Guided by their motto: “Every animal deserves a second chance,” Winella and Allan Greene are on a mission to rescue strays and dream of one day acquiring a plot of land to establish an animal sanctuary.
Currently, the couple of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo have 40 dogs and eight cats, but have rescued and fostered many more before putting them up for adoption.
They both love to care for animals and make a great team as they set out to rescue them and put an end their suffering.
The couple keeps the animals in a section of the house that was used as a shop. They would set up beds for them to sleep on by spreading blankets on the floor.
They are also building kennels, to separate the pregnant dogs for when they are ready to give birth, as well as a place for the cats.
Even though the house they are living in does not belong to them, they also plan to “concrete a portion of the yard and build a shed over it so that the animals would “not get messy after we bathe them.
Winella told this newspaper that sometimes they are unable to separate the dogs that are really sick because they lack adequate space.
Winella told this newspaper, “It pains our hearts when we see so many dogs out there battling some kind of illness and we can’t bring them home because of space.”
It is for that reason that they are passionate about establishing an animal sanctuary. They called on the government to help by granting them a plot of land so they can live their dreams of giving the animals a second chance.
Their desire to rescue the animals started after their dog, Kimmy, made a miraculous recovery from cancer. Kimmy was pregnant at the time, and became very sick. When the vet made the heart-breaking diagnosis, they thought they would lose her. Her pups “died one after the other” but she continued to battle for her life.
The distressed couple had “actually given up on her, but then we saw a post on Facebook about persons helping so we reached out for help.”
They got the support of other animal activists, especially Noreen Gaskin who “sponsored the vet bill.”
After Kimmy was successfully treated, they sprung into action in November 2020, rescuing pregnant dogs, which was their main aim. But then they soon realised that not only pregnant dogs needed help.
One of the worst cases they encountered, was a dog that they rescued in Essequibo. The dog was diagnosed with “cancer in different parts of its body and was also malnourished with a lot of mange. We tried to save him but he had to be put down because of the amount of cancer cells in her body.”
Local veterinarian (vet), Dr. Christine Bridgemohan diagnosed the dog with cancer and “put him on some treatment” but there was no improvement.
They then took the dog to a vet in Georgetown, Dr. Nardeo Bassoodeo. “He did a complete test and said that cancer was all over. That was when they made the decision to end his suffering.
Being currently unemployed, the couple’s dreams of changing the lives of the animals, are bigger than their means.
But that has not stopped them executing their rescue mission. They ensure that the animals are fed and provided with the love and care they deserve.
Winella is a stay-at-home mom, while Green, a former construction worker, was employed as a security supervisor. He lost his job after another security firm took over the contract.
Challenging
It became challenging to do it all on their own so they have created a Face-book page titled, ‘Society for Animal Rescue and Foster Care Services.’
It has caught the attention of kindhearted individuals who came forward and provided monetary donations, as well as meat, rice, chow and other items.
Through the page too, they have received calls from some people about animals that are in dire circumstances and would go out immediately to rescue them.
Having their own transportation would have made their mission easier, but they have not let that setback affect them.
After they rescue the animals, Dr. Christine and another local vet, Dr. Eon Jessemy, would visit their home to administer vaccines and deworm them.
They also have to hire a taxi at a cost of $12,000 to take the animals to Dr. Nardeo Bassoodeo in Georgetown to be spayed and neutered.
They take turns in feeding and caring for them and find pleasure in doing it. In the mornings, Green would wash out their ‘home’ and Winella would launder their blankets and also starts cooking a huge amount of food for the dogs.
She cooks on an outdoor gas stove, but the cooking gas would finish fast and they need help in purchasing it.
Their three-year-old daughter also loves to help feed the animals and knows each of them by their name. Green’s son from a previous relationship would also drop in at times to help with the feeding.
Their 11-month-old baby is also fascinated with the animals and Winella laughed as she related, “If you want her to stop crying, you just give her a kitten…”
Depending on the story behind their rescue, the couple finds names for them, such as Destiny, Angel and Grace.
They chose not to give names to the newborn puppies and kittens though, because they would become too attached to them and it would be harder to part with them when they are adopted.
They expressed gratitude to shelters: Paws for a Cause (Guyana), Rosewood Foundation, ARAPS Foundation, as well as Noreen Gaskin, Janice Prasad and Avinand Rampersaud, who helps them with transportation, as well as other persons who contribute.
The Greenes are urging everyone to follow them on Facebook to learn more about the their effort and to contact them on: 615-2618.
