The Puerto Rico I Love

Puerto Rico can only get better is she cherishes what is good about her.



The high rollers go to the casino and the expensive resorts; that’s not the tourism dollar that goes into the community beyond the shore. I can’t afford much of that and it’s not my lifestyle.
I can only tell you why we fell in love with Puerto Rico.

The pure physical beauty, shore, mountains; I kept tripping over my tongue saying, “Oh, my!” like it was an original thought.


The culture is gracious, polite. With permission is the way of saying excuse me here. I love the courtesy with which the Puerto Rican people treat each other.


Music is everywhere and there is dancing in the streets. It sounds so cliché, but when you actually see dancing in the streets; it makes you smile from way down deep.

A part of the culture that you won’t see in the resorts is the horsemen on their Paso Finos. On Friday night rides just like days before you can hear the clip, clip, clip of dancing hooves. It’s history; it’s romantic. The first time I saw a man riding down my road on a horse was a complete “waah” little girl moment for me.


We’ve been to the bio bay, looked for manatee, love the art museum in Ponce. The small things are the most wonderful. On route 129 there is a roosting tree for rather large white birds. The pure white birds against dark green foliage, that’s it for me, the oh, look kid moment.


Where ever we go we see dogs.


Hello Puerto Rico It’s time to be practicing safe sex. You can’t pick up all these dogs. Where are you going to put them? A shelter for 200,000 please!


Anyone can read about the mass murder in Puerto Rico. Perhaps we could look at another island with a long history of tourism. In Athens the health inspected, vaccinated and collared street dogs are popular with tourists.


Wouldn’t that be fun to say in Puerto Rico? SPAY IS THE WAY.

Visit Puerto Rico See the Beaches and the Dogs

Hello Puerto Rico if you want to improve tourism, SPAY IS THE WAY! Zero population growth for the island dogs! This could be a dog lover’s dream vacation if the island cleaned up her act!
The spirit of Puerto Rico is in these dogs living impoverished lives in the back drop of the most beautiful place in the world. They have grace even in adversity and sometimes not.

I would like people to come to get to know the Puerto Rico I know and love. It includes cool dog rescuers, who would gladly show tourists around the beaches so they could see the dogs. Donations from tourists could support rescues or FOICCA programs.


Mostly it includes some of the coolest and most unique dogs I have ever met.


People around the world are doing cool things with dogs. The more we train with a dog, the more together we become. I knew a lady who trained in agility, that dog always wanted to live in her head constantly. The brilliant Border Collie wanted the rush they both felt in the harmony.


The show dog looking into a handler’s eyes plays the beauty pageant dog role like a star. Dog lovers are everywhere and so are great dogs.


One of the things the island has taught me all over again is the importance of socialization. I thought I did a good job with Shaker the Golden Retriever waiting for us. With what the Satos teach me, maybe not.


If the dogs were actually controlled: spayed, vaccinated, collared, etc.; the island economy could be stimulated by tourists wanting to take more than a tee shirt home.


If the Department of Tourism wanted to hire someone passionate about this issue; I am available. A Boricua friend of mine said the PR tourism office would hire a hack, before talking to me. Please, prove my friend wrong, give me a hollar.

Puerto Rico Beaches Island Dogs

Let's face it, if you come to a Caribbean Island you are going to see some free ranging dogs.
Would you prefer to healthy, vaccinated dogs wearing government coded collars or skinny, mangy mutts?
Peurto Rican people can be counted on to feed the dogs if their numbers don't overwhelm them.
These dogs are cool animals. Cheryl, a good friend of mine from Illinois told a story of the dogs in Nevada being the same no nonsense attitude as the people she encountered. Dogs seem to same the same spirit as the people. How often, do we say such and such dog is just like------!
Cheryl asked if I thought that the dogs' temperament was reflective of the easy going, fun loving island people. Hmm, she hit the nail on the head.

