting sick and old animals to sleep.
• Taking the selected animals to the vet for examination, treatment, inoculation etc. and placement in the shelter.
• Giving the shelter animals their daily care: feeding them, keeping them and their kennels clean, combating parasites, providing medical treatment and if necessary taking them to the vet for consultation.
• Promoting adoption of these animals.
• Provision of boarding facilities for dogs and cats.
• Daily care of the animals in the boarding Pension.
• Offering a volunteers program. Volunteers are welcome to take the dogs to the field behind the shelter and assist the shelter personnel with the daily care for the animals.
• Provision of information concerning responsible pet ownership and daily care to Shelter visitors and schools.

External Services
Action against neglect, cruelty and animal abuse
Complaints about neglect, cruelty and animal abuse can be lodged with the Animal Shelter, tel. 465-4300. The complaint investigator assigned to the Dierenbescherming initially tries to convince the owner of the abused animal to take better care of his pet. If there is no improvement, an official report is issued and an appeal can be made to the Public Prosecutor who has the authority to confiscate the animal.

Cruelty investigators Glen Aniceta (volunteer) and Gregory Everts daily deal with complaints about neglect and cruelty. In severe cases the animals are confiscated and brought to the shelter.


This dog was tied to a tree and abandoned to die a cruel death by starvation. He was found by a volunteer who took him to the vet. Unfortunately he could not be saved.

Animal Ambulance Service

Animal Ambulance Service available after office hours! Telephone: 9216
For animals urgently requiring medical assistance, the Animal Ambulance can be called from 6.00 am – 11.00 pm on tel. 9216. Anyone who is involved in an accident with an animal or confronted with a wounded animal on the side of the road can call this number to inform the Ambulance driver of the location of the wounded animal. Help for wounded stray animals is free of charge. Owners of sick or wounded animals will be charged for the transportation and the vet’s bill.

The Animal Ambulance donated by Foundation Animal Ambulance Hilversum (the Netherlands) on March 8th 2007, received support from UTS, (United Telecommunication Services) through a campaign called‘Chippie cares for animals’ that was launched on October 4th. A donation of Nafl. 6,000 has made it possible to assist wounded or sick animals after office hours and at the weekend. UTS assigned a new shorter number to the ambulance service: 9216

Catching of stray dogs and cats
When complaints about stray animals are received from a neighborhood, actions are organized to catch these animals. The shelter personnel use catch poles and traps.
Most of the animals are sick and have to be put to sleep but healthy and social animals get a chance to live.


Straydogs that were caught during the actions in the western side of the city : a sick, an old and a pregnant one.

Euthanization
Old and incurably sick animals are put to sleep daily in the Animal Shelter. Also a considerable number of neglected animals in poor health and newborn or sick puppies and kittens have to be euthanized. This is definitely the most difficult and sad task of all.
For more info please click the “Figures” button.

Sterilization and Sterilization Fund
To reduce the overload of pet animals on our island the Society promotes spaying and neutering of pets to prevent unwanted litters and unnecessary killing of puppies and kittens. Adult shelter animals are sterilized before adoption. When adopting a pup or kitten, the new owner is required to sign a commitment to have that pet sterilized when it is about 6 months old. The owner will be reminded of the due sterilization of his pet by a telephone call from one of the volunteers in charge of adoption control.

Persons who cannot afford to pay for the sterilization of their pet can apply for a contribution from the Sterilization Fund. Evidence of financial hardship and a minimum payment are also required. This Fund has been made possible by donations from people who wish to give those of their fellow men who care for animals but have low financial resources, a helping hand.

Information and education
Daily care for pet animals
Dierenbescherming informs the public about responsible pet ownership in order to make them aware that safe, happy and healthy dogs and cats need:
• Special pet food and water.
• Grooming and parasite control
• Yearly shots and medical care
• Fenced yards to play and shelter against rain and sun
• Collars with ID tags
• Love and attention
• Exercise
• Spaying and neutering

The awareness program is implemented via advertisements in the local newspapers, radio spots, TV spots, leaflets, programs and material for schools. On this topic two videos in Papiamento have been produced: one on daily care of pet animals and another one on animal abuse.
For more information please click the “Our Publications” button.

Wildlife
The Dierenbescherming is also concerned with wildlife and tries to raise public awareness, particularly in the young, of the importance of nature preservation. Due to ignorance and indifference the existences of many local species are endangered and even face extinction. By publishing a series of books and posters about nature and organizing awareness campaigns, Dierenbescherming contributes to this cause.
Read more >>

Donors
A vast number of individual donors provide invaluable support to the work of the Dierenbescherming throughout the year. Every one of them an animal lover, our donors should be assured just how much every penny is appreciated, and how much difference it makes. If you should like to make a one-off, or even regular donation to us, please visit the Shelter for an application form, or download this form from the website using the following instructions:

1. Click here to download the application form (PDF file)
2. Open and print the form.
3. Fill in, sign and fax to: (00599 9) 737-1707 or send by mail to:Stichting Dierenbescherming Curaçao
   PO BOX 4456
   Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
4. Make sure you deposit the promised donation!!!!