THE STORY OF PAPER

The story of Paper is one of slight compromise, under a very different set of circumstances than I have been used to in the past. I've been animal rights activist coming up 10 years, never in this time have I ever made deals based on sharing of goods for the better treatment of animals, I believe this is a short goal and the change has to come from the heart of the individual.

Spending a lot of time in Mindelo on Sao Vicente I got to know the street kids very well, these are kids who have no homes, unsupported families and live their lives day to day, ''spitting'' for food as they call it. I like a lot of these kids, they are humble, and have made an effort to get to know many of them over the last year. Paper belonged to one of the kids, when I first met him I knew he was being cared for as best as they could. One day the kids took me to the abandoned building where they were all living and they had even made Paper a bed out of old bits of cardboard and rags, please believe me, no children or animals should be living under the conditions that I saw that day, not even close.

The reason I went that day was the kids came to the ship to find me, Paper had been in a fight with another street dog, he had come off in a pretty bad way. I told them I would pay for the treatment of Paper at the local vet, these children beg for bread all day, it wasn't in their means to pay for Papers treatment. After we got him stitched up, I told these kids that there is a solution to all these problems, and that is to put your dogs on a leash. Its a hard selling point as 90% of people with dogs on the Island still cannot find it in themselves to make this simple step forward for their companions. I agreed to buy Paper a leash, continue paying Paper's vet bills in the future if he needed them if they kept Paper on a leash, the kids agreed.

Over the following months I cant recall how many times I saw Paper without one, wondering around through traffic, through bicycles, past other territorial dogs, every time I told the kids the same, I will help you and Paper if you help him.

Sadly a few weeks ago Paper died, he got hit by a speeding taxi and died instantly, I could see the kids were upset, what I couldn't understand was their second dog Spaghetti, was still roaming around without the leash. I told them truthfully that Paper's death was on them, they need to accept responsibility for Paper dying, not the taxi as their anger was seemed to be pointing. I thought now they understand, Spaghetti will be on a leash at all times, sadly still I've seen him endless times without. I ask an open question, what will it take for people to make the circle complete for their companions, what does it take, I thought encouraging them with a safety net for their dogs could.

The frustration that comes daily from these nonsensical humans who cannot perform the most simple tasks of keeping dogs on leashes, this must highlight the energy wasted on telling people the importance of this, time and time again we are shown that even with first had experiences of the dangers of letting your companions roam free, its only a matter of time.

To the residents of Mindelo..... Use a leash, if not for us, for them. 

Introducing the new SIMABO hostel

We are very pleased to announce simabo has a brand new hostel operating in the centre of Mindelo in support of our work here in Cape Verde. We are still offering our cheap and competative prices for your stay here in Mindeo. The new hostel is still 5 minutes from the centre of Mindelo and only minutes walk to the city beah. Please see our hostel page for more details of the rooms and services offered at the new hostel.

Partners in crime - the story of Nomad

2 days ago I was at the SIMABO clinic with Nomad hanging out, a person brought in their dog to have a treatment for fleas and mange, during this time she asked me in broken translated English 'why is your dog so well behaved? How do you get him to sit? How do you get him to give you his paw? The answer was simple... Respect. You build a relationship based on mutual respect, happiness is formed on both sides of the leash from this simple act.

Sometimes we find ourselves over analysing decisions in life; asking ourselves questions like 'what if'', 'but what happens when?'.There are times when you need to push these questons to the side and just do what we feel is right. This is what happened on an average Thursday in Mindelo.

We had just finished another stint with Sea Shepherd doing anti poaching work in the Archipalego of Cape Verde, our ship was back in Port for the winter months, to do repairs and work on the ship. In this time myself and a few of the crew started volunteering with local animal rescue shelter and clinic SIMABO in our spare time. If your reading this you will know that the greatness of their work and that it cannot be put into words, they are everything thats right with the grassroots animal rights movement. They are pushing the boundries daily in West Africa and are literally writing the blueprint for how change can come for street dogs and cats in this part of the world.

