Man drowns trying to rescue two dogs

Cane Celso Massive (felipe)

A CARETAKER has drowned while trying to rescue two dogs from a canal.

Quintion Craig Livingston, 34, is thought to have either fallen, or he may have dived, into the deepwater canal at Sea Breeze Lane to try to reach two pedigree Cane Corso dogs at around 6.15pm on Monday.

Moments later neighbours heard the man's cry for help and saw him desperately splashing about in the water.

A woman who rushed to assist said she sent her two sons in their kayak to help, but when Mr Livingston, of Sixth Street, The Grove, tried to grab hold of the kayak he was too weak to hold on, and he sank below the surface of the water.

The young men pulled Mr Livingston from the canal while neighbours called for an ambulance and tried to resuscitate him. Medics took over when they arrived but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The dogs, which are thought to belong to Mr Livingston's employer, were rescued and survived the ordeal.

Assistant Superintendent Felix Beneby, of the Elizabeth Estates division, said: "Police arrived to find neighbours trying to assist him by performing CPR and the ambulance crew continued to perform CPR as they took him away, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"Mr Livingston is believed to have gone in to rescue the dogs and then he experienced some challenges.

"He was assisted from the water by neighbours who saw him struggling, sent for an ambulance, and tried to assist.

"Police were told he was a caretaker for one of the residents, and looked after the property, but we have not confirmed whether the dogs belonged to the owner."

Any information which may assist police investigations should be reported to the Central Detective Unit on 502-9991 or the Elizabeth Estates police station on 364-8996. Or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 328-TIPS (8477).

By MEGAN REYNOLDS from The Tribune

Meet Faith

A two-legged dog who has learned to walk upright has been made an honorary sergeant in the U.S. army for inspiring disabled war veterans.

Faith, an eight-year old labrador-chow cross is a favourite at army bases and hospitals, where she 'marches' around on her hind legs, dressed in a military jacket.

Her owner Jude Stringfellow, from Oklahoma City, is now trying to bring the remarkable canine to Britain to meet troops wounded in Afghanistan.

'Faith seems to inspire these young men. It's very emotional watching them respond to her,' Ms Stringfellow said.

'She shows what can be achieved against the odd. I'd love her to bring a smile to the lips of British soldiers.'

The dog was born with one front leg missing and the other, which was severely deformed, had to be amputated. 

Her mother rejected it but Ms Stringfellow's son Reuben, 18, found the tiny animal and brought it up.

He and his mother had to carry the puppy for the first few months of her life, but eventually helped her learn to walk by using peanut butter on a spoon as a lure.

The little dog now moves quickly, and with confidence, and has even become a minor celebrity, appearing regularly on U.S. talk shows.

Ms Stringfellow, who runs a website devoted to her dog, said she receives hundreds of emails and letters each day.

Her decision to take Faith to veterans' hospitals was inspired by her son's service in Iraq.

Popular: Faith is a regular on U.S. TV shows and has provided hope to injured war veterans

Hope: Faith's owner is hoping to bring the dog to Britain to meet injured soldiers

'She just walks around barking and laughing and excited to see them all,' she said.

'There is a lot of crying, pointing and surprise. From those who have lost friends or limbs, there can be silence. Some will shake my hand and thank me, some will pat her on the head. There is a lot of quiet, heartfelt, really deep emotion.

scroll down to see video of remarkable two legged dog

Playful: Faith was rescued by the Stringfellows after her mother rejected her

Step by step: Faith learned to walk after her owners used peanut butter as a lure

Bruno: The Gentlest of Giants

A baby Bruno

Take big, take handsome, take brave, …..Mix sweet , and loving, and fun and kind… Colour him soft and gentle and caring and wise…

All of these attributes and more went into the wonderful canine cocktail that was Patricia Vazquez’s beloved Mastiff “Bruno”.

Bruno was a well known figure amongst the animal world of New Providence, 215 pounds of rippling golden muscle, topped off with a large blunt head and a dashing black muzzle…invariably his comical tongue would be lolling out of the side of his enormous mouth as he smiled in a quizzical manner at all those who looked at him in complete awe….