Some beaches in the overcrowded end of the island have dogs that look miserable. These are the dogs which will cause you to cry. Donations to groups like www.amigosdelosanimalespr.org/ will rescue dogs from deplorable conditions.
Elsewhere on the island hard working veterinarians, like Dr. Gwen Davis of the Pet Vet in Isabela are working full time to neuter animals. Her hard work must be paying off.
When you go to the beaches on the northwest end of the island, there is usually only a couple of dogs here or there. It's fun to make friends with the dogs when there's a couple to a few at most.
If you pick up a bag of food on your way to the beach, you will be doing an honest good deed for the day. :) It's a Puerto Rican tradition, since man and dog came here.
Don't be surprised if a beach king ignores your offering. Good dog loving islanders take leftovers to the beach after dinner. They visit enjoying the some of the most beautiful coast in the world, while feeding their beloved "Satos".
If you fall in love, I feel a song coming on; forgive me!
That's better, if you fall in love Dr. Davis can get your new friend ready for travel. That lady wants nothing more than the island dogs finding a good forever home.
Personally, I love the island and I love the dogs. I am a dog lover! Te amo Boricua!

SPAY IS THE WAY

Puerto Rico cannot become Auswitch Island for dogs! As long as the population is controlled these people can continue to live with their dogs as they have historically! This is not new; this is how people have lived with dogs since they've been roaming the island.
Living in 2010 we get to make a choice. Do we want to kill them off? Do we want to spay them?


I say, "Spay is the way!"
There are not enough shelters in Puerto Rico! These bitches are breeding every heat cycle; we can't wait for that.
If you want to learn something you didn't know about dogs come to Puerto Rico. Dogs have a barking language, a society that when its not compromised by over population is stable and fascinating. This is the best behavior lab you will ever see!






For those of us interested in dog behavior, this is a gold mine. I am starting to see more of the effects of scarcity of resources as the dog population in my neighborhood grows.
If any of you, who read this blog, are interested in helping, I need advice. I need help in figuring out how to help these dogs. I am not asking for money! What I want is your input on what steps to take next.
Here is what I have so far:
1) Hook up with van MASH units. Who are they, where are they?
2)Central Supply- What equipment to we need to treat sick dogs,
    spay, euthanize as necessary? How much will it cost per spay?
3) Medication- Antibiotics? Anesthesia, Vaccinations
4) Funding- Where do we go? I am getting that pilot projects will be necessary
     to prove ourselves.
5) Donations of vaccine, equipment.
6) Volunteers-
7) Collars- color coded for the year the animal was picked and vaccinated.

8) Vets to do the deed.
This is the beginner list, please, give me your thoughts. If any of this happens it will be because a bunch of caring humans got together.


Thanks!!

Puerto Rican Lemonaide

Every day we go places on this beautiful island; we see dogs joined the ranks of the many Puerto Rican people feeding the Satos, the feral or island dogs. It’s a national past time; these people do love their dogs. This is a good society to be so broke. To me that says huge wonderful things about the people, El Corazon!

For a serious dog lover this is the opportunity of a life time. I get to meet some of the wisest dogs I have ever met in my life, yes, I said wisest.


How else can you say street smart without giving it a negative connotation?


In the states we are dysfunctional with our dogs at the opposite end of the spectrum from here.
We worship and adore these critters to the point we’re telling them they can get on our laps, if they’d only get up and give us space on the couch; then we take them to school to learn who the boss is. Smirk.
Thank heaven; we also have some pretty great trainers in the states! You’ve got to see how schizophrenic puppies must get when raised in the trip from worship & adore to you had better do what I say, now. And we didn’t see it coming when spoiled critters go from worshipped to what the f—are you doing to “King”, I have teeth; SEE!

In my behavior practice I have worked with the Kings, Princesses about to be dethroned. I won’t get into the psychology of a nation of loving people looking for a safe vessel for their love. We have found that in dogs; that is until we start looking for a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
Some of us create our own little monsters; that’s no surprise.

Adopting a Puerto Rican street dog is the answer for the respect starved mush mellow dog lovers. These “Satos” are respectful and submissive; so many skinny dogs follow me as I walk away from the food to give them space to eat without a stranger hovering.

The hardest thing for me about meeting, greeting and feeding island dogs is that I fall in love over and over again. I want them all.
Even an old salt like John Saccenti, Pres. of C.D.I., New Jersey who told me he encountered only nice, friendly dogs when touring the island with Tim Vazquez. John said that based on his experience the Puerto Rican Island dogs were a pleasant surprise. This was a lovely compliment coming from a man who trains animal control officers.
I want to that John and his organization for the lovely badge; it looks good on me.

