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Archive -Tourism

Tourists show love for our stray animals |08 October 2015

Many tourists have said they will not come back to Seychelles until we resolve our stray animal’s situation and we modify our behaviour towards caring for our animals.

Everyone involved in the tourism industry is aware of how the tourists feel as we try to climb this mountain to overcome the high number of stray animals on our three main islands and change our mindset towards cruelty to animals.

This story shows we are making an effort and it is a refreshing story whereby a lovely couple holidaying in Seychelles had an unforgettable encounter with one of our stray dogs who decided he would follow the scent of where good food was being prepared. His adventure took him to Kempinski Hotel in Baie Lazare and his destiny guided him to the room where Sarah and Paul Quinn were relaxing while on holiday in Seychelles from Abu Dhabi.  It is said animals have a sixth sense and they can sense love and affection at a sniff.

This dog’s encounter with Sarah and Paul was the best move he ever made in his young life because he is approximately only a couple of months old and not only did he befriend Sarah and Paul but also the German couple in the next room who also felt love and compassion towards him and pampered him.

He knew where his bread was buttered so to speak as he opened up a new chapter in his life.  For five days the tourists fed him well and the manager of Kempinski Hotel was aware of the extra guest because Sarah and Paul were ordering food for three instead of two from room service but since he slept outside the chambermaid did not increase their workload, everyone was happy with his presence for a while.

It seems he ran away from home where there were four litters and no doubt nature prompted him to leave to make sure his remaining brothers and sisters have more food to go round with him leaving home in search of adventure and of course food.

After spending four happy days with Sarah and Paul, Pet Haven received a phone call to help because Sarah and Paul were leaving in two days time to go back to Abu Dhabi having spent most of their holiday in Seychelles caring for a stray dog and being followed wherever they went in the hotel complex. 

The phone call was initially from Sarah then the Kempinski hotel manager rang to seek our help to find a home for this dog because Sarah and Paul were very concerned that this little darling needed a good home.

On Saturday September 26, I went to meet Sarah and Paul who invited me to come and meet this little dog and find him a nice home. In Seychelles we do not appreciate the value tourists put on animal care and when I got to the hotel this little dog was having the time of his life and it was evident that the parting was not going to be easy for Sarah and Paul as Paul carried him to my jeep followed by a number of hotel staff with umbrellas. I asked them what name they would like to give to our latest recruit and Sarah said “call him Barnaby”. Paul said one of his parting conditions was we allow them to pay for all of Barnaby’s medical bills. With sadness in Barnaby’s eyes and lumps in Sarah’s and Paul’s throats Barnaby took the back seat of my jeep and stretched himself out as if to say thank you to our visitors for caring for him and finding him a new home.

We drove to The Wishing Well in Anse Des Genets and I introduced Barnaby to our family of pets where he received a warm welcome even our Matriarch dog licked Barnaby on the face as if to say welcome.

Then on Sunday when Sarah and Paul had checked in at the airport they came over to The Wishing Well to bid their final farewell to Barnaby and he was joyous to see them again. I informed them that my wife and I had decided we will keep Barnaby as one of our family and that he would not be put up for adoption which made both Sarah and Paul very happy.

After a while they said their goodbyes to Barnaby and while the scene was that of sadness, our visitors knew in their hearts that they had done a good deed and they had in many ways saved the life of this local dog and what made them control their emotions a bit was the fact that they knew Barnaby was in good hands.  I am sure they will come back to see him again.

On behalf of Seychelles Pet Haven Society, my wife Derothy and I, we thank Sarah and Paul for their kindness and it shows that love for our fellow sentient beings has no boundaries and wherever you are in the world a country that cares for its animals is a developed country and worthy of visiting and here in Seychelles we have a great deal of work to do to catch up with the rest of the civilised world. Hope this story guides you to love and care for our animals.

 

Contributed by

Barry Laine FCIM, FInst SMM, MCMI, MBSCH

Seychelles Pet Haven Society - Association Secretary

 barrylaine@hpcgroup.sc

 

 

 

 

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