Bruno was just so BIG…. And, like so many big people, he was the gentlest of giants, the sweetest of people and the kindest of dogs. Always accommodating to a small child who tentatively put out their hand timidly towards this enormous, horse like canine, his big tongue would lick the small hand as delicately as if the child were holding a butterfly.

I was privileged to watch Bruno in action when his owner and best friend Patricia Vazquez, very graciously, would allow Tambearly School’s “Bahamas Humane Society Club” to visit her lovely farm in Western New Providence, called, “Finca Nati”.

We would arrive in a cavalcade of vehicles, with various giggling young people in the cars, hanging out the windows in anticipation of the exciting field trip. As we would wind our way up the densely planted trail, the kids eyes would get a little bigger and the excitement a litter stronger; the cars would reach the parking lot and there invariably, in the middle of the parking area, the host “extraordinaire”, would be “BRUNO”… some of the children could not believe their eyes…No DOG could possibly be THAT big!

Bruno with his friend Kona

It always made me secretly giggle, because I think I went up in their estimation, as I would hop out of the car and give Bruno a quick and casual hug without being trampled. It would take the kids a few minutes to warm up to this huge and imposing figure, but even the most shy and timid were won over by his charming personality in a few short minutes as he lead the kids around the gardens to visit the horses, ducks, chickens, donkey, ponies and to, of course, meet the other dogs in residence.

In the Bahamas we are often faced with children who are fearful of dogs. This is a condition that has been promoted and encouraged by less than wise parenting. The   “watch that dog, he gonna bite ya”, attitude followed by “if that dog comes near, I gonna kik it” has not always bred a close and connecting relationship between kid and canine. Every now and then there would be a very fearful little one who would spy Bruno and immediately take cover behind me. Not that I was any match for Bruno had Bruno wished to move me. But strangely enough, little by little, Bruno would be able to coax that fearful child and before long the child would have laid a trusting hand on Bruno’s back as they walked around the farm.

I vividly remember one day, stopping on the side of the road at Lyford Cay, to say hello to Patricia and Bruno, who were on the golf cart on their way to the beach…. A lady pulled up in her car, leaned over and called out to me “Is he real?”…She simply could not believe his size… I assured he that he was very real indeed!

Magic is as magic does in life.   Millions of humans are born, Millions of puppies are born. What wayward star chose to match Patricia up with this innocent little Mastiff pup born in Canada on January 11^th 2007 ?…Some seed or spark must have flown through the layers of coincidence, opportunity and luck for these two very special personalities to meet and bond and become as close as animal and human could.

Patricia Vazquez and Bruno: Best Friends.

Patricia’s love and respect for animals embodied Bruno’s very existence. The more love that she and her family showered on him, the more he gave back to them, and to the community he lived in. People would stop and stare and take pictures of him…graciously he would stand patiently, his enormous tail wagging from side to side as people exclaimed over him in bubbling excitement…it was all in a days work for Bruno. As long as he knew that the day would end at the end of his beloved mistress’s bed, and he could sigh a contented sigh knowing that she and the people she held dear were safe, Bruno was a contented dog. His day started and ended with Patricia, they would swim in the ocean, walk on the beach, go for golf cart rides, share stories and secrets…and sometimes just sit and enjoy that magic connection that only human and canine can share, at the end of a long day, when words are simply unnecessary.

One of his most amazing attributes was, I guess, the fact, that he was really always content, always happy.   He never had bad days, all of Bruno’s days were good days, made better by love, getting scratched, cuddled and cared for. His happiness was the mirror of the care and love he received at his mistress’s hand.

It is perhaps difficult to understand why, after such a short time; Bruno got called back to his maker. At three and a half years old, on August 30^th, 2010 Bruno passed away from a massive and unexpected heart attack…. He has left a void in the lives of everybody who met or knew him…. His passing was a shock wave throughout the animal community…It is difficult to believe that we will no longer see him sitting up on the golf cart, proud of his position beside Patricia, posing for just one more photo, leaning forward to give one more lick.

The world moves in mysterious ways indeed. For sure Bruno was sent here to teach us all the qualities of gentleness, and kindness, sent to teach us that the big and strong can afford to be gentle and meek too, and can continue to gain the respect and admiration of those who lives they touch.

