by Bennette Roach
MAPS new animal shelter compound
Sally Simpson MAPS secretary, read from the Bible book of Genesis 1: 21-26, which spoke of God’s creation of animals… as Fr. George Agger, parish priest of the R C Church in Montserrat, opened with prayers to mark the ‘grand’ opening of the Montserrat Animal Protection Society (MAPS) new shelter. Several members of the Society gathered on location to witness like they did for the turning of the soil on April 5, 2013.
The area is located above the Montserrat Community College campus on the way to Duck Pond.
Fr. George who six months ago prayed over the spot at the ground breaking, prayed, “…all the animals are God’s gift to us and today we gather for the blessing of this new home for the stray animals of Montserrat and just remind us that what we’re doing is in the context of Gods almighty plans. God our creator, yours are the praise, the glory, the honor and all blessings to you alone do all things belong be praised for giving us the animals…may we think of you and thank you when we play and care for them, be praised for making us happy to have them as pets and to have them answer our needs of companionship. We ask you Lord that we may be good to our animals as always so that they may be happy also…”
Fr George prays, Sally Simpson reads from the Bible
MAPS president Nigel Harris after thanking Fr. George invited the Friendly Society’s patron His Excellency Governor Adrian Davis to give remarks and to cut the ribbon to officially launch the operations of the shelter.
The Governor on April 5, when the Society broke ground to construct the shelter compound, said that he was delighted “to be here partly as patron of MAPS, partly as the Governor and partly as a great dog lover…” He repeated his delight to come back to what, “was a rather barren landscape and to see,” he hasn’t been in the six months to see progress, “but the completion of these facilities within six months seems to be a remarkable testimony to a community spirit and a will to achieve something which is absolutely wonderful and an example to us all,” he contended.
He thanked, making apologies deferring to Nigel Harris later to fill in the gaps. He began with institutions such as, the Government of Montserrat for making the land available; the hard work of the MAPS committee, UK agencies like RSPCA and thanks also to Corel Cay, and again Cabinet who had just agreed to duty-free access for all the equipment that’s coming in, “because you’re a friendly society,” he informed.
Governor Davis cuts the ribbon
He, “above all,” thanked “the MAPS community and everyone that’s concerned about the welfare of animals on our island,” thereafter proceeded to cut the ribbon and declared the compound open for the shelter of stray dogs and cats.
Minister of Agriculture Easton Taylor-Farrell on invitation gave brief remarks in which he expressed pleasure at the occasion, and informed that on request by the MAPS committee, after clearing with the “MSS and with the college, which we did and it was all easy going from there.”
He concluded, “I’m very pleased you have exerted some energy and effort and funds to provide the animals with this permanent home, which I think is permanent. On behalf of all of us the government and the people of Montserrat, I want to thank you for your hard work and we look forward to continue support as we go along.”
In its own compartment waiting to be adopted
Nigel Harris described the purpose of MAPS. “What we’re actually trying to achieve here. We have established a refuge a shelter for animals, those that are being neglected, those that have been abandoned, those that need care. We provide medical facilities…so we look to everybody. Please come see these animals, meet them, come and play with them in the garden,’ requesting, “we would like you to adopt them there are other dogs out there waiting to come in; so the sooner we can get dogs adopted to nice loving families, then we will indeed bring other animals in,” he concluded, inviting as many to be come volunteers to the help, “for an hour two hours a week…“
He added thanks and named David Hodd for his help in the designs, as well as (father) Greg, “the guy is here he’s either working with the dogs or he’s digging the ground, he has been an absolute star.”
Harris also informed, “We have achieve this largely through donors but almost entirely through the Governor, who very kindly mentioned Denise Lutzs and her family.” Further information says that Denise Lutz of Michigan, USA has continued really carrying out her former husband Bob Lutz’ donation.
The previous temporary shelter was located at Cavalla Hill.
