Sir Jack and Frances Hayward

The Hayward canine 'family' consists entirely of feral dogs that Frances has literally rescued from the bush. The Haywards have had as many as sixteen dogs in residence at one time, all living in the house, sleeping in their bedroom which Frances describes as at one time being 'a sea of dog beds'.

One such example is 'Amigo' who was lucky enough to 'find' Frances as she drove out of the airport returning from a trip and  has gone on to stardom in the Bahamas as poster boy for the Humane Society and the ‘face’ of the Bahamian ‘potcake’ and is about to take his message abroad.

Prime Minister The Hon. Perry Christie, Bernadette Christie and Frances Hayward at the Humane Society Ball, March 2003.

Sir Jack, who, along with his father, Sir Charles Hayward was one of the founders of the City of Freeport and is chairman of the Grand Bahama Development Company, has been actively involved with the Humane Society since its inception in 1968. His company, the Grand Bahama Port Authority is one of the sponsors of the Society's spay/neuter programme (created in 2000 by Frances Hayward) as well as funding their sad task of animal control.  Sir Jack is actively involved in all facets of the Humane Society's operation and works closely with the Society in their efforts to obtain government and local community support.

The trio of two cows (Sassy and Wimpy), and the bull named Sweetie were in residence when HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the Hayward house for lunch during their Royal Visit to the Bahamas in March, 1995. The Hayward gardeners were dispatched to feed the bovines leaves throughout the meal so that their bellowing would not disrupt the festivities, but the dogs, who were not as fortunate, were taken to the Animal Clinic for the day, much to the Queen’s disappointment.

The most recent member of the family - a pig named 'Babyface' - was found after Hurricane Frances, making an appearance in the garden of a family who called in the Humane Society and ultimately ending up, to no one’s surprise, at "Chez Hayward" of course.

Sir Jack Hayward and Frances Singer-Hayward's latest contribution to the Humane Society is spearheading the effort to build a new, desperately needed shelter. Construction will begin shortly and it is hoped that this new building will help the Humane Society continue its noble task of trying to make Grand Bahama Island an "animal suffering-free zone."

Patron Involvement
Frances’ activism in the area of animal welfare in the Bahamas is legend and, in addition to her role as Patron of the Humane Society, she serves as its Chairman, taking a completely ‘hands on’ role in all of the issues and problems at hand.

Frances Hayward at ARF shelter in East Hampton, NY with one of the Bahamian beneficiaries of the "Puppy Lift"

In 1997 she initiated and completely underwrote the Spay/Neuter Campaign - offering free spay/neuters to anyone who could not afford it. Working with Canadian animal behaviourist William Grimmer, the duo produced an advertising/public relations effort entitled the “crusade against animal suffering on Grand Bahama Island,” stressing proper care and treatment of animals, and presenting eye catching posters with slogans that ‘get the message out.’ She ultimately found and rescued ‘Amigo’ who became the ‘poster boy’ of the campaign, going on to stardom in his own right.

In 2002 the Sister Shelter arrangement with the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) – on whose Board of Directors Frances serves - was put in place, ultimately facilitating the evacuation of animals from the Humane Society to East Hampton, New York after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

Frances feels very strongly that her "absolute calling in life" is her "crusade against animal suffering" and although it's an uphill battle, indeed, for both she and the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, it is very much a case of "one animal at a time - one less out there to suffer" - adhering to the Old Testament philosophy of "save one and save the world."