Why was he not left with Patricia longer to continue to spread his message and give unconditional love, we will never know…..We just have to satisfy ourselves that there was a reason. He fulfilled his earthly mission. He has crossed over to rainbow bridge where he is most certainly the biggest and most imposing of all dogs, happy reunited with his old friend Tosa. 

A reflective pose in the sea...

 Somewhere in the universe there is a speck, the beginnings of a tiny puppy, waiting to be sent on a similar mission, perhaps, not as big, or impressive or imposing, but a ray of hope….A symbol of love, that will wedge itself within Patricia’s heart and help her to always remember her very special gentle giant that she so generously shared with us all.

May sweet Bruno rest in peace… 

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 grown sons. Kim has 4 dogs, 2 goldfish, 11 fresh water  turtles, 1 Asian box turtle and 3 Budgerigars. Her idea of relaxing is being home to take care of all her pets. Kim is President of the Bahamas Humane Society, and serves on the board of BREEF, and is co-chairman of the Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group. Kim can be contacted at berryislandgirl@gmail.com

By Kim Aranha

The head of Advocates for Animal Rights

Jane Mather has been a champion of animal welfare in The Bahamas for over 25 years. She was a founding member of Animal Require Kindness and its President for a number of years. She is a founding member of Animal Advocates and its current President.

She has promoted spay/neuter programmes to enable financially challenged caregivers to have their pets spayed or neutered. She has been responsible for the rescue and re-homing of countless dogs and cats and has visited schools to educate students on animal welfare.

She has served as a member of various committees on animal welfare convened by the Department of Agriculture. She arranged for Animal Control Unit staff to receive training in the humane treatment of animals and she has worked closely with the Department of Agriculture and Attorney General’s Office to have the Dog License Act replaced.

She was an active member of the Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group which this year successfully lobbied government to change the regulations concerning the harvesting of turtles. She was also active in the opposition to the Marine Mammal Protection Act which had implications for the way dolphins may be kept in captivity. She has also worked tirelessly to improve the welfare of horses, particularly those on the Family Islands.

Being aware that strong advocacy needs to be backed by knowledge, she participated in the very first survey on roaming dogs in The Bahamas. She subsequently had a number of papers published in international journals and co-authored “Potcakes” published by Purdue University Press in 2005.

Thank you Jane, for all your hard work.

Slaughter of Dogs on Bahamian Roads - Cruel But Usual Treatment

Riding along Blue Hill Road not many days ago, a subject close to my heart caught my eye. 

A beautiful and fluffy-looking coal-black puppy, just a few weeks old, was standing on the edge of the sidewalk. 

His head was mechanically rotating from shoulder to shoulder as its babyish and soft brown eyes scanned the heavily trafficked street to find that needle-eye of opportunity to make a break for the other side of the street. 

I was frightened out of my wits. My pulse picked up pace as my heart began beating wildly. I saw someone standing in the front yard, merely a stone's throwaway from the pup. 

Before I could bellow out a word of warning, it was like "man over board." The puppy had plunged into the street. I watched In the rear-view mirror as he made good a narrow escape; then I asked a question to which only the good Lord knew the answer: How many more times before his luck runs out? 

The number of stray dogs roaming our streets is rising at an insidious and alarming rate. 

The thing, however, that is equally unsettling is the manner in which these animals are needling through traffic-unimpeded, as they navigate their way all over New Providence at peak traffic hours and beyond. These dogs are so at home on our streets that some of them literally stand on the side of the street and wait until the light changes to make their move... this, I have watched in thorough amazement on numerous occasions. I think it is one of the wonders of Bahamian roads. 

Several months ago I was in the Farrington road area, in an exit way waiting to ease onto the main street. 

Suddenly out of nowhere a young dog, probably less than eight months old, got wind of a food trail, and with his nose glued to the asphalt, headed out into the middle of the street. 

At my right I saw what I could only call an incredibly reckless driver doing roughly double the speed limit in that peak traffic area. 

In hopes of averting the impending disaster, I lay on my horn to alert the driver to the plight of the dog in the middle of the street, and the possible danger to himself. Could you imagine that? This was something that should have been clearly in his purview, if he was awake. But I may as well had been 'whistling Dixie'. 

The car plowed thunderously through the dog, thrusting it about twenty feet ahead. 

The driver seemingly woke up and slammed brakes and came within inches of his own life. 

