For as long as I can remember, I have had a dream of having my own dog shelter and working hand in hand with local experts who share the same love for dogs as I do. Last semester, Mr. Starkenburg asked his Bible 12 seniors to identify a problem in our community and propose solutions for it. I chose to use this passion for my project. The stated problem I chose was the lack of awareness and assistance for animal shelters. In Nicaragua, there is a significant lack of understanding regarding this situation. There are thousands of street dogs throughout Nicaragua, and unfortunately, many people do not seem to care. Even in communities like NCAI, there has never been an initiative to address this situation.
I started working last October with Casa Hogar Scott. I came across an article in one of the Nicaraguan news outlets about the owners of this shelter asking for help because they had to relocate from what had been their home for years, but they didn’t even know where to go. After a couple of weeks, they were able to negotiate, and the owners of the house they were renting, allowed them to stay.
Collecting money for this project has not been an easy journey. In general, supporting projects for people in need is hard to sustain. I held two bake sales in the first semester of school, and in the second semester, I decided to ask some businesses to donate funds so we could make a greater impact. God listened to my prayers, and several companies were able to support this campaign. All these donations have been an incredible blessing to this place. The first time I visited, I was able to donate five bags of dog food, shampoos, and other necessities to keep the place clean. I was also involved in helping them acquire a new freezer for the dogs’ food. I created an Instagram account called “amordecuatropatas_club” to keep people updated on my project. I also made that account because I believe the first step toward change is making people aware of their surroundings, which is what I tried to do with my instagram stories and posts.
Casa Hogar Scott had been located for many years in an old house in front of Plaza Inter. After several months, they were told that the house had officially been sold and they had to move out. Transporting around 200 dogs is no easy task, but with the help of the community, they were able to have a smooth transition to their new home on Carretera Sur. Fortunately, some kind people are letting them stay on a large piece of land where the dogs can now run freely. While this is a positive change, a lot of investment is needed to ensure that the dogs have a safe and comfortable life. Although it requires a significant amount of money, day by day, God has sent people to help the shelter. I still continue to work with them in order to raise as much money as possible to build the dog’s new home.
Some weeks ago I noticed that the service club had made a trip to another shelter, and in a way, I felt that by promoting this cause, other students also began to focus on it. I was very happy to see that initiative from other students, and not by me. I hope that after this project, there will be much more focus from the student body to want to help animals. In Nicaragua, there must be change in the way we treat and protect animals, and that starts in our small communities.
Even though my restoration project will soon be completed, I will continue working with Casa Hogar Scott. I hope that this initiative, which started many years ago as a little girl’s dream, continues to resonate with many others. I know that I have only just begun to pursue my goal, but I have faith that one day I will be able to open the doors to my own shelter and receive many other stray dogs who need not only food or water but, most importantly, love and protection.
