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P. 19
Andin Bikkers’ Animals from Aruba
motion to returned to their
original rescuer
appeal to the
Supreme Court is
acknowledged
IN an article published by Andin Bikker he suggested appealing the tax SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE-- Fourteen animals who landed in South
cases to the Supreme Court has been recognized in Holland and has been Florida following a paperwork problem in Canada are back with their original
highlighted as the catalyst and most important base to appeal the tax rescuer.
cases, not only the ones in Aruba but also the ones in Bonaire, Saba, Sint
Eustatius and soon Curacao and Sint Maarten. Kim McDonnell said she saved the animals from a kill bin, but they were confis-
cated from her and taken to a Miami animal hospital for intensive care after a
The article also points out the benefits that the same change brought to multi-country flight that started in Aruba. “They have a kill bin that is government-
Holland since it was implemented in 2005. The change was that Holland funded,” she said, “and it’s just a giant garbage can that sits in the middle of the
adjusted their fiscal procedures law for appealing three times. Venezuelan heat, and people can discard their animals as they please.”
All Caribbean islands belonging to the Dutch Kingdom should adapt their
laws regarding appealing to the Supreme Court could be implemented. McDonnell is from Canada. She and her friend, who are students in Aruba, rescue
As soon as Curacao and Sin Maarten finalize the changes made to their animals from the kill bin and find them homes through Facebook. “I go into the
laws, this law change can be applied to them also. kill bin on my lunch at school, and I just take out what I can,” she said, “and I
take them home and I vet them. I keep them till they’re ready to go. Obviously,
We hope that this will soon be the case, in the last Tripartite and meeting the living conditions in Aruba are not ideal.”
with the Kingdom Parliamentarians Andin made one final appeal through
the Aruba delegates regarding the law change. McDonnell was on her way to Toronto to deliver the animals to their new homes,
The Dutch Government commended the Aruban delegation in a letter when Canadian officials noticed the sick dogs and cats didn’t have the proper
written on July 7, 2015 for their persistence on this noble subject. paperwork. That caused them to get diverted to Miami.
6 LOCAL The two dogs, eight puppies, and four kittens were picked up by a company that
works with American Airlines. It’s called Pet Limo. The team brought them to a
veterinarian, where they were treated for fleas, ticks and parasites.
Since they were checked out, their vet said they are doing much better. “At this
moment everybody is doing well enough to be able to go to a home where some-
one can keep taking care of them,” said Tamiami Animal Hospital veterinarian
Dr. John Santamarina.
“The best thing that has come out of this is the awareness that it brought to
Aruba,” said McDonnell, “and that like, we need help there. We need things to
change. We need laws put in place. We need the government to step up and take
responsibility.”
The animals remain with Pet Limo. Once their health certificates are finalized
they will be sent to their new homes in Toronto and Seattle.
Friday, July 17 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER
