The Full Story
Due to lack of access to affordable care resources and education regarding these resources, many dogs and cats in the Caribbean suffer from preventable diseases such as heavy gastrointestinal parasite burden, tick borne illnesses, viruses such as Parvovirus and Distemper, and bacterial diseases such as Leptosporosis. Injuries sustained by these animals go untreated and often lead to systemic infection. Without access to veterinary care, these diseases and injuries often prove fatal. Although there are rescues in the Caribbean, the number of animals in need combined with a of lack of funds and resources often overwhelm these dedicated rescues. The mission of the Susie Project is to raise awareness about the plight of the animals in these island nations. We strive to educate, advocate and help fund the preventative health care as well as the care of sick and injured animals in the Caribbean. As overpopulation is a major concern, we also help fund the spay and neuter of these animals. It is the goal of The Susie Project to ensure that no animal suffers from the pain of starvation, untreated illnesses or injuries.
Susie
"I first met Sus in my third semester at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She immediately got the zoomies and ran circles around me- that ended up being the exact moment I met my soulmate.
The process of adopting Sus from my school took weeks and weeks. In the meantime, I would go visit her in the kennels every day and take her home with me every weekend. Once I officially adopted Sus, we were two peas in a pod. We went everywhere together- work, home, trips, parties etc. She moved with me from Saint Kitts, to Illinois, to New York, to New Jersey. Along the way, Sus touched the lives of literally everyone she met. She was the sweetest, most gentle, kindest soul. Sus was the reason I was able to survive some of the most difficult times in my life and was the reason I was able to make it through veterinary school and become a doctor.
When Sus passed away on December 7, 2018, I felt lost in a way I had never experienced before. I repeatedly tried to remedy this feeling, without success. In November 2019, I returned to Saint Kitts to have a small memorial for Sus. While there, Outcast Rescue (who I had been working with stateside at the time) graciously allowed me to bring home three stray island puppies to find their forever homes. At that moment, I no longer felt lost. I realized that saving these Caribbean animals was what I needed to do to keep Sus’ memory alive and to honor her. From that, the Susie Project: Coconut Freedom Fund was born." - Meredith Berger DVM
