AARF, started by Dr. Patrick Vanterpool and many others, is home to many cats and dogs. Established in 2000, the shelter aims to provide protection and support for strays and unwanted animals along with its main goal of finding homes for them. The shelter’s resilience and growth throughout the last few decades is shown through the numerous accomplishments and hurdles it has conquered such as obtaining another stream of income through Second Chances Thrift Store.
The foundation has given aid to many of the unwanted animals of Anguilla, saving many of their lives and caring for them despite the island’s neglect in seeing this as a serious issue. Aarmani Connor, vet tech and shelter manager at AARF, states that “there is an overpopulation of unwanted animals. No matter how many surgeries we do and how much we neuter them, we still have multiple of them coming in. Now, with the age limit being raised to 6 months to send animals to the US it’s hard to get a lot of them out into the states.”
A program known as Fly to Freedom Dog Rescue, has adopted some of the shelter dogs of AARF that haven’t been able to find homes locally. The Fly to Freedom dogs have been adopted into homes in the US which has helped alleviate some of the stress on AARF. This collaboration has aided in moving dogs out of the shelter and making room for others to be taken in.
Government funding to AARF’s mission would contribute to the island as a whole, simply because less stray animals on the streets means a better look for Anguilla. Cleaning up the streets and having a controlled environment of dogs and cats could leave a better impression on potential international investors interested in Anguilla and attract more tourists, considering they contribute heavily to the island’s economy.
Government funding could play a huge role in how quickly the issue of stray animals is diminished in Anguilla. With the additional funds, AARF could expand its facilities allowing room for bigger dogs to roam free as opposed to staying in small runs most of the day. Most importantly with these additional funds more could be done in terms of medical care for treating the animals and not having to worry about medical costs to spay and neuter incoming cats and dogs. It could also help AARF expand its education program and its spay and neuter program. The Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) has covered the cost of over 6,700 spay/neuter surgeries for cats and dogs in Anguilla since 2003.
According to Andrew Minott, an employee of Morlens Veterinary Clinic in which facilities AARF operates, and who has been caring for the AARF shelter animals since January 2018, “government funding could help veterinarians obtain equipments, do research, and ascertain what equipments would be needed to improve services and care for the animals whether that’s getting a more advanced X-ray unit or anything that may be necessary and, of course, servicing that can be done easily.”
One of the biggest goals of AARF is to spay/neuter dogs and cats that are taken in by the shelter to prevent unwanted births and help the fight against abandoned and mistreated animals. AARF also sponsors free spay and neuter surgeries for cat and dog owners in Anguilla during their “free spay-and-neuter months”. As a whole, the island of Anguilla can care for the animals inhabiting the land and end unnecessary pregnancies reducing the amount of stray animals.
To this day, AARF has found homes for about 3,500 animals both in Anguilla and abroad. The foundation has helped control the number of stray dogs on the streets of Anguilla further bolstering the island’s performance. However, the government’s lack of initiative to help this cause has created more strain on AARF to take care of it alone. If Anguillian citizens contributed to this cause and helped garner more attention towards taking care of the animals living on the island, it could help to completely eradicate this problem.
With upcoming elections, government funding for AARF could be discussed. Johanna Pasila, the shelter’s co-chair, states that AARF has “a good relationship working with the Department of Natural Resources and the police and we have recently engaged in talks with the Ministry of Tourism as well trying to point to the fact that the shortcomings of animal welfare on the island is contaminating Anguilla’s paradise island reputation.” Dealing with this issue could help Anguilla in the long run and could be a deciding factor in the 2025 elections.
Carlos Richardson, another employee of Morlens who works with the shelter animals, has expressed how he feels–that Anguillians believe that the shelter “puts the dogs down for fun, but that’s not the case.” The fight to prevent misinformation from spreading about the shelter has been an ongoing battle; however, AARF is determined to express its positive message to the community.
“There are unfortunately still more dogs and cats being born on the island than there are homes for,” says Johanna Pasila, “despite our best efforts we cannot save all of them. However, year after year we see more and more unwanted animals brought into the shelter instead of being abandoned in the bush where we have no control of their reproduction. More and more people are seeing the benefit of adopting healthy and vaccinated pets from the shelter; and most importantly more and more pet owners are spaying and neutering their cats and dogs.”
The issue of stray animals has been a concern for the British ruled territory for quite some time now. In 2020, The Anguillian published an article titled “Control of Free Roaming or Stray Animals on Anguilla” discussing how animals around the island posed dangers for people driving as well as those who find these animals trespassing onto their property.
Carlos Richardson, who previously worked as a chef and has now found his true passion: taking care of animals, describes how he wishes “more people knew about Fly to Freedom Dog Rescue and AARF instead of dumping them on the streets where they turn into street dogs.” He goes on to say, “As of right now in certain areas, specifically The Valley and in George Hill, I’ve been seeing lots of strays and I’ve been seeing permanent ones on the streets.”
With the help of the government, AARF could put an end to the epidemic of stray animals roaming on the streets of Anguilla creating a better environment for the locals and their property as well as for the animals living on the island. Aarmani Connor expressed how “what helps me stay motivated is my love for animals and what makes me want to continue is that I have saved two animals that I have now. They were too young to be put in the shelter and would’ve ended up getting euthanized. It’s good to save a life. The little things matter. You might not be able to save all but you can save some and that alone will make you feel better.”
Despite the hardships, AARF focuses on bettering the welfare of its animals and helping any that may be in need of a home on the island. Anguillians are called upon to help and donate for the betterment of the island.
Just like the 1967 Anguillian Revolution was a fight for independence, AARF is fighting for community improvement and more compassion for the animals in Anguilla.
