The Kohn Foundation

This fundraiser is to support the shelter staff of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama  in Freeport. Despite enormous personal losses, including cars and nine staff losing their homes, content and all personal belongings, these selfless people continue to work tirelessly for animal welfare and now they need our help.

It is going to take a tremendous amount of work and an outpouring of support to help them recover from this horrific event. Please, let's give back to these courageous and giving people as they have given so much of themselves for our beloved animals. All funds will be used to replace the basic necessities to help them get back on their feet.

Any and all donations are tax-deductible through PayPal's charitable giving fund.

Thank you and please share.

As one of thousands of people who have adopted a "Potcake" - a Bahamanian rescue dog - I am sharing the plight of an organization of which you've probably never heard.  Sadly, they do the lion's share of the work with homeless pets and pet overpopulation in and around Freeport.  They also have worked tirelessly over the past few years to help dogs escape the island and make a long, arduous flight (with the help of countless volunteers) to the US, where animal rescue groups from around the country help find them homes.  Today, they find themselves needing our help.  All of us.  Every one of us who cares about the world's pets.  Even a few dollars will help.  More money will help even more.  Recurring contributions help the most.  Here is the news I read today that led me to create this GoFundMe request and ask you (yes, you) to help them.

 

"The Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB) is one of the oldest non profit organizations on this island, founded in 1968.  As the human population of Grand Bahama has grown, we have also grown, from a small charity that helped a few animals in need, to the largest animal shelter in the Bahamas.  Last year we took in almost 1,500 unwanted, abandoned, abused or neglected animals from the Grand Bahama community.  

We have done our best to alleviate animal suffering, nuisance animals, stray and roaming animals on this island and we are proud of what we have accomplished.  At just the time we should be working even harder to achieve a lasting difference, we find ourselves in the untenable situation of being unable to continue operating. 

The Grand Bahama Port Authority funds us to a certain extent in exchange for us providing animal control services within the bonded area of Freeport.  Over the last several years they have reduced their contributions for our services to the point where we can no longer provide the same level of service.  The Bahamas Government has never provided one penny towards the work we do and they provide no animal services on Grand Bahama.  In most developed nations, animal control is considered a responsibility of government.

We have reached out on numerous occasions over the last fifteen years to the Bahamas Government, including a number of meetings and correspondences just in the last year with the Ministry for Grand Bahama; all to no avail.  We are able, qualified, and committed to do the work needed in a compassionate, humane manner; we just need funding whether from within the community, or from the Government, or both.   

Pet over population is a community problem – we need the community to help us solve it.

How can you help? Please write or call your elected officials and urge them to support Government financial assistance for the HSGB, and to enact the Animal Protection and Control Act of 2010, so long overdue, and consider import restrictions for breeding dogs.  We also need more of the community to support us – donate, volunteer, adopt, and attend our fundraisers.  Be responsible pet owners, spay and neuter your pets, and commit to them for life."

UPDATED: Due to Hurricane Dorian, I have increased my fundraising goal as the shelter is desperate for funds.

Right now the director, Tip Burrows has finally been able to get to the shelter and sees that there are unbelievably 50 cats that survived and 75+ dogs that have survived (have 250 animals there usually). So while many have not made it, it is amazing that this many did! 6 workers volunteered to stay with the animals and had to be rescued because there was water up to their necks inside. They are heroes.  Island is partially submerged and shelter in dire straights. 

As part of my preparation for my Bar Mitzvah this coming year, I am raising money for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama through the Kohn Foundation. Money raised will be used for medicines, vaccines and puppy lifts off-island to give animals a home. I am also collecting gently used and new pet supplies, including medicines, leashes, collars and toys, to bring to HSGB in December when I (planned to and hopefully will still) travel there to volunteer for a week.

 If you donate $25.00 or more I will mail or hand-deliver to you either a pet bandanna for your cat or dog or a necklace with a cat or dog charm on it until I run out. Please specify if you have a preference for cat or dog necklaces or a bandanna or if you do not want any of these items.

I have set my goal at $918.00 (updated to $1,818) because 18 is a sacred number in Judaism because it is symbolic of giving "chai" or "life." I want to give life to dogs and cats who, without our help, might not have a chance to survive. 

Our family has adopted two Potcakes (island dogs) from HSGB, another from Tennessee and previously one from Puerto Rico. They have brought us immeasurable amounts of joy and love.

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama  was founded in 1968 to provide safe harbor for the island’s homeless and abused animals. It is the only animal welfare organization on the island, which encompasses 530 square miles and has the Bahamas’ second largest urban area (Freeport).  They take in over 1,400 animals annually. The island’s human population is more than 50,000.  HSGB is committed to alleviating animal over-population and suffering on the island. (Taken from HSGB web site).

Thank you for giving!  

HSGB web site 

- Jack

OPERATION PUPPYLIFT IS IN JEOPARDY…HELP US SAVE 50 LIVES!

