An update from our 2024 World Animal Day grant winner
You may remember that earlier in the year, Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary in Barbados were chosen to be this year’s World Animal Day grant winners. The charity whose mission is to rescue and rehome animals in need, as well as educating the general public, applied for the grant for their animal welfare and community outreach programme in the Saint John region.
Our Barbados World Animal Day ambassador, Karen, who is the founder and director at Ocean Acres, has now been in touch about what they have been up to since winning the grant and to provide an update about the animals they’ve helped.
Community workshop
Animals living within Barbados are often not viewed as ‘pets’ or companions and sadly experience neglect and cruelty, with some dogs spending their lives in chains, without care, attention or adequate nutrition. Ocean Acres are determined to change these views and behaviours through providing accessible animal welfare lessons to locals, alongside their rescue work.
On the 19th October, Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary held a community outreach workshop at Messiah’s House. The workshop was free to attend and open to anyone with animals living within the area, to be able to find out more about how to properly care for them.
They offered the opportunity for people to license their companion animals, collect free flea and worming medication, and receive animal care advice.
The workshop was well-received, and the organisation hopes to hold more in the new year.
Animals helped
Despite being already incredibly busy with requests for help, staff at Oceans Acres Animal Sanctuary also take the time to scout the local area for animals in need. Sadly, they often find animals experiencing neglect and cruelty.
Since winning the grant, Ocean Acres have helped many stray animals, such as the following dogs:
Little Otis
Little Otis was found when staff from Ocean Acres were doing their routine walk around the neighbourhood. He was scared and hiding in a ‘garden’ that more closely resembled a rubbish tip.
When asked, the people at the home could not remember when he’d last been fed. The rescue convinced them to hand Little Otis over and is currently at the rescue, receiving proper care and awaiting the opportunity to be rehomed.
Frisky
Frisky’s carers sadly passed away and he had nowhere to go, spending his time wandering about looking for food and somewhere to sleep. Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary took him in when he was brought in by a local to be put to sleep, and found a happy home just two days later!
Tayto
Tayto was taken to Ocean Acres when she seemed out-of-sorts and unwell. The rescue treated her for tick and flea infestations, as well as for a gastro-intestinal illness, which they covered the costs for using the grant money.
Once she recovered fully, Tayto was spayed.
Trouble
Trouble was found with a nasty wound, which was causing pain and limping. The grant money enabled Ocean Acres to investigate the injury with x-rays and to treat him with antibiotics. Once he has made a full recovery, Trouble will also be neutered.
Brown Boy
Brown Boy was a stray dog who was suffering from eye infections and parasite infestations. Ocean Acres managed to find him someone that could foster him, with the financial support of the organisation. He is now doing really well and is healthy and happy!
In addition to helping dogs that have been handed over, Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary also helps some people to keep their animals, by assisting them to improve the spaces that their dogs are kept in.
Two dogs in Saint John were being kept on chains within small kennels, until Ocean Acres bought and installed appropriate dog kennels and an outdoor run for them so that they could live chain-free.
In their update, Karen told us “The first step is getting people to ask for and accept help. When that happens, we want to be there to provide everything they need.”
We are grateful for the hard work of Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary in providing these animals with a chance, and a better future. We also look forward to seeing the work that they continue to do with the 2024 World Animal Day grant money!