My Fijian neighbor

My Fijian neighbor has a female dog that came with her rental. A few months back she had 2. One went missing around Christmas but my dogs found a skelleton from a dog near her place and I suspect it was her.
The female still living there has been pregnant a number of times and mange has cought her. One day I asked her to spay her and she said she couldn't afford it. It would be the best solution since the puppies get run over (living just next to the road) or die from all sorts of issues. Some I guess she is giving away.
She had just some 6-8 weeks ago had another litter and didn't want to feed them any longer. I noticed 1 white puppy running around before my neighbor said they had all dissapeared.
I wrote to SPCA and asked about getting one for free for her and they agreed. It was with too short notice and I couldn't make it before the vet had to rush back to Suva. Now she's on a list and they will call me when the vet is back.


Mange

 I went to have a close look at her and I noticed she wasn't doing too well and said I had to go to SPCA anyway and could pick up some mange medicine for her. Hoping she would get better so she could be spayed. Had another look next morning and there was also the white puppy, half dead. As you touched it it was crying. Really twisted in the neck and in the most dreadful state. Ok, I said to my neighbor, I'll be back in 10 minutes and we shall go to SPCA and put this one down. She didn't really seem to know it was halfdead already. She came along and we talked, or I talked. Tried to tell her that this is a life as well as any. Tried to tell her what to do with the dog. Made sure she had to let me know if we should put the old one down or not. She said no. So SPCA took it at once and put her down.

Peace at last

We got the meds for the older one and I dropped the coconuts for them. Dogs love it! They didn't want any payment but I handed over $11,00 for donation.

Now I have to give the neighbor dog it's Ivomac every week for another 6 weeks, since I don't trust the lady to do so. Hopefully she will clear up and get her coat back and be happier.

I also told her to feed her better, not that she is skinny, only to help her stay healthier. But as I know these people, no money, no education, not really doglovers but care enough to have a dog nothing much will change. I do hope that she learned something from this adventure. Also we buried the little one on the beach and she had to dig herself. She did thank me for the help but I'm not sure what that meant.

The wish list from SPCA West 19/1/2011

Today I just received a list of things they need at SPCA west.
This is also things I wish to make happen with the donations I receive.
If anyone out there know of anyone vet or supplier that could send this to us here in Fiji please write and let me know. It does not need to be new equipment, used is just as good as per e-mail below.

Another item that would be very useful is a  REFRACTOMETER. They are about $300 .

It tests the specific gravity of urine.

A cat restraining cage  (crush cage). Ideal for dealing with wild or very frightened cats.  $200

Burr Micro motor, latch type for the dental machine

Cross-cut size 700,. 701, 702,

Round 0.5, 2, 4.

These are $50 each.

Secondhand autoclave or indeed any second hand vet stuff

Carina the list could be endless

Hope this gives you some ideas thank you again for the help!!

Sue

All donations are very important to improve the pets wellbeing.
Please consider a small donation as a big donation for the cause.

Adult viewers removed

Since I had some comments on the adult viewers settings it has been removed. I have nothing to hide so I guess it's up to each to decide for their younger viewers if it's appropriate or not.
Any comments to this is appreciated. This blog is as honest as any blog ever can be.

Lucky was saved by the bell

I AM Lucky

Lucky showed up around mid November 2010 on our compound, 2 houses down. At first I thought she was staying there with the tennant, I soon guessed she was not. A very, very scared female about 5-6 months old yapping at all in attempts to scare us off. She was a bit thin, but had no mange really. A great looking street dog in Fiji.
My 2 other dogs, as well as the neighbors 4, was barking a lot at her trying to scare her off 2 their turf, not to mention how much she was barking back, even at nights. Annoying!
When I realized she was a street dog I began to feed her to gain her trust.
I spoke to both my neighbors about my intent and they had no problems with that. My partner said NO MORE DOGS at moment. We simply don't have room. He's been very patient though with most of my "work".
 At first I just left her with food and water 2 times a day and walked away, but I alway let her know I was coming by talking to her, NOT to scare her off. First 2 days she growled. Afraid of me! Then I gave her some bones as well. Made it more intereesting to accept me. I still made no attempt to even look at her nor touch her. My intentions were to gain her trust enough for me to grab her and take her to SPCA hoping they could find a home for her. After about a week, she moved to a house closer. Now we were  neighbors! Great, I had come a little step forward and I could look at her and talked to her.
By this time my 2 dogs had learned to accept I was feeding her as well next door and just made sure I was ok when I went there with her food. It took almost a week before she came close enough to grab a bite out of my hand and another few days more than one piece. But to touch her, noway José! 