Many of our supporters know that over the last 16 or so years, we have sent several thousand deserving potcakes and “notcakes”, both adults and puppies, and even some potcats, to reputable compassionate rescue partners in the U.S. and Canada. We have never looked at this as a long term solution to our island’s pet overpopulation problem but rather a way to save a few more lives while we also work hard on spay/neuter and humane education.

We have an urgent need to get as many dogs and puppies out this month as possible. (Read further for more details.) We are aiming to save 50 lives (Please see update as of July 15th, below)  and the cost would be approximately $100 each. Will you help us raise $5000?

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama has been working hard on Grand Bahama for over 50 years. We have never received a penny from the Bahamas Government, despite finally having a subvention allocated to HSGB in the government budget three years ago. We have been and still are the only animal welfare agency/shelter on this island. The government opened a “canine control unit” here two years ago, but they have nowhere to house animals and are doing nothing to assist with spay/neuter and education. The relatively few animals they pick up are euthanized immediately. This is not going to solve any problems. It is an antiquated approach to “animal control”. Meanwhile, we are still taking in over 1200 animals per year.

Our successful field spay/neuter clinics, whereby we had visiting volunteer vets come in for a week at a time, at their own expense, to sterilize 250-400 animals in a weeks’ timeframe, in the “out” areas with the most need, were shut down some years ago by the Department of Agriculture. Thanks to the objections of some Bahamian vets who evidently thought money was being taken out of their pockets and said they could do all the spay/neuter needed. We are still waiting for those vets to put on even one week long clinic in West End, or Eight Mile Rock, or Pinders Point, or East End.

Our Operation Puppylift has also been subject to more and more restrictions by the Department of Agriculture over the last five years.

One more disheartening blow. Our long time air cargo carrier, GB Express, has announced they must shut down their entire 22 year old business due largely to ever increasing costs.  Restrictive, economy-strangling policies that have been put in place over the last few years via Bahamas Customs and Ministry of Finance is causing our ally to close its doors as of July 31st.

GBX is the only local air freight company we are aware of that 1) had an export license and therefore could fly our precious animals, 2) had spacious enough, properly configured aircraft that could safely carry animals, 3) were WILLING to carry animals, 4) would bring our used crates back at no cost to us, 5) were able to refrigerate and get our perishable medical supplies to us in a timely manner, and 6) have just been a fantastic company to work with for both our import and export needs.

Not having had a minute yet to explore whether any other companies can provide these same services for us, we are naturally hoping and trying to get as many dogs and puppies out as we can before the GBX planes stop flying for good.

Our rescue partners in NY and FL are stepping up and we are so grateful. Here’s where we need your help. Normally we fly dogs via Delta Cargo if they need to go further than Florida. This time of year, heat embargoes make it unsafe, and impossible. Our New York rescue partner has been so awesome to offer to take 20 of our potcakes. We have found a reputable ground transport company to drive them to NY from FL but even with a rescue discount the cost is going to be $2700.  There will also be a cost to transport all these dogs to Florida, plus the vetting needed. We would be so incredibly grateful for help with this literally lifesaving effort.

Donations can be made directly at the shelter at www.hs-gb.org or via our U.S. foundation partner, The Kohn Foundation at www.thekohnfoundation.org. Please designate that your donation is for this urgent puppy lift. Thanks for your support. 

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama is OUT OF FOOD FOR THEIR ANIMALS. They have ONE WEEK LEFT OF FOOD. THATS IT. This is a cause that is very dear to our heart. They are also RUNNING OUT OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES!

In an effort to raise as much as we can to help our close friends and the sweet animals at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, our President, Marshall Gobuty, proud dad and grandpa to two of their potcakes, has promised to match all donations made to this GoFundMe, up to $5,000! The Humane Society functions solely on donations and recently have lost all of their means to get food for the animals. THEY ONLY HAVE ONE WEEK'S LEFT OF FOOD! 

They have been in desperate need of supplies, medical and otherwise, and we want to make sure they have everything they need until they find their forever homes!

This is URGENT AS THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES!

Please donate if you can, no amount is too small and remember, it will be doubled! And please share!

The following is a message from our dear friend at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama:

"We will get through these tough times, we have done it before and will again, but right now we could really use some extra help."

Thank you for helping these sweet innocent and hungry animals get the care and nourishment they need.

As many already know, things have been tough after the recent hurricanes tore through the islands. Many people, businesses, and charities are suffering, including an animal shelter very near to Mirabella's heart.

In an effort to raise as much as we can to help our close friends and the sweet animals at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, our President, Marshall Gobuty, proud papa and grandpa to two of their potcakes, has promised to match all donations made to this GoFundMe, up to $5,000! After the recent hurricanes, these furbabies have been in desperate need of supplies, medical and otherwise, and we want to make sure they have everything they need until they find their forever homes!

Please donate if you can, no amount is too small and remember, it will be doubled! And please share!

The following is a message from our dear friend at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama:

"We will get through these tough times, we have done it before and will again, but right now we could really use some extra help."