Sometimes there are lots of different things to say about various different topics and I think to myself ,'how can I possibly put all of these things in one article?'  Then I have to try and figure out what is the most important thing to discuss and what can afford to be left behind. Why, I wonder, did it take me close to a year to figure out that time to time I could write an animal news, bits and pieces article, touching more than one thing?

  Who knows what touched me to suddenly be enlighten me, but it did and here we go!!!

Letters to the Author (Moi) and Buddy’s Story:

From time to time I've received letters from my readers, mostly asking advice and I do my best to answer them or get a vet  to help me answer them correctly and precisely.

Some of you have expressed quite a love for Buddy and his regular articles describing his antics. Buddy is now quite the big boy and was interested in knowing if his followers would still enjoy reading about what he gets into during his teenage years. Perhaps not quite as often, as we are hoping that he will soon mature and be a little more “measured” in his behaviour and enthusiasm and therefore do a few less extraordinary things that require recounting. Please keep your emails and questions coming, Buddy and I love to read them. We have actually been able to be of assistance to some people in a few instances.

Sea Turtles in the Bahamas:

I am sure that many of you have been following the plight of the poor Bahamian sea turtle.

Poor Crush and Squirt (Finding Nemo) never had it so bad. The horrifying articles and photographs, not to mention the film clip on Youtube.com of the angry fisherman aggressing an innocent bystander; have made their way around the world...

The petition on http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/urge-the-bahamas-government-to-ban-the-catching-and-killing-of-endangered-sea-turtles   is now OVER 5000 signatures. Let’s try and get even more signatures, the more people who sign, the louder our voice can be!  If you are reading this and have not already signed the petition please click on the website and sign up. I urge you to put you name rather than being anonymous. Nobody will pursue you or persecute you and it is nice to be able to stand proud and be counted.  

I have spent some time reading the comments some people have posted, they are so relevant and to the point! Thanks to you one and all who have signed and those who have so eloquently voiced your opinions. I am recently hearing that the Bahamas Government is about to release good news, and I am so excited about this and I await some news soon!  Meanwhile whilst we await the announcement, I want to remind you that all sea turtles are on the “threatened” list, all sea turtles are diminishing in numbers around the world daily, it is our duty to help them.  

The newly formed   Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group   will soon be selling bumper stickers to help “stop the slaughter” of our turtles. You can obtain bumper stickers by contacting me at the email address below.   Please put them on your car and wear them with pride. This is something that we can do all together, and we must not rest until the turtles are safe.

Animal Literature:

There are some wonderful books on the market lately about relations between dogs and their owners. I have just read “Lost and Found”: I quote from a website that sells the book:

“A poignant and unforgettable tale of love, loss, and moving on . . . with the help of one not-so-little dog.

Rocky's husband Bob was just forty-two when she discovered him lying cold and lifeless on the bathroom floor . . . and Rocky's world changed forever. Quitting her job, chopping off all her hair, she leaves Massachusetts —reinventing her past and taking a job as Animal Control Warden on Peak's Island , a tiny speck off the coast of Maine and a million miles away from everything she's lost. She leaves her career as a psychologist behind, only to find friendship with a woman whose brain misfires in the most wonderful way and a young girl who is trying to disappear. Rocky, a quirky and fallible character, discovers the healing process to be agonizingly slow.

But then she meets Lloyd.

A large black Labrador retriever, Lloyd enters Rocky's world with a primitive arrow sticking out of his shoulder. And so begins a remarkable friendship between a wounded woman and a wounded, lovable beast. As the unraveling mystery of Lloyd's accident and missing owner leads Rocky to an archery instructor who draws her in even as she finds every reason to mistrust him, she discovers the life-altering revelation that grief can be transformed . . . and joy does exist in unexpected places.”

I could not put the book down, very moving and real, I could totally relate to it and I think you will too. Easily ordered on line, paperback available for approx. $12.00.

Charity Events:

Animal charity events are in full swing this month with the Bahamas Humane Society Animal fun day this Saturday, at the Botanic Gardens. Lots to do and eat, and pet care advice.

Later in the month Proud Paws is holding an event at the National Trust which promises to be fun and exciting… I remember how good the food was last year!

About the author: Kim Aranha grew up in the Berry Islands with her first dog, a beloved potcake named “Friendly” (who was anything but!).  First educated at home, and then in boarding school in Switzerland, Kim moved to Rome, Italy in 1974 to pursue a career in the dramatic arts and ended up working as an interpreter.  She moved back to The Bahamas in 1980, and now lives in Nassau with her husband Paul, and their two teenaged sons.  Kim has 4 dogs, 5 fish (1 Beta, 4 Goldfish), 10 turtles (6 babies, 4 adolescents), 1 Asian box turtle and 4 Budgerigars. Her idea of relaxing is being home to take care of all her pets. Kim is President of the board of the Bahamas Humane Society. Kim can be contacted at kimvba@coralwave.com