I'm here now!

 Then a few days later she actually came up on our deck during the days and then litterally moved in. To chase her off was not an option since I now had a chance to get her closer on her terms. My dogs had a problem with that at first, but Cookie found out she had a friend in her, about same age. They became really good friends and could play for hours. She ended up the last 3 nights sleeping on our deck so we also finally got some quiet nights. I do lock my dogs on deck at night for the peace and qiuet we all need.
On December 6th I took her to SPCA to see if she could get a new home. They simply couldn't take her.
They have no facility nor enough funds to feed her until they find a new home. I din't know what to do! Feeling rather desperate.
They didn't want to put down either since she was a healthy good looking young dog. I can't blame them. My only choice was to take her to Agriculture in Lautoka and have euthanized or perhaps find her a new home. As I was talking to SPCA inside the office, the one holding Lucky outside called me. An Indian had just arrived and wanted the dog. Did I hear correct? He had come to look for a dog, a companion for his other dog, and was pleased to see an adult dog, and I said YES! She's yours and take good care of her. Since SPCA don't want to release unspayed dogs I was also lucky enough to find out the vet was to come 4 days later and could spay her. He asked if he could leave her there until Friday so he only had to make one more trip. I said no problem, I'll bring her back home and back in on Friday and pay for her getting spayed it if he pick her up after. Her collar came with her as well as a lead. So Lucky ended up coming back with us for a few more days before I finally dropped her off again.
She never got really confident during daytime for me to pat her but at nights it was easier. She was a great little dog here and I hope she's doing well in her new home with another dog and cats. The indian man did come back for some spayed cats as well, I heard.

A bit afraid of people

There will always be someone whom need or want an adult dog or a puppy or an adult cat or kitten.

Let's just make sure they all get spayed in time.

Introducing Flickas "sisters"

Since Flicka's sisters will be mentioned rather often as well I may as well introduce them.

Kiss, about 9 years old, came to us about 1 year ago. She originated on a rental agreement, when she was about 2 years of age. Sort of came with the exterior with an Australian friends rental. He travelled a lot between Fiji and Australia but Kiss lived in his house on second floor and adored him. She was mostly outside at all times, apart from  during thunderstorms. After 5 years he had to move back to Australia and upon my question: What about Kiss? he had no idea what to do.

It took me only a second to say I'll take her. He was pleased about that and he knows she got the absolute best of homes. He still come and vist 1-2 times a year and stay at our place. She say hello to him but knows he will leave again.

Kiss was devastated about leaving her old home and owner, especially since she had never been anywhere else less in a car. It was awful to see her looking back at him. Guilt! Nowadays we can hardly get her out of the car.

She had never seen the ocean. We live right next to it.

I took Flicka to the beach very often and Kiss had to go as well. I let her loose, with chanses that she might take off. Flicka went swimming and Kiss after her, not knowing: you can't walk on water. She sank into it and swam like a drowning dog. Think it took about 2 months before she actually could swim confident in herself without looking back at what was coming on to her from the back, her own tail . Flicka had to rescue her once when she fell off a dock. She went in, before I had a chance, swam out to Kiss, rounded her and swam alongside all the way to the beach. Now THAT impressed me a lot.



Walked to the end and continued from there





Chillin at low tide



Nowadays it's hard to keep her away from the beach and the water. She is sooooo proud of herself.

Kiss is a grumpy old lady, hypocondric, afraid of cameras (flashes), lightning and thunder, is an amazing runner, does not know how to play and dislikes puppies.



No, no not again



But she is a very lovely dog. She would never bite a person or at least me.

All in all a cute fantastic 9 year old.

  

The second sister is Trixie, a cat.

She was found at the office on the morning of July 19, 2010 with a sibling. Since Trixie was hard to catch only her sibling got a new home fairly early. I decided later that she could stay at the office and chase mice, rats and gekkos. After over a month of trying to get her to come to me, I finally one evening was blessed with her trust.

Reasons to why she has to stay at the office is that of my partner whom is allergic to cats. She is not chasing anything in particular other than me at the moment but I still have hopes for her. No big dramas yet in her life other than she got pregnant, at age 4-5 months, before we got to spay her .

She has been able to make friends with both Kiss and Cookie whom was chasing her uncontrollable at first.

She got spayed on December 2nd, and had no kittens.

Then last but not the least, Cookie. Almost an Aaaaalviiiiiin!



My son Kristoffer with the new member



Can you resist me?