Congratulations for another fine course in Puerto Rico, bravo!



HELLO PUERTO RICO, tourism opportunity here; it will be so much fun!!

Dog Drama in Lares Mountain Side

In the mountain town of Lares a lady started feeding stray dogs. More dogs came; she started keeping them in her house. The house was full of dogs; she would no longer let family in to visit. She became ill and then add insult to injury; she was evicted.


Suddenly all of these dogs are back on the street waiting for this woman to take care of them. Animal Control Officer, Alma Febus to the rescue; she, alerted authorities, organized the capture of perhaps forty-five dogs and assisted the neighbors in an effort to feed the remaining dogs.


One of the neighbors wrote on my face book news page that about twenty of these dogs were taken to Villa Michelle, which is a good shelter in Mayaguez where the dogs have a shot at being adopted before a lethal injection. The other twenty-five were picked up by the municipality. In some municipalities, that may mean they don't get past go and no two hundred dollars. For dogs that are sick or suffering, it's a blessing. What about the ones that aren't sick or suffering? A meager existence is still an existence.


Auswitch Island for dogs is my nightmare, but that does not negate the good many people are doing here or the love of the well intending.

This past week Animal Control Officers Natalia Vega, Alma and I hiked up the mountain to see the make shift shelter the retiree tried to put together, so she could keep her beloved dogs. We tried to assess how many dogs are still in the area. In my opinion a credible current count is almost impossible as the dogs have scattered.


What I do know is that the large number of dogs defecating on the roads in front of homes is a health hazard.


An island wide organized spay week twice a year will go a long ways towards getting control of the animals in a compassionate way befitting an island with the enormous heart of Puerto Rico.


The island's reputation and tourism would benefit by some good public relations. If we invite young veterinarian students about to graduate to the island to help, they'll feel happy about the good they are doing.


After graduating these people with well paying careers will return to Puerto Rico where they have friends and warm feelings.


Tourism opportunity here, HELLO, PUERTO RICO.


Taking care of our dog problem doesn't have to mean murder. We don't have the shelters; let's use what we have. Every neighborhood has dog lovers, who will get involved.


F.O.I.C.C.A., ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OF PUERTO RICO can lead the way.

Drive The North Coast

Thursday we went to San Juan to see my classmates from the Animal Control Course and pick up my badge.

On the trip home the expressway was crowded at two in the afternoon, wall to bumper traffic. We needed an adventure. In Barcoloneta we found the 681, this is the Puerto Rico we want to see miles of Atlantic coast line. Family love is the core strength of the island, so when we stopped for a beverage the first thing I found was a father teaching his sons about caring for their pet while teaching it to swim in the ocean.

 

I get shy about stopping places sometimes; that’s my head trip. One thing I’ve found is that this is a formal society, they greet each other. In the Midwest where we come from you state your business, get to the point. When I greet people with, “Buenos Dias.”, they know I’m not from around here. Most people respond to me in English. People are very friendly and most helpful.


When you get away from the tourist haunts, you will notice that this is not a rich island; don’t let the sometimes poorer dress or condition of cars give you concern. The wealth of the island is in the natural beauty and the soul of the people. We could not figure out how to get to the Arecibo light house. I asked a man in a tattered shirt which way, this delightful gentleman tried to explain in Spanish. He could see by the look on my face, I was not getting it. He waived follow me, hopped in his beat up old truck, a few miles later we were at the lighthouse. This is the rich heart of the island people.

One thing you can do to make them happy is to occasionally pull over to let the parade of cars behind you go about their business.

Puerto Rico What Are You Going To Do?

This isn't the picture of Puerto Rico anyone wants to see. Because there is no island wide sterilization program dogs are everywhere procreating.

Wonderful, caring people do the best they can to help these dogs. They are the dog saviors. In Lares there was a lady who lived near the garbage dump, which apparantly is a favorite place to drop off unwanted pets or maybe they gravitate to the smell. This lady started feeding the dogs before long she had many, many dogs. It took most of each month's retirement check to keep them fed. She lost her health and then her house. The dogs are back out in the street.

