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Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

Boonie Beginnings: Grace

The first time I came face to face with a Boonie I was 17 at Obyan Beach. We couldn’t believe this little puppy was running around and were delighted when he chose to come up to us. A man eventually wandered over to collect the dog but not before asking us if we wanted to take him instead. I remember thinking how strange it was for someone to have a dog they would be willing to just give away. Now, my sister and I are the people on the beach asking anyone if they want a dog and actively try to give away puppies.

Living on Saipan, seeing puppies turned from excitement to dread and the shock of seeing dead dogs on the side of the road began to wear off. With such an immense love for animals, my sister and I knew we had to do something. We just didn’t know what. So, we started doing what we could: feeding strays, volunteering at Saipan Cares, fostering, adopting, fundraising, etc. but we still found ourselves feeling helpless. For every dog we were able to help, there were hundreds of others left behind. With no resources, funding, or experience, Boonie Babies evolved out of desperation. We didn’t have what we needed but my sister and I were going to change that.

For the past eight years I have poured my heart and soul into making Boonie Babies what it is today. To most, Boonie Babies may just be a dog rescue or even just two girls running around in bikinis but to me, it represents the power of kindness and the ability we all hold to stand up for what we believe in. Today, Boonie Babies is a globally recognized name that has positively impacted the lives of thousands of animals and humans alike. Working in rescue is never easy but saving the Boonies has been and will always be the experience of a lifetime!

Birthday Wish

This year on my 25th birthday, Saipan Humane Society will be hosting a spay and neuter clinic. My birthday wish is to cover the cost of 25 surgeries for TNR animals or community members’ pets in need. $75 covers the cost of an entire surgery but anything helps us make a difference! Donate $15 or more now through the month of July and receive a special ‘Boonie Thank You!’ card in the mail, just don’t forget to leave your address in your donation note. This surgery is life changing for every animal who receives it along with their owners and has the biggest impact when it comes to preventing suffering. Thank you for helping me celebrate turning 25 in the best possible way, saving the Boonies! Click Here to donate today!

Click the link in this ad to passively donate to Boonie Babies! We receive money for every person that opens the link. Every click counts!

Could you afford $3,500 to remove a chew toy?

From $3,500 to remove a chew toy, to $7,000 for a hip replacement, keeping your pets healthy is getting more and more expensive. Fortunately, pet insurance can help offset these rising costs. Pet insurance can cover eligible accidents and illnesses with up to 90% reimbursement. Get your buddy covered today with plans starting at just $10 a month.

PROTECT YOUR PET

Boonie of the Week: Meet Hoshi

Story Submitted By Tiffany Test

I used to live on Guam, and there was a run down bus stop I had to pass to and from work.  This guy was usually hanging out, waiting for an imaginary bus, away from any of the other stray boons.  I'd stop any time I saw him to give treats and offer pets.  He was sporting a chunky spiked collar caked in mud and some remnants of a leash.  It took two months for him to be comfortable enough for me to touch him.  During those two months I asked around the neighborhood, but nobody knew anything about him.  I had one person tell me they saw local kids throw rocks at him.  It was obvious that he wasn't treated too kindly. 

As soon as he was in my home though, he became the most velcro of dogs.  I had a cat as well, and although he was initially very frightened, they became inseparable as well.  Hoshi is the way he is now because my cat taught him all he needed to know about being a dog.  They slept together, ate together, and watched wildlife out the window together.  My cat had passed in 2020 and that left a big hole in his heart for a long time.  

When I got him to the vet he was treated for heartworms and ticks disease at the same time.  Recently, we confirmed some suspected abuse with X-rays showing four BB gun pellets to his chest and back.  These are bumps we've been able to feel on the outside of his skin, but we never needed a reason for X-rays until recently with his old age.  

My sweet boy has never trusted any person or dog right away, but he can now build a slow bond with other people and dogs.  But, he's also very good with young puppies and kittens.  We've fostered a few litters during the years and he's been the caretaker he probably needed in the jungle.

Hoshi has been to Guam, road trips all over America, and is now residing in Northern Japan with his adopted brother Buddy Chase (from Texas, we're his third owners).  We think he's 10 years old now, and both him and Buddy will be living their senior years here in Japan.  

His favorite things are car rides, camping, laying in my garden beds, soft chew toys, and cucumbers.   

Have a rescued animal deserving of being Boonie of The Week? Submit their story and pictures to [email protected] 

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