Over the course of a week I saw Nomad everyday, at this point he was just known to me as ''little fella''. He was a cool boy, young, shy, anxious but had this charm about him. Like most he had lots of mange, he was covered in ticks and fleas and was very skinny. At first he wouldn't even let me touch him. In the last 2 days of this week Nomad was out everywhere with me doing ship errands, slept outside the marina and then came on a 6km run with me. He was exhausted but didnt once fall more than 3 metres behind me. The next day he was there again. I headed back to the ship, grabbed a piece of rope and went back to see this scruffy little street pup. He jumped up, with his tail wagging and nuzzled into my legs, I made a slip lead with the piece and rope, put it around his neck and took him back to the ship. He pretty much slept for the next 3 days straight, it was probably the first time for a long time he had peace to sleep like this. Training Nomad has been difficult, simply because hes just so sensitive to emotion. Most street dogs will tell you where to get off if you show them any discipine, and rightly so. Nomad just absorbs everything.

About a month had passed when Ravi, a worker from simabo said he knew this dog and that he had picked him up from the governments 'to kill' shelter before we had rescued him. Luckily Ravi had gone and seen Nomad and a few others and took them and released them back on the street. This is the problem here, the governments response is always to round a few of the worst looking street animals, kill them and make it look like they are dealing with the problem. The bottom line is they are not, they are merely a dust covered dullness to the issue at hand. Nomad had been neutered before we rescued him. This means that at one time he probably had a guardian, but 9/10 what happens is puppies are bought here for a Euro (literally), they grow a bit bigger, loose their ''cuteness'' and people put them on the doorstep and forget about them, this is the norm, there's no stigma attached to it. The majority of these dog and cats get hit by cars, starve, fight with other animals, live at the hands of abuse by humans, either way it all ends in sadness and route of the problem is never addressed. Don't get me wrong, there are a few who have an incredible life, roaming free, on their own or in small packs, but they are few. Like I said before, sometimes you just have to commit, the sadness I see in these street dogs faces every day is enough. It wasn't the right time for me to adopt a dog, but there wasn't a decision to be made. Now I just need to alter my life in a way that supports this little guy, its not difficult, it just means giving a little here and there. I feel super lucky to be with a women who also devotes her life to helping the weak and not even questioning the decision to take Nomad.

 _{I write this story with a key undertone, I ask that you never buy a dog from a breeder again, if you are buying because you want the perfect pet, that it has to be the precise breed and look a certain way, then you are doing everything wrong. If you want happiness, adopt one, do not give money to the very people who are creating these problems. Humans have created this problem, and although you may not have been part of that, you have one choice that puts you with them or against them. With every dog we buy, we are creating one more life in the breeding program of profit. Any breeder who says they love dogs and thats why they do it, are either uneducated, haven't seen the other side of the fence or the money sign sits higher, more than likely its the latter. We created the monster that is animal breeding, its up to us to change that collectivley. Although Nomad gives me endless happiness, that was never the drive, my happiness comes everyday seeing him at ease, seeing him have a safe place to live, knowing he doesn't have to live on scraps from trash, knowing the cowards who get a kick out of hurting dogs cant touch him, this is true happiness.}

_{We know the right thing to do, we know how to solve this street dog problem, the rest is up to us, individually and collectively. We are not powerless, everytime the government lays poison, everytime they kill a healthy street dog, we are saving them, we are adopting them, we are sponsoring them, we are marching for them, we are putting ourselves between the abusers and the animals ... protest their methods with action and positive choices. I can't tell you how many times I've been threatened or tested by people here for getting between them and the animals they are abusing, I will accept the consequences everytime, I stand for the weak. They said we could never by angry yet happy at the same time, how wrong they were!!}

_{I'd like to end this by saying thankyou to Simabo, for the chances and freedom you give so many.}

- in 3 months Nomad will start a new life in England, if you want to adopt or sponsor an animal from SIMABO please contact simabo@hotmail.it for more information.

LE MEILLEUR AMI DU CHIEN (ET DU CHAT) C'EST... SIMABO!!!!!

SI MA BO est la seule association qui ait pour but de prendre soin des chiens et des chats au Cap Vert. Elle est basée sur l'île de Sao Vicente, à Mindelo, où les animaux sont d'habitude laissés à eux-mêmes, errants et perçus comme une menace, trop souvent blessés par les voitures.