Shelters have picked up most of the dogs. Villa Michelle a private shelter has taken many; they are wonderful. The municipal shelters all too frequently, pick them up and kill them. Euthanizing is not animal control; it's murder.

Dora Morales, the very kind woman pictured with her favorite spoiled darling has been feeding the dogs until they are rescued or put down. She gave us a tour of the area, so I could document what was there.

 A dog running free here or there can be considered a part of the culture. It has a certain charm, but large packs of malnourished mangey dogs speaks so

poorly for this island. How much does the tourism industry have to spend to counter act this negative publicity

Would the best public relations be to show the world Puerto Rico cares by sterilizing these animals. Animal lovers of the world would support that; ask Athens.

Puerto Rican Dogs

This island is filled to its eyeballs with dogs. Most everybody has multiple dogs in their yards. Frequently you'll see street dogs sleeping in front of gates, hoping to be invited in.

The pitiful ones tear your heart out, sad to say there's too many of those. Lucy, the black and white terrier border collie cross was a delight to meet when we stopped in the park to eat on the way home from the adoption event. 

If it weren't for the large numbers and lack of care, dog lovers might enjoy meeting these intelligent sweet tempered animals living the way people have historically lived with dogs. 

People travel to see animals; tourists go to Athens to see the dogs. Heck, I want to go to Russia to see the dogs taking the trains. 

Anyway the dogs here are not taken care of like the Athens dogs; there's no sterilization program. Some dedicated veterinarians like Dr Gwen Davis of the Pet Vet in Isabela do low cost neutering.

Today I helped PAWS, Puerto Rican Animal Welfare Society, with an adoption day at the Isabela Mall. Hard times have come to the island. People don't smile as readily as they did a few years ago.

These are some dog loving people. They tell me how many they have and give the cute little pups a wistful look. I feel I am asking octomom, if she'd like to adopt. Puppies were adopted the PAWS volunteers Evelyn and Mercedes did a great job.

People and children held puppies, talked and laughed; it was a good day.

 

El Merendero del Guajataca Public Park

We live in Guajataca overlooking the lake, so this is our neighborhood. My plan was to be retired two years ago. Thanks to you know who, I'll be lucky to retire ever, but we still have our house. This trip is going to be short three weeks.

This is our vacation so we're doing touristy things on a tight budget. The jaw dropping beauty of nature is what we want to see.

Due to a spinal cord injury my husband can't walk very far; he won't use a wheel chair. This greatly limits the types of places we go.

El Merendero del Guajataca is a little park on the north coast in the Porta del Sol area. It's on the ocean side at the flashing light at route 2 where 113 turns inland. From the handicapped parking space you can see the ocean!

The bathrooms are less than fifty feet away. Each time we've been here they have been clean. Do bring hand towels.

A picnic in the splendor of the vista is today's activity. Just across the street in a bright yellow building they make pastallio that melt in your mouth. Kirt loves the shrimp, my preference is the octopus.

The park is next door to a higher price restaurant, La Llave de Mar, with a killer view of the cliffs. If you get lucky there, you'll see the huge lizards with orange feet. Iam not a reptile person, but these were interesting.

It's a compact area, so I did the trail, which felt completely safe.

 People here are very friendly to each other. They do not like being snubbed by tourists, who are uptight or apprehensive. If you smile and nod, they politely nod back. If you say good afternoon in Spanish, they give you a smile and that fabulous Puerto Rican warmth.

We ran into our old friend Rasta, who needed a meal and some water. He didn't mind a bit of petting either. We've seen the sweet boy greeting visitors for about a year. The cords of hair behind his ears give his cool dog persona. Don't be hurt if he leaves you flat for the next one to come along. That's just how he is!

Come See the Fish Market in Isabela, Porta Del Sol

In Tuscany, where we are bound some day there is a reverence for local foods produced slowly. This is the ideal life style in my opinion.

Until Italy is in sight, let me tell you about the fish market in Isabela, Puerto Rico.


This is the Puerto Rico we came to see. There's beach and ocean on the north side of the road.


