SAGA Humane Society Celebrates a Gorgeous New Clinic and 26 Years Of Service

SAGA Humane Society on Ambergris Caye is an absolutely INCREDIBLE organization for so many reasons.

• Founded in 1999, they were the first humane society in the country of Belize
• They provide affordable vet care for the many pets and strays of Ambergris Caye…an island that is growing exponentially
• They are funded and run by a board of volunteers who work TIRELESSLY not only to fundraise (which is a HUGE job) but help organize free clinics, educate the kids and the community about kindness to animals, the importance of spaying and neutering, and even doing on call work – like picking up a litter of puppies found at a home
• The house adoptable cats and dogs in the most beautiful way – the new clinic…I’m scared if I show my cats, Mango and Cashew the SAGA catteries…they might pack their bags and ask to move…

They do it all with incredible perseverance, indomitable spirits (this can be HARD THANKLESS WORK), excellent senses of humor and powerful love for animals.

This year, they moved the location – from the first floor of a cramped wooden home where they had been for ages to a brand new, gorgeous cement clinic…built on donations…

Yesterday was the Grand Opening Open House. And Jeff and I headed over.

First, we took our girls, Frannie (her genetic make-up here – a TRUE island potlicker) and Rosie, for a walk. We adopted our best girls from SAGA.

The new SAGA is located just south of town – not far from the old location…

The street was closed off for the event.

Some of the incredible sponsors that helped this happen.

There were booths with food, merchandise and educational information.

When I lived in suburban NJ and in NYC, these parasites were just…things you heard about. Not “real things” that affected our pets. Maybe a few fleas in the summer but other than that…not a problem.

But in San Pedro, I’ve seen dogs dying of tick fever (it’s awful), our dog Frannie has tick fever (it is very treatable if caught early) – we’ve treated 2 dogs for heartworm (it’s carried by mosquitos) – almost every island puppy has intestinal worms – our neighbors’ dogs died of PARVO. All these awful diseases are very very real. Untreated dogs and cats are almost always covered in fleas and ticks.

Additionally, when I first moved to the island, the town council was still doing stray eradications that involved giving poisoned meatballs to dogs overnight. It was awful and…inhumane. But there was no other way available.

The humane society is SOOO needed.

As we entered the clinic, we met Dr Heather from Ontario – she is the President of the SAGA Board and a veterinarian. She gave us a quick tour around the clinic before the official ceremony began.

When you drive past the clinic, you don’t appreciate how roomy is it inside and how smartly it’s all designed.

Examination rooms, a surgery room…

Amazing storage – I’m a bit jealous!

And large outside areas for the big dogs (there are some GORGEOUS dogs waiting for adoption) and another for the lil guys.

The ceremony!

Eileen Jamison spoke. She helped found SAGA 26 years ago…and said that they have really been working on a clinic like this ever since the founding. 25 years in the making.

She’s organizing and helping at pretty much every fundraiser for all of those years!

I may or may not cried during part of her speech.

I’m so glad I was there.

Thank you from all of our animals – including our cats Mango and Cashew. SAGA helped me trap their feral mom (feral is such a harsh word!) and get her fixed. (She, her named is Outdoorsy, lives in our neighborhood now). And SAGA took in their 3 brothers to put up for adoption.

And thank you for helping our dogs over the years – Ingrid, for answering my messages on weekends – for you all.

For treating Biscuit’s heartworm – she’s such a happy girl.

You make this island happier and healthier and so much better. THANK YOU!

For more information on SAGA and/or to donate – they run on donations – check out their website now or…if you are down in San Pedro, stop by. Walk a dog, pet a cat…they are the best.