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An Idea.... As the population on Utila increases, so does the pet population. Dr. Potts arrived here as a guest at Utila Lodge. On her excursion around the island, she became very aware of the overpopulation of dogs running loose in the streets. She asked if there was anything she could do to assist with the problem..... our "Utila Pet Project" was born!! Kisty E, Utila Lodge, arranged for the Pet Project temporary clinic to be set up at the Bay Islands College of Diving conference room.
To Reality...
Californians Helping Utila's Canines & Felines
By Jerry Winokur
All of the Bay Islands have been noticing major changes in the last few years. Growth has been a concern for Roatan and now Utila is also feeling the influx of international investment. One major problem facing all of the Bay Islands, but especially Roatan and Utila, is the explosion in population not of humans but cats and dogs. Few of the residents who own pets spay or neuter. When females give birth the pups are weaned and then given away or just tossed out onto the street to survive on their own. In fact, the general mind set is that it isn't "macho" to cut your animals. To control the population on Utila a few residents have begun setting out poisoned food to kill these unwanted animals and unfortunately some pets were also killed because they couldn't discern between good food and bad. There is no veterinary care on this small but quaint island.
Dr. Loretta Potts began coming to Utila six years ago and recognized the problem. Dogs, looking starved,
wandering down the street turning over trash, fighting for the scraps that could be unearthed. Both dog and
cat fights raging trying to control territory. Other injured animals lying on the sides of streets slowly
dying, unattended. Dr. Loretta, as the locals call her, began bringing supplies to the island to care for
the animal population three years ago. She started by coming to island with a couple of scuba diving friends.
The goals: inform the population of the improvement in quality of life for the animals by spay and neuter,
performing the surgery for free, providing shots and wellness checkups, and if there was time get in a
couple of dives in the warm, tropical waters of the Caribbean. The hardest part was convincing the islanders
that their animals will live a longer and healthier life if they were "fixed," and that they can control the
animal population without poisoning the "wild animals". read more »
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 Pet Clinic
Photo: Utila Lodge
 Pet Clinic
Photo: Utila Lodge
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