AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Save Your SAGA Humane Society

I am not aware that anyone is trying to shut down SAGA. AFAIK SAGA has been given a modus operandi by the Licensing Board, but they neither feel inclined to share this with the rest of us nor to accept it. I don't see the Board responding to bullying from either side, nor do I see them reversing their apparent decision any time soon, so somehow these people are going to HAVE to find a way to work together. With such deeply entrenched positions that seems to be difficult. The alternative is just to give up, which no-one wants.

I would be interested to know how SAGA/FOTHS fundraising is going. It was said that it reached a peak when Laurie was the vet there, but what's happened since?

I have just been sent a copy of a letter sent on Monday by Laurie to as many SAGA officials as she could identify. I'll post a list of them if anyone wants. I haven't even read the letter, but I have been asked to publicise it as it does shed a little light in an area where until now there has been only heat:-


Hi,

I'm sorry to send this to so many people. I am only guessing at who the Saga Board of Directors is now composed of. I think it is important for you to know that one of your patients, who was treated by Ingrid on Saturday, died in my hosptial last night. By the time I saw him it was way too late. He was severely anemic with a Hct of 7%. Normal is 40%. The owners told me that your vets were too busy on Saturday so Ingrid treated him. They said that she barely even looked at him and sent home some pills. He was very sick and had been for some time. The owner showed me the pills. They were not even labeled with what they were. One I recognized as some ancient Deramaxx which are so old they are decomposing and do not even resemble tablets any more. I do not know if they were charged or given for free, but obviously this is malpractice.

I do not know why this patient was not referred to me. I am much better equipped than the Saga clinic and this client could afford it. If you are so busy that you are overwhelmed, why is Ingrid practicing veterinary medicine instead of sending clients who can afford it to a real vet?

At some point your actions are hurting animals, not helping them, and you really need to reassess your crusade against me. I am not against humane societies. I think that Saga has done a great job over the last 10 years at improving the condition of the dog population here. However, Saga has not done well at taking care of people's pets. Your clinic has always struggled at staying properly equipped. When I arrived it had almost nothing. You cannot justify hurting other people's pets to support your humane society work. I know that you have seen how other humane societies work. They function just fine without trying to be a full-service vet clinic. I wish you would consider the possibility that Saga has its limits of what it can do well. Saga has always tried to do too much because there was no other veterinary care here. Things have changed and if your organization continues to try to fight this progress it will only be to the detriment of your organization and the people and animals you are trying to serve. Your position that San Pedro Animal Hospital should not exist is just frankly wrong. I am offering services that Saga has never been able to offer and I am saving animals' lives.

Once again, I fully support your work as a humane society. I have offered you discounts and free spays and neuters. I have not damaged any signs that belong to the humane society despite your group's repeated vandalism of mine. But I will continue to complain to the Veterinary Board as long as you continue to function in a way which is illegal and is hurting people's pets. If you do choose to continue to run a full service vet clinic IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to refer patients to me when they can afford it and you cannot properly diagnose and treat them. If you cannot handle this responsibility you should not be running a full-service veterinary hospital.

This is not personal, despite all my personal issues with the people at Saga. You can choose to believe what you want about me personally. But I think it is time for you to move past this and do the right thing for your community. I will continue to make formal complaints against Saga Humane Society to the Veterinary Board as long as you continue illegal activities. If this means you are having trouble gettinig licenses for your vets you need to stop blaming Peter and take a look at your own methods of operation. I know that there are a lot of people that will believe your position as the generous charity against the money-grubbing private clinic run by the evil Pedro. But this does not make your position true. I just hope that more people's pets will not suffer before you realize that the way you are working is wrong.

Sincerely,
Laurie Droke, DVM

real subtle, wonder which side you're on

This was the email header:-

*** Edit: Peter, please do not publish other people's email addresses without their permission. ***

I find it very difficult to be polite when faced with such total crap. Why don't you pull your head out and consider the facts? I am not on any side, or rather, I am on the side that produces a solution to this mess. I'd much prefer that there weren't sides. Check the records - fundraising was said to have reached a high when Laurie was there. Perhaps that was coincidence and unrelated to her, I don't know. I'd just like to know what's happened since.

Peter, And of course you will not know unless something changes because the books are not open to the public and that was one of the issues when there was record fund raising.

responses to the letter/email? if you wanna show both sides, then show them.

and i agree i wish there weren't sides, but there are. I also agree that Im all about resolving this fast, how do you suppose we can do that? Id rather not be pointing fingers, id rather see actions made. Im up for ideas?

and facts? if saga goes down, no one will be around to spay and neuter all those poor animals. Poisonings will continue, that is the fact im focusing on. the only FACTS youve provided are "ive heard, and i thought, and what if" and more questions that you are leading to for preferred answers. If you have facts, post them, and I'll read and take them into consideration. Until then dont lecture me on the idea of considering the facts.

You can not keep on giving money to people if they will not show you were the money has gone. SHOW US THE MONEY?

No one is asking for money here...just support for SAGA.

Question, am I to understand that owners brought in 190 pets in one week to be neutered?