Je les ai découverts, au refuge de l'association qui accueille une centaine de chiens, plus attachants les uns que les autres, qui sollicitaient tous un peu d'affection, une caresse de ma part... C'est dans ce refuge que les volontaires de l'association prennent soin de tous les animaux trouvés dans la rue, les sauvant de l'euthanasie qui est encore ici la seule politique en matière de contrôle de la population. Les animaux recueillis par SI MA BO sont tous stérilisés, en attendant d'être adoptés.

Les locaux sont entretenus et constamment améliorés par des volontaires qui se relaient (construction de nouvelles pièces, peinture neuve, etc). Chaque animal y dispose d'une attention particulière et peut se promener pendant la journée.

En centre ville, SI MA BO dirige également une clinique vétérinaire, aussi bien pour des soins réguliers que pour les animaux accidentés ou dénutris qui y sont recueillis. Les bénévoles, tout en cherchant de nouvelles familles d'accueil aux animaux trouvés seuls dans la rue, y accomplissent un travail patient d'éducation des familles qui ont déjà la responsabilité d'un animal.

Enfin, toujours à Mindelo, un peu sur les hauteurs, j'ai découvert la « maison des chats ». C'est là que sont hébergés les volontaires qui viennent du dehors de l'île, dans un appartement coloré et bien entretenu avec un très beau panorama plongeant sur la mer et... une vingtaine de chats qui se frottent à vos jambes !

SI MA BO milite contre l'euthanasie systématique des animaux errants et pour la création d'un fichier municipal permettant d'identifier chacun d'eux. L'association mène également des campagnes de stérilisation dans l'île grâce à une tente itinérante. C'est à terme la méthode la plus efficace pour sauver des vies.

La responsabilisation des autorités locales et de tout un chacun doit permettre de changer progressivement de regard sur les chiens et chats maltraités ou abandonnés. C'est l'engagement de SI MA BO, dont le nom créole signifie « Tout comme nous » !

C'est un travail de longue haleine, auquel chacun peut participer à la hauteur de ses moyens :

- en adoptant

- en se portant volontaire (l'association accueille de nombreux volontaires venant d'Europe)

- par un don en ligne au lien suivant : donate@simabo.org (ou sur le compte de l'association en Italie, BANCA PROSSIMA, Milano, au nom de « Simabo Onlus », IBAN IT23 S033 5901 6001 0000 0009 584 ; ou sur le compte de l'association au Cap Vert, BANCO COMERCIAL DO ATLANTICO (BCA), au nom de « Simabo », IBAN 6400 0300 0079 4079 8410 176)

- par un don matériel de quoi que ce soit d'utile pour les animaux (laisses et colliers pour promener les chiens, casiers pour transporter les chats, produits anti-puces).

- en faisant connaître l'association (qui dispose aussi d'une page facebook).

En vous souhaitant aussi une agréable découverte du Cap Vert !

Simabo takes it message to the WHO.

Ravi Silva and Silvia Punzo took part yesterday in the meeting (organized by ADECO, the association for the defense of consumers) between representatives of the company 'civil and the representative of WHO, World Health Organization.

Since 'the pilot project carried out by SIMABO in S. Vicente apply to the WHO recommendations regarding stray dogs we asked Dr. Salazar to support our work not only for the City of Mindelo, but also on the other islands because sterilization will spread as a method to control the dog population and replace the answer by the municipal's of CV, which involves the unacceptable practices of poisoning or starvation of the dogs in the kennels.

After stating that the stray dogs is not 'one of the priorities' of WHO in Cape Verde, Dr. Salazar has promised to respond to our request and finally to analyze the material that we sent, containing WHO recommendations in this area. Thanks to Edward Gandini for having made this material available that allows us to build on a solid foundation of our requests.

SIMABO moves to a new clinic!

 On the 22nd April Simabo moved to our new clinic in the centre of Mindelo. As you can imagine the move was long and tiring, with injured and sick animals coming in daily, treated animals departing back to their homes it made the logistics very complicated.

      Our new clinic is better suited for animal treatment, the layout allows us to seperate different areas of the clinic with the outcome of better care for the animals. 

   

We would like to send our warm thanks and appreciation to all the supporters around the world for continuing to support us during this transition and allowing us to make this dream possible. We would also like to thank all our staff and volunteers for being patience with this new chapter of Simabo. Special thankyou to Milena Maiorano for the beautiful decorations in the new clinic.