The south side of the street is lined with kiosks offering the beverage of your choice and Puerto Rican style comfort food. A personal fav is the sea food pastallio, which is a flakey pie shell encasing fresh shrimp, fish, etc. Did I say, melt in your mouth fresh?


Perpendicular to the kiosks is a row of small vendors at the end of which is El Anzuelo, the hook. Almost newlyweds, Ari & Joshue celebrate the fifth month anniversary of their restaurant this week, Ari told me with pride. It's a testament to quality that a new place is doing well in today's economy.


A fresh salad with three types of lettuce and spinach puts a smile on my face these days. The texture of a fresh shrimp in your mouth is nothing short of exciting. Pasta al détente, well I can't tell you what that does to me.

Some of the high end restaurants up the road have served us what we consider latex masquerading as sea food.


The pescaderia, which is the fish market is the anchor to this group of vendors. About a dozen fisherman bring their catch of the day to sell right here. No wonder why I love the seafood at El Anzuelo!


This morning over coffee we watched guys making as small fishing boat. This is the Puerto Rico I want to see.

Trouble in Paradise

A few years ago we fell madly in love with this island. It was January. Snow was tumbling from the sky as we left Chicago. Oh, how beautiful Puerto Rico looked from the window as the jet floated towards a green oasis in the sea of blue.
On this trip I said, "Oh, my God!" or "Oh, my!" so many times that the term brain dead began to resonate it my ears.
Where we live in Illinois is beautiful farm country. The beauty of nature surrounds us. I thought I knew what beauty was.
Then my friend, Gloria gave us a tour of her island. It was like a masssive injection. I almost over dosed on beauty; don't smirk. The reaction to this beauty can be quite visceral. We see it in friends who visit us now.
The mothers of Puerto Rico are among the most loving in the world. Watch the mothers with their children, you will feel a surge of estrogen or is it progesteron? The strong maternal energy of the island was another draw for me.
A few years later I begin to think my love for the island was just a hot damn romance and the party is over. The things that bother me about the island, which is the services, bother the crap out of me.
Believe it or not I don't like to bitch, so the few posts are of the more wonderful things. Like everything, there's the good, the bad.
My whole neighborhood has not had water service for almost a year. Two months ago they hooked up the new line. It's been leaking at the top off the hill for three weeks. We came back to no water again.
My intention was to tell about the things I love here; maybe it's time to go out and find it.

Copa Marina

A beautiful resort in Guanica on the south side of the island of Puerto Rico welcomes travelers. Madelyn, the night clerk is professional and also very nice.
We had not planned our stay. I have a conference to attend in the morning and didn't want to drive across the island early, so the Copa Marina was a lovely surprise.

After driving through the mountains at night we were tired, there is no room service, so I went to Las Palmas, the outdoor cafe. Raul, the bartender with a twinkle in his eye took my order to go. Most of the the patrons at the bar had rum drinks, not surprising. My Margarita made the wait enjoyable.
Once back in the room my husband eagerly munched his hamburger with crispy fries just the way he likes them.
Calamari is one of my very favorite appetizers. Fresh seafood is an island delight. Imagine opening the container to nine chewy, greasy calamari rings. Yes, $1 a calamari ring. They were so tough there was no way I could swallow them.
There are many things I like about the Copa Marina, but I will skip the calamari.

Isabela Beach & Restaurant Thumbs Up

Sun, sand, sloshing surf are great, but give me some good old people watching on the shore to go along with that any day. Isabela never lets me down.

A couple of young men practice with a Paso Fino horse. The Paso Fino gait is supposed to be one of the smoothest. This horse had an incredibly fast trot. The young men riding were fine horsemen in perfect rythm.

When can you spend the afternoon at the beach without developing an appetite? For me that's never. I love finding the cute cubby hole places that serve fantastic food.

Right off the beach is cute, charming with good food, reasonable prices. The chef handled our special requests perfectly. Amy, his wife served our meals with a smile.

We live near Isabela so this is not the first time eating at:

El Anzuelo Grill & Cantina, Carr. 466 Villa Pesquera, 787- 688- 1613

Jewels In The Water

Puerto Rico has much to amaze and enchant; none more than the bio bay in Vieques.


