Skinny blax's story

A beautiful girl with a heart of gold..

Skinny blax was a Bajan street dog through and through. Despite the hardship she faced, she was a gentle soul who had so much love to give.

Doing her best to survive..

We first met in 2018 on the beautiful island of Barbados. Although this may seem like paradise for some, it's not for all.. She was not in a good way, she was extremely malnourished, covered in small cuts, scars and wounds from fighting while raising a litter of puppies.

She was seen as a local nuisance for tearing up the garbage bins at night and making a mess, but how could anybody be annoyed at that? It's obvious she was only searching for food to feed herself and her hungry babies..

She was timid, most likely due to negative interactions with people, but she still had some trust left in her and we soon became friends.

I had reached out to a local shelter about her and her puppies, but due to them being at maximum capacity, they were unable to help. I didn't have the money to take her to the vets either, but I did everything I could which was making sure she had a nutritious meal every single day.

Rambo

She had a young litter of puppies which she was caring for under a neighbours but they unfortunately disappear quickly, over a matter of days.. Apart from one! As he grew bigger and started adventuring around the place, he soon showed his curious character and got the nick name Rambo.

I was only on vacation and had no means to adopt them, as much as I would of loved to! However, I was on the island for 3 months and had plenty of time to care for them while allowing them to still be street dogs. Unfortunately I couldn't stay, and because of this, I chose not to bring the dogs into the house and to let them continue to be street dogs. I did this because It's not fair to confuse the dogs or make them feel abandoned when I had to eventually leave the island.

They felt safe in my presence and trusted me, Skinny blax would leave Rambo by the house with us while she went out for the day and return knowing everything would be ok and there would be a nice meal waiting!

As Rambo grew bigger, he started eating solid food too and she'd always make sure to leave some for him. She was such a brilliant mother.

As time passed, Skinny blax (a name given to her by the locals which stuck) had began to look so much healthier in every way. She was putting on weight, her wounds were healing and her coat growing back! All without a single trip to the vets, but purely

thanks to good nutrition!

Not only that, she had a place where she felt safe and somebody she could trust.

One day we hadn't seen Rambo for a few hours which was usual, knowing he could of wandered anywhere, we didn't worry but kept an eye out.

But evening approached, and there was still no sign of Rambo or Skinny blax. Hours had gone by until Skinny blax appeared at the door, alone and seeming distressed..

I watched her body language and could tell she was trying to tell me something, she wanted my help, she wanted me to follow her.. It was dark so I grabbed my phone for a torch and went out with her, she'd walk ahead and then stop and look back to check I was still following. I followed her, but she led me in a circles around a derelict building close by.

I knew she was confused and could smell Rambo, but didn't know where he was.

We continued to look and call for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.. Every high pitch bark from another dog in the neighbourhood would make her intensely look around in desperation for Rambo, it was so awful to watch but there wasn't much more I could do other than hope he was ok and he'd find his way back.

The harsh reality of life as a street dog..

Unfortunately the next morning we were told some bad news.. Rambo had been found dead underneath a neighbours house. He must of been attacked by another dog and hidden under there for safety but was too scared or injured to come out.

I felt awful, I couldn't help but wish I looked harder for him that night, and maybe things might of worked out differently. But at the same time, I couldn't be annoyed with myself because I did everything I could and knew to do at the time.

A truly heartbreaking thing, yet unfortunately the reality for so many street dogs out there..

R.I.P Rambo

the sweetest, cheekiest little puppy.

Skinny blax was 100% effected by this, and for the next few days she would continue to look out for him at the sound of any high pitch bark in the neighbourhood. It was painful to watch but i did my best to comfort her and take her mind off things.

She spent the majority of her days roaming freely through the village and jungle. I didn't really know where she went or what she got up too, but there was lots of free roaming dogs in the area which like to guard their area so she got into a few scraps. One day she came to the house limping and under investigation she had sliced her paw and it was swollen.

Again, I didn't have money to take her to the vets so I put some of my arnica cream around the wound and gave her some left over garlic bread which was all I currently had.

