To the Members of Parliament of Aruba:

The petition of the undersigned citizens and visitors of Aruba declares that the Government of Aruba must support the establishment of a stable and permanent animal shelter.  Shelter and veterinary care is desperately needed by the many stray dogs, cats and other animals on the island that suffer daily due to illness, injury, and lack of food and fresh water. 

With the imminent closing of Animal Rights Aruba shelter, a non-profit Animal Welfare Organization, the need for government support has never been greater.  The main goal of ARA is to relieve the suffering and hardships of the Island's animal population. ARA has worked with the veterinarian clinics on the Nationwide Sterilization Program to reduce the population of dogs and cats. Therefore, affordable spaying and neutering of pets is high on the list of the ARA, the target group being in particular those households within the community that cannot afford the relatively high cost of this one-time treatment. In addition, ARA is convinced that setting up a dynamic education program on the care and rights of animals will encourage the community to assist ARA in the protection of local animals. 

Although there are many visitors of Aruba who tirelessly donate their time and money toward veterinary care, shelter and placement of dogs and cats into caring homes, much more is necessary to successfully deal with this disturbing and overwhelming issue. 

We, the undersigned, petition the Government of Aruba to assist in the formation of an animal shelter to ensure the humane and ethical treatment of animals on the island with continuation of educational programs available to the public on animal welfare.

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