Two seconds more and the carnage of twisted metal and sparkling, shattered glass would either have included the unloving embrace of a huge cedar tree or an engagement with the car waiting in line before him - or perhaps both. 

Shockingly, (it must have been an adrenal in rush) the disorientated dog sprang out of his mangled form and headed for the bushes howling, as if mourning his own death. 

I seriously doubt that he outlasted the night. Clearly, there is a lot of blame to go around. 

However, flogging a dead horse is just as futile as shutting the barn door once the horse has already got out. The abuse of animals in this country has reached insane proportions. Could you imagine how many dogs die on out streets annually? I ~can, in recent times, recall seeing three dead dogs on the street in one day. 

That saddened me terribly. It is an undeniable fact that many animal owners are falling down in their responsibility and neglecting their animals that subsequently become menaces to other people and their property. Inspector Grant, with his more than twenty years of experience at the Humane Society, had a mouthful to say on this subject - a mouthful that should not be kept secret: "People fail to spay and neuter their animals and fence their yards and equip them with gates. Proper types of confines for these animals are absolutely essential. 

Sometimes people tie these animals on short chains without shelter and available food and water. They take them to the beach without any fresh water for the dogs to drink, without the conscious realisation that dogs don't drink salt water. It's not so much a dog problem as it is a people problem - were they more responsible we wouldn't have a problem." Inspector Grant continued: "You know, already for the day we've had two dogs struck by traffic. Subsequently, we had to send out our ambulance and put them to sleep; one had a broken back." I can think of several ways to approach this poorly monitored problem, but for the sake of time and space I am offering two suggestions. 

Firstly, we must think along the lines of short and long term planning. In the short term, with a sustained and heavily concerted effort, we can easily and effectively clear our streets of strays to a noticeable degree in a few short months. 

Long term, newspapers and radio stations should carry announcements that caring owners (who allow their dogs to go out to exercise) have a week to secure their dogs and after that week everything roaming our street would be fair-game for the Canine Unit. 

Other branches of Government that deal with dogs can be brought in to assist the Canine Unit. Fencing, collar and licensing laws for dogs should be made an enforceable reality by this Government. 

Where are the authorities? 

Sometimes, I wonder if the authorities responsible for trapping these animals drive the same streets and shop at the same stores as do the rest of the populace. 

Or has bureaucracy and red tape so tied their feet that they throw up their arms in disgust, because nobody wants to make the really tough decisions. 

I was told by a source close to the Canine Unit that the challenges facing them are multi-faceted, firstly, they don't work shifts and work hours are from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. 

They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and they only pick up dogs from Monday to Thursday. 

Work on Fridays is generally restricted to the compound. 

As of the first week in October, only one van in an embarrassingly small fleet was working. 

Now for my analogy that may be considered a little strong and in some quarters I may be measured "out of my skull." If Police officers were mandated to stop working shifts and worked only Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 4pm to service the public, and work on Fridays were restricted to in house police business and if their offices were closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the first outcry from the public would likely be: "They ain' serious 'bout crime." 

Another individual speaking under conditions of anonymity said: "No Government has ever taken the problem of stray dogs seriously." 

I, however, won't be so hasty to paint so broad a stroke with my brush until we've given a bit of time, because sometimes people genuinely don't know what is happening beneath their noses. However, time will be a fittingly appropriate judge ... and if nothing changes in the, next couple months, then it would be most fitting to borrow and apply a vernacular that's been made popular in the world of football: "It is what it is." 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the stray dog dilemma is a Government problem, what I am saying, however, is that they can do more than anyone else, by way of overdue legislation, awareness (print and electronic media) and issuance of penalties to the transgressors. 

The biggest eye-opener for me in relation to this subject is how the Canine Unit would set traps for the stray dogs and people would sometime release the dogs from the traps and others would steal the traps and use them to catch fish and sell crabs. 

It appears, Inspector Grant may have hit the nail on the head, when he said: "It's not so much a dog problem as it is a people problem - were they more responsible we won't have a problem." I was informed that the Unit has lost close to one hundred such traps (ballpark figure) in the past five years due to theft. It's like making two steps forward and being pushed five steps backward. Is motivation the problem? Yes, that's it. Good old-fashioned motivation. 

Is that what we're waiting for? For a pack of mutts to chase school children into streets to dart their way through oncoming traffic? 

