Juliette Chang
"I receive, at times, many insults for this issue which is animal rescue; even though one works with what they have, the people who go..." — Juliette
Over the years, the island of Cébaco, in the province of Veraguas, Panama, has faced a problem related to the abandonment of dogs. Some have been transported from other places to the island to be left there, sometimes in circumstances sensitive to the public eye.
Although there are inhabitants of Cébaco who have become involved in their care, the situation has not been simple. The presence of these animals has also generated disagreements among some members of the community, while the dogs continue to depend on the people willing to help them. Currently, abandonment is also beginning to affect cats.
Faced with this situation, Juliette Chang, founder of Chang Puppies, has committed to working for the well-being of these animals. To ensure that the dogs receive veterinary care and are spayed or neutered, she has organized their transport by boat from the island to places where they can receive these services. Behind this effort is also the support of the people who are part of Chang Puppies.
"I went every 15 days, every weekend, depending on donations; and I would bring them, 30 at a time, I would bring 20, sometimes 28. I transported them all by boat, with the sea sometimes furious, from Cébaco to Santiago de Veraguas; 1 hour and 50 minutes from Cébaco Island".
—Juliette Chang
This is a story about animals that need help and about the people who, even in the face of difficulties, have decided to do something for them.
We are Chang Puppies!
She began her commitment to Cébaco four years ago. It all started when she and her husband saw a photograph in which numerous dogs appeared on the island, an image that led them to take action and marked the beginning of their work for the well-being of the dogs of Cébaco.
Over the years, Don Irene, a member of the Cébaco community, upon witnessing abandoned dogs on the island, decided to provide them with food; food that is not abundant in quantity, but which, thanks to his empathy and love for them, became fundamental support for the dogs in Cébaco.
"Well, life is more or less there; it's neither very bad nor very good." — Don Irene
Don Irene
Don Sotero
"Every time I take the boat to leave, they stay on the shore, crying, hoping I'll take them with me" —Don Sotero
Since he was very young, Don Sotero has lived in Cébaco. With more than 40 years on the island, he has also been part of those who provide care for the dogs in Cébaco.
-Is your goal for each of those dogs to be in a home?
"No, because I have taken fewer than 50 dogs from there, but they were puppies that I gave up for adoption and they have problems here; there is one that started eating itself. It is not an option to take those dogs out of Cébaco, they don't get used to it here".
- Juliette
The dogs that have grown up in Cébaco, many since they were puppies, know a different way of life than that of a conventional home. They run freely and spend much of their time among the mangroves, surrounded by the environment they have always known. For them, the island is the space where they have learned to function since their first days.
Finding them a home outside of Cébaco can be more complicated than it seems. Accustomed to moving freely, some have difficulty adapting to living inside a house and may even try to escape. Far from the island, they face busy streets, engines, and unknown noises that can scare them and cause them to flee or get lost. That is why an adoption implies much more than taking them to another place: it requires understanding their behaviors, respecting their needs, and helping them adapt to a completely different environment.
At the same time, neighbors in Cébaco point out that abandonment is leading some dogs to reach more wooded and mountainous areas of the island. Individuals leave the dogs in these areas, where the vegetation is denser. Far from regular contact, some of these dogs begin to live more independently and become more difficult to help. They do not allow people to approach, touching them becomes impossible, and providing them with care requires much more effort.
Change also starts with you. Every action counts when it comes to protecting a life. Knowing what is happening in Cébaco is the first step; sharing their story, supporting the work of those who help, and contributing to their initiatives can make a difference for the island's animals and their community.
And do you want to be part of the change?
image source: Ciudadano del mundo-The island of abandoned dogs in Panama