The highlight of our friends' visit was the East Wind Catamaran trip. I am not a water person, so this was not my idea. Horseback riding along the shore had my vote, but no let's spend an hour bouncing over the water so we can get in the water and freeze at night.

We made our meal selections as we waited in line to board. One woman is her twenties looked like she was going to bawl, her eyes were red. Her friends huddled around her, yes, the tell tale signs someone is having "an issue". That's what I needed, reinforcement. "See, I am not the only one.” I wanted to blurt.

Soon we were on our way, rum flowing, spray blowing. I looked back at my comrade in fear; she seemed to be doing all right. The yellow light of sunset lit the landscape. We pulled into the colorful harbor. Not bad I lived through the first part.

Big vans whisked us to dinner, cute place with murals over all the walls. The food was good, that's never a requirement for a group anything, smile. I got vegetables a good last meal. I don't swim and I like my feet on terra firma. It's getting closer, maybe I'll just stay in the boat when we get to the bay.

We board an old school bus that takes us down a long bumpy road. Darkness encroaches as do the branches the bus breaks as it barely fits down a forested tunnel. We screech when the driver turns off the lights without slowing down a bit. He laughs at the desired effect then turns the head light back on.

He hits the brakes and turns off the lights in one swift movement; we are there.

The group chorus of "Oh" continues as we file off the bus. We were just looking at the stars, which are particularly bright. The lights from the town are minimal. Yeah, I could get into this; I'll just sit in the boat, look at the stars, no sweat. That's what I'll do. The idea of my feet not touching anything is more than I can handle.

A pontoon with an electric motor heads our way quietly. We've been instructed: no sun tan lotion, no mosquito repellant. This is mosquito bay for heaven sake. The boat looks like there is a low intensity light under it, its glowing. Shortly we are in the bay under the stars; the wake from the boat is frothy and glowing.

One by one we don our flotation belts and descend the ladder. This is too cool, afraid or not I am not missing out on this. I have a death grip on Keith's shoulder and squeezed Barb's hand. For a moment I thought about not being able to touch bottom; it started to freak me out.

Flashes of light that looked like little diamonds were sparkling all over my body. Whatever I moved glowed. We giggled in the water like school kids. A good twenty people were in the water giggling. The tour leader told us to snap our fingers. The rushing water lit up as it squirted through our fingers, another round of giggles all around.

My friends supported me and gave me the confidence to over come my fear. The night I shared with them floating in the bay under the stars was magical. I recommend this experience even for big scaredie cats like me.

Best Buy On The Beach

Showing off the island to friends is great fun, last week we stayed in Patillas on the south east coast. My butt was planted in one of those blue lounge chairs. The surf sounds are amazingly relaxing.
We had to sit in the restaurant of the hotel to get wifi, so I watched people check in, on some faces I could really see the stress. A day or so later facial muscles relaxed, smiles errupted.

Each evening the tide brings in the most interesting things to pick up along the shore. A couple we met carried their treasures in a banana leaf, excellent improvisation. We used the bag our fins came in, the fins didn't see much activity. Barb was the brave soul snorkler.
Treks up the beach made me feel like the woman in the beer commercial, wind in my hair, using muscles that haven't had a wake up call in an age.
The antidote to too much exercise is to slow down and watch what is going on around you. Ghost crabs blend into the back ground when they freeze. All you see are their black eyes on stalks. I picked up a shell that had a hermit crab in it. We startled each other is a fair statement.
What to eat, where to eat is always the question. Some guys having pizza  on the beach gave me a piece. They said to go into town two blocks past the hospital on the right. It was worth the drive, thumbs up on the pizza.

Rosa, who has been with the Caribe Playa Beach Resort for four years, pointed at my husband and said, " I remember you." Then she covered her mouth while she laughed. She giggled every time he spoke to her, of course, he loved that. Rosa took excellent care of us.

The photo above is sunrise. At night we pulled the chairs to the ridge of rocks formed by the tide. Star gazing over the water is spectacular.

This is my kind of place: small & intimate and inexpensive.

Fresh seafood at local restaurants, but no one knows what vegetables are,  that's everywhere on the island.

We were wet noodle consistency when we left for the biobay in Vieques.