This Street dog was found on the side of the road at night also July 19th. I was off for a few days so my partner was guilty of picking this one up, but a very good choice. There was 2 puppies but he gave one away already before I got back.

She was about 8-10 weeks old and gorgeous! Her coat was like velvet. A little bit shy and careful but that was only at first.
She was good at pestering other dogs pretty much from the start. Flicka became a substitute mother, as she always was with all puppies I brought home. Patiently playing with her very gentle, teaching her a lot doggie manners etc whenever Cookie wanted to. As she grew bigger, Flicka had to tell her off, she also needed some peace.



A real plague at times

Cookie got spayed on Dec 2nd 2010, same day as Trixie.

Her only dramas so far has been being bitten by Kiss, on her lip pretty bad, for bugging Kiss to bits, and cuts on her paws from corals . She is however a drama queen. Very sensitive but confident and still building stronger as well. Nothing much can disturb her really, only if someone, a dog most likely, is passing by our deck in search for old bones (read: treasures) they have dug down.
She has grown a LOT since July, only does not know it herself, still has uncontrollable long legs and is very much like a Doberman, and is a huge bundle of joy. I hope we will get a long exciting journey and plenty laughter together.



This seat is taken





Do not disturb

Now you all know that a lot of Street dogs and cats can become our best friends and joy in life.

Muttleys story in Fiji Times ONLINE

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=73515

Purposes

The Flicka Foundation is raising money to help SPCA in western region of Fiji to ensure a better enviroment, new homes and better lives to the street dogs in primarily this area,
 as well as help to keep the dog population down. The Flicka Foundation will donate funds to SPCA as I see fit for primarily the purposes of food, shelter, proper cages,


Instead of capture cages with meat hooks inside


                 

spaying, medications, cleaning agents and much, much more that I'm sure I will be aware of soon.

Of course there will be funds to provide aid to all these cats here as well. Trust me, they are as many, especially around the resorts.

The reason I concentrate to the western region is that the headquarters of SPCA is in Suva. They are to provide the same opportunity to the entire Fiji Islands but it is not really happening. I assume they have a big overpopulation of dogs there and spend a lot of their funds for that.

Here in the west, we have no shelter for adult dogs, only for cats and puppies.


Cat pens.



Puppie pen.

 We have no vetrinarian other than, on an average, once a month when Suva can send one.
All medications arrive to Fiji through Suva and the west SPCA are often without some of the medication for a good length of time.
It cost FJD$70,00 to spay a female dog. The males a little less.
A cat cost $35,00. I assume male cats are less as well.

The table is rather small to work on, not to mention the room itself, my latest puppy Cookie, on the left getting spayed.

Will post an update.
The common Fijian makes about FJD $2,00 /hour. They can't afford to spay their dogs. Less can they afford to travel to get their animals spayed.
There isn't enough time for a vetrinarian in one or 2 days to spay these pets if they all could make it.
Therefore we have all these street dogs in Fiji. Females get litter after litter. Fijians leave them in a box on the side of the road after about 6 weeks or drop them on beaches or homes close to white people. If they survive the streets they become the street dogs of Fiji, and have more puppies. It's endless!

It may be a dream but if most of the dogs can be spayed, in villages and other homes where the funds are lacking the population will get less.

There are 2 ways for Fijians to keep the population of street dogs/wild dogs down:
1. Drowning the puppies (or kittens).
2. Poison the wild dogs by putting out poisoned meat.  Very common.

The poison works very cruel and takes days to kill the dog. Not only the wild dogs die, the birds, the cats and the cared for dogs die as well.
There is no cleanup after dead dogs, weither by poison or other death. They are left to rott wherever they are. Side of the roads or beaches or elsewhere, appropriate or not.
It takes about 5-10 days, weather depending, for a large dog to "dissapear/decompose". But in the meantime they smell very bad and look even worse. It is beyond my understanding how these people can just stand by, actually right next to a dead cadaver, and pretend not noticing it.

We are in need of a full time vet here in the west not only to spay all these but also to patch them up after car accident etc. There are plenty of 3 legged dogs here in Fiji.



One just had a leg removed and the other got spayed.



A 3 legged dog operated a few days before this was taken.
 Had to stay in cage for the day.




A lot of these wonderful Street dogs in Fiji can be at good use for police, military as well as customs if only they had somebody to train the dogs with and for them. This is another way of using the assets of a lot of these wonderful street dogs.
In order to use these dogs for those purposes there is a need for a proper dog trainer as well.

So much can be done if only there was funds and an interest. I will do whatever I can to fulfill these needs and there are other people here who want to help but we need a center that is stocked with the necessary items to make a difference.