A plea for the flemish community

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-simabo-dieren-helpen-/300757#

Beste vrienden,

Tegenwoordig zijn het zeer moeilijke tijden voor SIMABÔ, een organisatie die (straat)honden en katten helpt in Kaapverdië. Dit jaar eindigt een periode van drie jaar subsidies van de Europese Unie en ze staan op het punt een nieuw jaar in te gaan zonder de minste zekerheid over de toekomst, terwijl ze het engagement hebben om 4.000 dieren te steriliseren en de werkingskosten alleen al ongeveer 6.000 euro per maand bedragen.

In de zes jaar dat zij bestaan, hebben zij meer dan 6.000 dieren gesteriliseerd en behandelden zij gemiddeld 30 patiënten per dag. Ze creëerden een toevluchtsoord waar nu ongeveer 90 honden onderdak vinden en een kattenasiel met ongeveer 30 katten. Daarnaast hebben ze een spoeddienst opgericht die onafgebroken, 7 dagen op 7, te bereiken is en gratis hulp biedt aan zieke en gewonde dieren, met of zonder baasje. Ze vonden bovendien een thuis in Sao Vicente of in het buitenland voor ongeveer 200 dieren die op straat leefden.

Maar dat is niet alles. In die zes jaar zijn ze er ook in geslaagd om, door intense onderhandelingen met de lokale autoriteiten, een einde te maken aan de vergiftigingscampagnes die in opdracht van de gemeente Sao Vicente plaats vonden. Dankzij SIMABO worden de honden die vrijgelaten worden uit de gemeentelijke kennel niet alleen gesteriliseerd en gechipt, maar verkeren ze ook in goede gezondheid. Wie op de hoogte is van wat er dezer dagen gebeurt op de omringende eilanden, weet wat voor een verschil dergelijke overeenkomsten kunnen betekenen.

Dat alles is mogelijk dankzij de inzet en het doorzettingsvermogen van alle mensen die SIMABO steunen. Met dit bericht hopen we om andere mensen te inspireren om zich aan te sluiten bij ons kleinschalig maar tegelijk groots project. Met jullie steun kan SIMABO het leven van veel dieren echt veranderen.

Help SIMABO zodat ze ook dit jaar én de komende jaren dieren kunnen helpen. Samen kunnen we het verschil maken.

Word maandelijkse donateur en ondersteun SIMABO op lange termijn: http://simabocapeverde.blogspot.dk/p/donation.html. Dat kan via PayPal of met een doorlopende opdracht op de rekening van SIMABO IBAN: IT23 S033 5901 6001 0000 0009 584 - BIC/SWIFT code: BCITITMX.

Volg hun dagelijkse bezigheden op Facebook en op de websites: www.simabo.org en www.simabocapeverde.blogspot.com

Wil je graag ter plaatse een handje gaan toesteken? Dat kan!
http://simabocapeverde.blogspot.dk/p/volunteer_24.html

Sunset In Mindelo

SUNSET IN MINDELO

Hello! My name is Daniela and I would like to tell you briefly my experience as a volunteer at Vet for SIMABO ago.

First of all I would like to thank Silvia, Paolo and the Chief Vet Dr. Raineri for giving me the chance to realize this unforgettable adventure ... which started on March 26 when I embarked from Rome to fly to Cape Verde. I arrived at the airport in Mindelo where Ravi ' (the driver for SIMABOngo) was waiting for me to then take me to Paolo & Silvia’s house where I was hosted with extreme care throughout my stay in Mindelo.

During the car journey, the first image that I was intoxicated with was that of Mindelo’s Bay at dusk (what a breathtaking play of colour!!)

The next day Paolo took me to the dog shelter where I met the famous Nanda (one of the local nurses working at the shelter) and all the other tireless people of the “SIMABO’s Gang" ..... and then we just started working together!

Despite all the instructions, circulars and protocols I was given before my departure (which I studied carefully in preparation of my volunteer placement), my only real concern was the use of intravenous anesthesia of which I had no experience! As per European standards I am in fact familiar with the use of gas anesthesia and many other equipment and diagnostic tools without it is very difficult to carry out our profession.

Nevertheless, the daily routine was great and we were sterilising 8-10 animal a day which was a mammoth effort by all involved. Premedication, anesthesia and awakening of the operated animals were satisfactory.

The local nurses were fantastic and got me up to speed with the ins and outs immediately. I gained so many useful skills and made friends with some amazing people and animals!!

