Page 7 - aruba-today-20240416

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local Tuesday 16 april 2024

Khaleesi’s memory was kept alive during

the Walk of Light this past weekend

(Oranjestad)—This past the situation. This story good feeling to see how
Saturday, Aruba saw an connected with tourists as many people came."
overwhelming support well, as Luna Foundations It's not possible to say ex-
from both locals and tourist is known among visitors in actly how many people
for the viral dog Khaleesi. the US and other countries. there were, but Conijn-
Dressed in all white—and Many locals expressed their Berkel ensured that they
even accompanied by deepest sympathies and managed to sell more than
their own dogs, volunteers frustrations, and many do- 800 T-shirts, and that may
and supported participated nated to the foundation to be an indicator—although
in a silent walk dedicated help the pup. Unfortunate- it may also be that some
to the memory of Khaleesi ly, Khaleesi herself did not did not manage to attend.
and to raise awareness for make it to recovery, but her Nevertheless, the support
the negligence and abuse story sparked an aggres- was overwhelming, and it
of dogs. sive call for action. showed how much people
care about the well-being
Khaleesi’s story broke late Last Saturday, one of the of our pets and animals in just about aggression or focus directly on what's
March, when volunteers at organizers of the Walk of general. abuse, it's about change, happening with animal
the Luna Foundation found Light, Zoey Conijn-Berkel a change for our pets, not abuse on our island. What
the pup in a horrible state, from Luna Foundation Aru- Notably, tourists were also just dogs." happened with Khaleesi
and having just given birth ba Inc., assured that she present at the event, and is not an isolated case;
to five little puppies. This sto- was satisfied and proud to the Dutch media team, Conijn-Berkel added that this has been happening
ry went viral on the island, see how many people at- NOS, came to Aruba to the foundations will con- for years, it's just that what
as people were shocked tended the animal abuse cover the event, "so the tinue to urge the govern- happened with her went vi-
and heartbroken about awareness event. "It's a world can see that it's not
ment to adjust the law. ral and got extra attention."
"They don't need to write
a new law, they can copy Among those present,
and paste the one from the other foundations, people
Netherlands; there needs walking their dogs, and
to be a change in the law, even children standing
otherwise we'll keep going against this type of action
in circles," she said. “The against our animals were
walk is to calm people and also seen.q