Animal Treatment In The VI

I assume you are referring to the 3-part series in the Source. It is indeed a tragedy and should be dealt with.

However, to indict the "culture" of the islands for such crimes is really a libel against all the fine people who live in the Virgins.

What did you do to help the animals while you were here?

The humane society is busting its hump and lots of people volunteer to help out with the overpopulation problems. Which is A LOT of the problem. There is cruelty, no doubt....but I know A LOT of dedicated animal lovers that don't get press for their animal rescues. Woman saves Puppies just isn't as cool a headline as Wild Dogs Attack Turtle.

Want to help...support the Pets From Paradise Campaign while you are here. Take a puppie back to the states with you. The Humane Society will have lined up a good home for it. All you have to do is take it as a carry on while you fly and hand it off to a Humane Society representative in your destination airport.

Contact Paul Chakaroff in STX. 340-778-1650

What did I do to help? I voulunteered at the animal shelter in St. Croix, I also assisted on several occassions when my neighbors horses were stolen, this happened several times. Trust me, I lived in the VI with a teenage daugher and the culture is predatory towards young girls and obviously animals. The VI should not be a part of the United States any longer as it serves no useful purpose. The VI offers nothing but corruption of police and government, predatory activities towards young girls, crime, drugs, mental health failure, and basically every other society degrading purpose. And as most will say these problems DO exist everywhere, the difference is that everywhere else these things are isolated, in the VI it is everywhere, you name the area it's there, no way to avoid it, as the US Navy said in 1997 when they pulled out of visits, "The United States Virgin Islands Is the Most Dangerous Port in the World" based on the crime rates during their visits. Thats pretty shocking considering where the US Navy travels and you would think if anyone could take care of themselves it would be the US Navy.

Hi Everyone,

Having grown up in the USVI, St. Thomas to be exact... I would say that although I grew up having pets personally and having friends with pets; that the stereotypical way of seeing the cat or dog as a member of the family in most stereotypical US family homes is not the way a good majority of island people with like pets see it. For example; our pet dogs were absolutely not allowed in the house, they were out side dogs. There was a large covered area for them, a mat for them to sleep on, food, water, a large yard to run around. Cats the same - although easier to sneak into the house - LOL - they also were not particularly welcomed inside the house. There are some residents with pets kept the same way like what i described, and there are those with the pets living in their homes and their are others who unfortunately keep their pets in poor conditions.
In any case there are problems in the pet population in the USVI; overpopulation and stray animals, poor treatment, people who fight their animals in sport, abondoned animals... The Humane Society does a good job at intervention and prevention, but definately can use volunteers and help.

--Islander