Luckily street dogs are extremely resilient and as the days passed, she went back to her usual self again, but even healthier. She looked like a new dog! Instead of walking around with wide eyes and her tail tucked in between her legs, she would skip around with a smile on her face.

Although her puppies didn't survive the tough reality of living on the streets, she's most likely experienced this before but thankfully had the chance to thrive again!

Skinny blax was a street dog through and through, she was extremely independent and would most of the day be somewhere els, maybe in the jungle or hanging with some other dogs. She would only pop by a handful on times throughout the day, usually morning, night and a few times somewhere in between.

After months of feeding her everyday and building a friendship, it was nearing my time to leave the island and return to the UK. I had made the effort to find somebody who might be able to permanently adopt her but didn't have much luck.

Although it was extremely emotional for me to leave her, I had confidence that the people I knew living in the area knew our special bond and would make sure she gets some food.. Especially since she now looked so clean and healthy and had stopped raiding the bins.

She had become more accepted by the local community and after I left the island, I'd always ask for her and receive updates that she was still around and doing good. She made friend's with the next set of tourists who stayed in the house and by then had another litter of puppies. They kindly nicknamed her 'happy' and took her to get spayed meaning she wouldn't have to keep going through the same traumatic cycle.

Once they left she befriended the neighbours dogs and was luckily able to continue living a good life, freely as a street dog while being cared for by a kind man who already had dogs.

I'd always be happy to hear through the grape vine from the UK that she was ok!

She may have been a street dog, but she was loved by many.

3 years later..

3 years had passed before I finally returned to the island in after covid and I couldn't wait to see her again! We stay in my partners family home every time we visit so I knew I just had to go about my daily business, and I would eventually see her..

It had been a couple of days since arriving and we were checking out the garden early in the morning when we saw her.. she was walking up the hill after being at the beach with the neighbour who had been caring for her. She came over wagging her tail to say hello..

I wasn't sure if she'd remember me or not, but when she got close enough to remember my scent.. she made a happy loud squeal noise which i'd never heard before! I can confidently say she remembered me and was very happy to see me again! (Likewise!)

She'd come and hang out with me while I tended to the plants in the garden, she was such a gentle soul and the best company, she even introduced me to her friend who I've nicknamed 'Brucey'. I'd see him around and he was super shy, would never come and run off instead until one day when he was with skinny blax. He ran away but she knew me so came straight over and as soon as he saw that me and her were friends, he came running over so excited and happy and we've been besties ever since!

We'd briefly hung out a few times while I was on the island again, she'd stop by for some affection, a snack and a cool place to sit in the shade.. I was only in Barbados for 6 weeks on this trip and during this time i'd found baby Roo who was in desperate need of help and was going through the process of bringing her home..

It was nearing my time to leave the island again and I hadn't seen Skinny blax for a little while, I didn't see her as often as before but I didn't want to go without saying goodbye.

I wasn't sure if she'd even met Roo, I'd never seen them together but always thought she'd be a good mother figure for her and would of loved to see them together..

A few days before I was leaving, I was speaking with a neighbour and decided to ask if they'd seen Skinny blax around at all. But unfortunately, I received the worst news possible..

I was told she'd been killed by other street dogs a few days earlier.. I couldn't quite believe what i was hearing. Everything was good, she was happy, fit and. healthy..

How could this even happen? It was honestly heart breaking but again, is the unfortunate reality for so many street dogs not just in Barbados, but all around the world.

It was awful news but we have to accept that nothing in life is guaranteed, although I was upset, I couldn't help but feel grateful that she had those extra years to live a happy & healthy life, as a street dog who received love from the majority of those around her.

It told me that what I was doing with Roo was the right thing to do and it's inspired me to do more for street dogs.

R.I.P to the sweetest soul,

the street dog that made a difference!

Sharing this story in loving memory of the most gentle and sweet dog, Skinny blax, and her cheeky little pup Rambo. Both will be forever missed and never be forgotten!