From a professional point of view it is an amazing experience because you are presented with clinical conditions that are difficult to see in Europe, such as Sticker tumor, chronic erlichiosis and severe parasitic dermatoses. On the other side of the coin, however, I’ve realize how much more receptive to treatment are the dogs and cats who live in these parts of the world.

Moreover, there are often real emergencies such as animals with severe traumatic injuries (as a result of road traffic accidents or falls from heights) and even poisoning, skin cancer and so on ... well you can see “a bit of everything” although the primary task of the volunteering Vet is Neutering.

You works for sure under stress for the first week or so and this because you need time to get used a new language, new culture, different climate. Personally the language barrier was a little frustrating (I do recommend anyone planning to volunteer as a Vet there to take some basic Portuguese classes!!)

All this makes the work more “difficult” and you get tired in the evening. Of course the hospitality 'Silvia and Paolo’s hospitality and kindness is not to be underestimated: breakfast, lunch and dinner are always ready for you and I can assure you that thanks to Lisette and Nidia you will taste the good and healthy local cuisine.
Finally.....it’s hard to sum up this place in simple words. I went with no expectations and left with memories of people, animals and a country that will always be in my heart.
For anyone wishing to do some veterinary volunteer work in Cape Verde, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information at diacopinivet@googlemail.com
Thank you
Daniela Iacopini

Sunset in Minelo

Danke!

Wir werden nie aufhören unsere Dankbarkeit und Bewunderung für die unermüdlichen und engagierten freiwilligen Tierärzte, die SIMABÔ unterstutzen oder unterstutzt haben, auszudruecken. Für die Liebe, Zuneigung und Aufmerksamkeit, mit denen sie unsere Tiere behandeln, bedanken wir uns vielmals.

Im Laufe des Monats Mai war Dr. Salvador Mascarenhas derjenige, der uns mit der Behandlung von Tiere geholfen hat. Dieser Tierarzt, der in Portugal lebt und seine Klinik hat, stammt aus São Vicente. 

Während seines Aufenthaltes bei uns wurden insgesamt 163 Kastrationen durchgefuehrt – ein enormer Beitrag zum Projekt SIMABÔ! Bisher wurden rund sechs tausend Tiere im Rahmen des Projekts SIMABÔ kastriert.

Dr. Mascarenhas and Dr. Oliveira, our local veterinarian

Gespendeter Gefrierschrank für unser Tierheim

SIMABÔ erhielt kürzlich einen gespendeten Gefrierschrank für die Küche Ihres Hundeheims.

Dies war ein Angebot von Rossella Rigacci (im Bild zusammen mit ihrem Bruder kurz vor dem Spazierengehen), Tochter der Tieraerzte Benedetta Giannini und Roberto Rigacci, die als Freiwillige bei SIMABÔ während der Weihnachtsferien 2011 gearbeitet haben (s. auch ihren Beitrag). Sie habe ihre beiden Kinder, die uns als Freiwilligen wirklich geholfen haben, mitgebracht.

Rossella hat kurz nach ihren ersten Kommunion ihre Eltern gebeten, als Geschenk für dieses wichtige Datum dem Verein einen Gefrierschrank zu Spenden. Das beste Geschenk für dieses Mädchen ist es, Gutes tun zu dürfen.

SIMABÔ sendet Rossella und ihrer Bruder ein herzlichsten Dank im Namen unseres Vereins und all den Tieren, die von Ihrer Spende profitieren werden. Wir wünschen uns, dass sie immer so fürsorglich bleiben.

Solidaritätbeispiel - Das Feuerwehr

Wir schätzen die Zusammenarbeit mit der Feuerwehr hier in São Vincente, die unser grosses Lob für ihre Menschlichkeit und Solidarität verdienen, weil Sie immer wieder Hunde, die überfahren werden, retten und zu uns bringen.

Wir glauben, dass eines Tages jeder hier in Kap Verde, von den Behörden bis zu jedem Bürger, den gleichen Respekt für die Tiere, die mit uns zu leben, zeigen werden. Wir werden unseren Teil tun, damit es so sein wird.

Denn in der Stunde des Schmerzes, wie in der Freude, sind wir alle gleich. Hunde und Katzen, eigentlich jedes Tier, genauso wie wir.