Or are we waiting for them to bite another tourist, before leaping into action in full regalia? Then we have all the cameras and microphones show up, just to tell the world about our polished plan for never allowing it to happen, ever again. 

Then they come up with a few hundred thousand dollars for "mop-up" duty and "damage control." Don't tell me that I'm being melodramatic, because, if there's one lesson to be learnt from history it is that she has a stammering tongue, that is to say she repeats herself. These indicators are not characteristic of a proactive society; rather it's the indigenous and decrepit belongings of a reactive one. 

If we don't deal with this situation now, and do so in a direct, coordinated and deliberate way, it will come back to bite us, no pun intended. 

I'm reminded of the words of one writer who said: "No clever alignment of rotten eggs can give you a good omelet." There are some things that just don't mix, and dogs and traffic just happen to be on that list. The end result will usually be someone getting hurt, maimed or killed. More often than not, though not always, it will be man's best friend. 

CLINT SEYMOUR 
Nassau, 
November, 2008 
Letter to the Editor, The Tribune 

Dog cruelty case 'a hollow victory'

FREEPORT - The Humane Society of Grand Bahama believes the animal cruelty trial of Wenito Bootle in the case of a severely malnourished dog was a "hollow victory".

After a year of adjournments in the Magistrates Court, Bootle suddenly changed his plea to guilty and was granted a conditional discharge and ordered to pay $1,758 in costs.

Bootle, a resident of Gordon Avenue and the son of Police Superintendent Welbourne Bootle, appeared in Court Two where he was charged a year ago with animal cruelty with regard to a female Doberman mix-breed dog named "Meka."

Meka was adopted, along with second male Doberman mix named "Mr Thomas" from the HSGB, in February 2009.

On July 15, 2009 the HSGB received a call from a concerned citizen who reported that her neighbour's dog had staggered into her yard and collapsed.

Meka, a once healthy 75-pound dog, weighed only 35 pounds six months after being adopted. There was a heavy chain around her neck. She was covered in ticks and there were large patches of hair missing, according to the HSGB.

She was euthanised the next morning after her condition had deteriorated further.

The Doberman mix named "Mr Thomas" was never found.

In court on Monday, Bootle's lawyer Robert Adams of Graham Thompson & Co asked for mercy for his client.

Mr Adams stated that his client was remorseful and had been unemployed for a period of time.

He explained that Bootle was an animal lover who simply faced challenges caring for the dogs.

Mr Adams also noted that a conviction on Mr Bootle's record would jeopardise his pending job with Bahamas Customs and thus ruin his career.

Magistrate Andrew Forbes said the statutory provision on the charge was for a maximum penalty of $150 or three months imprisonment, and that neither seemed adequate for such a significant charge.

Magistrate Forbes said he wishes some sort of class existed which Mr Bootle could attend.

He then ordered him to pay $1,758 in costs by October 29, or be convicted at that time.

Tip Burrows, executive director of the HSGB, said the outcome of the trial was somewhat "bittersweet".

"Mr Bootle gets to pay a small sum of money and go on with his life with no meaningful consequences for his actions," she said.

Bootle changed his plea to "guilty" after the defence counsel and the prosecution conferred privately. Despite the HSGB's attorney, Tiffany Dennison of Dennison & Co being present, Tip Burrows said she and the HSGB were not involved in the meeting.

Ms Burrows said the HSGB hopes that once in a while, Mr Bootle thinks about the suffering of Meka and Mr Thomas.

She added that anyone who adopts from the HSGB can simply pick up the phone and call if they are no longer able to care for their pets.

Ms Burrows hopes the case will discourage other people from abusing animals.

"I would like to think it would make people stop and think, especially in cases where people have an opportunity to get help for their animal. There is no reason for this to ever happen," she said.

The Humane Society visits schools to educate students about the importance of caring for animals.

The organisation also has an active student volunteer programme.

"Right now, we currently have five kids volunteering at the facility and they learn by example, watching how we care for the animals at our shelter," Ms Burrows said.

"With adults it is harder to educate, and when people adopt an animal from us we give them literature about how to care for their pet, we give them a free DVD on how to train the adopted animal, we counsel them about proper animal care and the importance of veterinary care," she said.

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter