Amigo 2000-2007

AMIGO was discovered by Humane Society of Grand Bahama Chairman, Frances Hayward (wife of British investor and major developer of Grand Bahama Island, Sir Jack Hayward) as she drove out of the airport returning home from a trip. In that "providential split second of timing, that had him cross my path at that very moment" she spied "an incredibly adorable but tragic stray pup, emaciated, coat covered in mange, face etched in unbelievable misery."

Frances immediately put food on the ground and tried to coax him to come to her, but he was so frightened that she had to drive away before he would eat the food that she had left. After weeks of feeding him and trying to gain his trust, a (humane) trap finally had to be set in order to pick him up and get him the appropriate care he desperately needed. Once inside the trap, a complete transformation took place. Upon seeing Frances, whom he obviously remembered and recognized as his "rescuer," he started to jump for joy, tail wagging, eyes shining, clearly realizing that he had been saved. She immediately took him to the animal clinic where he literally "jumped into my arms" having lost all of his fear.

From that very first moment in the clinic, it was obvious that there was something very special about Amigo. He exuded personality, confidence, and intelligence that even the veterinarian found amazing in a wild dog that had just been rescued from the bush.

AMIGO's adorable looks, sweet, extroverted personality as well as his tremendous charisma made him the perfect poster boy for the Humane Society of the Bahamas and all of its programmes and soon his face was adorning posters, advertisements, calendars, and tee shirts. This led to school visits, newspaper articles and televsion coverage. Accompanied by his "personal trainer," Canadian Animal Behaviourist William Grimmer, Amigo soon became a major media personality in the Bahamas, referred to as "Potcake* Star Amigo."

AMIGO was recently given the "Ambassador of Goodwill" award by the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) in Southampton, New York, presented by film star Alec Baldwin. His photograph appeared in the Sunday New York Times and many other publications.

AMIGO is presently the representative of the BEKiND campaign and the face of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Companion Animal Care Programs. AMIGO has appeared on CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, and other programs and has been featured in the Daily News, New York Post, Dan's Papers, Modern Dog and countless other print media. AMIGO is destined to be the worldwide representative of being kind to animals.

AMIGO's story, however, is so much more than the classic "rags to riches" tale. As Frances Hayward tells us, "it's a story of a lost, cast aside, challenged being, who would have been 'thrown away,' his wonderul potential undiscovered and lost to the world, had it not been that someone cared."

*potcake: Bahamian term for mongrel dogs, native to the Bahamas. The term 'potcake' refers to the cake that forms at the bottom of the pot of 'peas and rice,' (a Bahamian staple) which is typically fed to the dogs on the property.