Not very long ago, Amigo was the most pathetic little creature one could ever possibly imagine. Humane Society of Grand Bahama chairman, Frances Hayward, discovered him as she drove out of Grand Bahama Airport after returning home from a trip abroad. In that “providential split second of timing that had him cross my path at that very moment” she spied “an incredibly tragic, adorable little stray pup – starving and diseased, covered with mange, ticks and fleas, face etched in unbelievable misery.” She immediately put food on the ground and tried to coax him to come to her but he was so filled with fear that she had to drive away before he would eat.
After weeks of feeding him and trying, unsuccessfully, to gain his trust, a (humane) trap finally had to be set in order to pick him up. Once, mercifully inside the trap, a complete transformation took place. Upon seeing Frances whom he recognized and remembered, he became filled with joy and excitement, obviously realizing that he had been saved and that a ‘far better life’ awaited him. He was right. She immediately took him to the animal clinic where he literally “jumped into my arms” by now having lost all of his fear.
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| Amigo today with Frances Hayward |
From the very first moment in the animal 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 little wild dog that had just been rescued from the bush. His extroverted personality, adorable looks, high intelligence as well as tremendous charisma made him the perfect ‘poster boy’ for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama and all of its e programmes and soon his face was adorning posters, adverts, calendars and t-shirts, golf shirts and hats.
Quite the ‘star’ Amigo regularly visits schools, where he is eagerly awaited by the children, makes personal appearances and through his “I am a Bahamian” poster which appears in tourist magazines, is becoming the ‘face’ of the Bahamian potcake, referred to as “Potcake Star Amigo.” Amigo has done much to raise awareness of the tragic plight of the homeless animals of the Bahamas and is our wonderful ‘weapon’ in our “Crusade Against Animal Suffering.”
Amigo was recently honored in Southampton New York by the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) and given the Ambassador of Goodwill Award, presented by movie star Alec Baldwin and in early December will receive the Hollywood Life Magazine Break Out Award, to be shown on the Showtime network.
Amigo is one “lucky dog!” and he is now taking his “wags to riches” story abroad, as the star of The Humane Society of the United States/Friends of Amigo Foundation collaboration the BeKIND Campaign.
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| Amigo with Tinkerbell at the Launch of the BeKIND Campaign, in East Hampton, New York |
The Adventures of Amigo, Stateside
The Humane Society of the United States/Friends of Amigo Foundation BeKIND Campaign, which features the BeKIND dog “cause collar” and matching wristbands for their owners, with Amigo as the official ‘posterdog,’ was officially launched on 4th September, 2005 in East Hampton, New York at the summer home of HSGB Chairman, Frances Hayward. A star-studded event, it was attended by over two hundred including the famous “Tinkerbell!”
Hurricane Katrina had wrought its destruction only days before, giving the event a special urgency and meaning and both Wayne Pacelle, President of HSUS and Frances Hayward made heartfelt appeals on behalf of its animal victims.
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| Amigo with Frances Hayward and Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States |
Amigo the TV Star
Three days following the launch, Frances Hayward and Amigo appeared on CNN, causing a virtual stampede of orders - 30,000 cause collars being sold in just that one day!! There followed appearances on Fox News, and MSNBC with the result that close to 100,000 collars have already been sold, raising close to one quarter of a million dollars for the Humane Society’s Disaster Relief Fund.
It’s very clear that Amigo’s experience on ZNS and Cool 96 FM trained him well.
The "Amigo Express" — Amigo Rescues His Buddies
On Sunday, 2nd October, 2005, a 60 seat air conditioned touring coach designated “The Amigo Express” set off from the ARF facilities in East Hampton, New York carrying animal medical supplies, blankets, crates and food. The destination was Tylertown, Miss. where the The Humane Society of Louisiana had relocated after its shelter in New Orleans was destroyed. Its mission, to bring back dogs and cats rescued from the rubble of New Orleans. Every effort would be made to reunite them with their owners and if, unsuccessful, to place them for adoption.
The trip was funded by the sale of BeKIND wristbands donated to ARF and Amigo himself and Frances Hayward were part of the expedition. Three days later the caravan arrived at the Humane Society of Louisiana’s Katrina Relief Center and left with literally a busload of dogs and cats, making a triumphant return to ARF.
This was the first of what is hoped to be many hands on rescue efforts sponsored by BeKIND and Amigo is continuing his mission, which is to ‘give back.'
