Culebra Blog | Culebra, Puerto Rico

The Beginning

A couple of months ago, a stray dog that came to be known as Mango was wandering the streets of Culebra. He used to be seen hanging around the ferry dock and was, even back then, a very sweet guy.

Over the course of a year, he migrated to the neighborhood by the Culebra airport, where sightings determined that he was malnourished, getting increasingly thin and worse for the wear looking. His coat was missing much fur and his hip and rib bones were protruding.

After several attempts to feed him and gain his trust, he finally began coming around to eat. As he’s such a submissive dog, some other local neighborhood dogs quickly decided to show him who was boss and they roughed him up a bit.

Mango Gets Fostered

That’s when he came into the hands of Terrie, an AWC (Animal Welfare of Culebra) volunteer. She gave him his first bath and set him up in the back yard of the Palmetto Guesthouse, where he proceeded to hide out in the bushes and basically slept for two weeks. He was physically exhausted and on the brink of certain death.

During this time, a guest of the Palmetto’s, who, herself owns a guesthouse in NY, met Mango while on vacation.

Mango was fostered for over three months and he required several visits to the vet in order to get his health back on track. Thankfully, he began to eat regularly, thus allowing his fur to fill back in. Also, he started to gain weight and his sores and cuts began to heal. Additionally, Mango received treatment for hookworm and heartworm (involving an overnight at the vet’s), had a flea/tick dip, and subsequent meds to alleviate both issues.

Eventually, Mango began to look and feel much better. He started to play, his tail raised up, and he wagged it happily! Anne, the woman who owns the guesthouse in NY contacted us about the dog she met while visiting Culebra. We talked more about Mango and she gave his adoption serious consideration.

Finally, Mango was ready to go (both in terms of socialization and health) and Anne was enthusiastically ready to adopt him!

The day came at last and Mango ferried over on the 6:30am boat with two AWC volunteers. He had a final Fajardo veterinarian visit to certify his health and to get his travel documents.

The next step was the drive to San Juan, where AWC and Mango met up with two American Airlines flight attendants who have liased with the Save a Sato organization in the past and offered their assistance, using their “checked baggage” allowance to transport Mango.

This route was greatly appreciated, as his airline cost was $150.00 vs. the $450.00 cargo price tag.

Mango was in great spirits in the airport and everyone who met him adored his smiley snout and flopping tail. Even Jennifer and Suzanne, the flight attendants, wanted to take him home.

At 11:30 Mango was at last checked into his crate and after a tearful (AWC foster mom, Terrie) goodbye, he was off for his adventure to New York.

By 6:30pm, Terrie spoke with Anne and Mango was in the Big Apple. Subsequent emails over the next couple of days have confirmed that Mango is loved and loving every bit of his new life. This truly is a story with a Very Happy Ending!

Please Support Animal Welfare of Culebra

Animal Welfare of Culebra, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed to promote the health and safety of the stray and homeless animals of Culebra, and to provide animal welfare education.

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