Dottie Atwater

Hummmm....maybe they insist on the name of the protected witness so they can "do away" with him/her.

No doubt Martinelli thought he'd skate through this whole thing unscathed. Now I imagine he's plenty worried. What a great thing it would be for Panama to see him behind bars for 21 years! And they continue to go after the many other crooks. Good going, Panama!

I never buy from El Rey or Romero unless I need something I can't find elsewhere.

"... his delicate heart and blood pressure conditions..." Hummm, it wasn't reported that he had those "conditions" while in prison in the US, and he compared prison in Panama "5-star" compared to the conditions in the US prison. Now he refuses to take blood pressure medications. Why? Could it be because he doesn't HAVE high blood pressure? And if he does, and refuses to take the medication, he should not be allowed to leave the trial and be taken to the hospital. He and his sleazebag lawyers are trying every delay tactic in the book. What a waste of taxpayer monies and a waste of the court's time and resources! Get him in prison already!

Martinelli's wife shouted at the Judge? She should be charged with contempt and barred from the courtroom.

"Meanwhile, in the name of Martinelli's defense, Luis Eduardo Camacho González announced that they would lodge a complaint against Panama if Martinelli's immunity as a member of Parlacen was not respected, "... What? He recently tried to resign from Parlacen, although he was not successful because he did not follow proper procedure. This gets nuttier and nuttier. Martinelli is trying anything and everything to escape justice. I sure hope he doesn't succeed.

Hahahahahhaha is right!

Thank you, Bud. People have actually seen acts of dogs being dumped. I'm certainly distressed about it. And it's also obvious because of the more and more "strange" ones in the area. The "reason?" People get tired of their dog(s) and either can't or don't try to find another home for them. I and only a couple of others try to get dogs from the street and sterilize them. Friends recently caught a pregnant female that did NOT want to be caught. It took diligence on their part. She had 7 puppies the day after they managed to get her. We will sterilize the mama in July and all the puppies on August 26th. The person who is taking care of them will keep the mama and one of the puppies. Then to find homes for the six puppies. Potential owners will be vetted, because everyone loves cute puppies--but often, when they grow up, the people lose interest and no longer want the adult dog. I'm about overloaded here. With no competent vet in the entire area, I'm the one people call about injured or sick animals and animal abuse. Of course I won't give up. I just wish more people, especially expats, would get involved in working to get homeless dogs to the clinics in this area and would also report instances of animal abuse--and follow up to see that the law is enforced. Most people just say, "Oh, too bad," and don't bother to do anything about it.

June 24, 2018 - 41 animals were spayed/neutered by Dr. Andres Tello, our wonderful veterinarian. Plus he also performed several other procedures, including repair of a hernia, and several exams. http://spaypanama-chiriqui.org/117th.html A big problem has developed in the Volcan area. More and more dogs are being brought here and dumped. I used to recognize every dog I saw on the street. Now I see skinny females in heat (who will give birth to puppies that will also suffer), females with big teats that already have puppies, and unsterilized males with wounds from fighting over females in heat. Please! Does anyone have suggestions for a solution to this problem? ------------------------------ The July 22nd clinic is already fully booked and we are taking reservations for August 12. The August 12th clinic is almost half full now. We will have a second clinic in August, on the 26th. Please see my web page for pictures and information about three dogs that I recently rescued, one of which needs a loving home. http://spaypanama-chiriqui.org/117th.html Big thanks to Dr. Andres Tello, to everyone who donates whether financial or otherwise, and to those who bring their animals to be sterilized. PS - If you have any old lightweight blankets, please donate them for use in the recovery areas! I used to have plenty but over time a lot have disappeared. Thank you! Dottie

Well, this certainly (?) won't be finalized before his trial on June 25th. The weasel will try anything and everything to escape justice.

Apparently while Martinelli was incarcerated in the US, he didn't have any of the "health problems" that mysteriously cropped up as soon as he stepped foot into Panama. This is a ploy all the high-level criminals use as their "stay out of jail" card. A doctor claims that stress is a big problem with hypertension. Martinelli didn't claim stress while incarcerated in the US, even though he says, "...during the year he was imprisoned in Miami he was locked up "like a dog without being able to read, but I stayed like a man", and considered a five-star hotel El Renacer prison, where he is detained after his extradition, in comparison with his "confinement" in the United States.

Thank you, John!

I imagine you have to keep dogs away from the area until it's dry, but is the residue harmful to dogs when it's dry?

On May 20, 2018 at our 116th clinic, Dr. Tello spayed/neutered 47 dogs and cats. In addition, Dr. Tello performed several other procedures, including amputation of a dog's leg. http://spaypanama-chiriqui.org/116th.html See the information on my web page about the new law that could mean prison for animal abusers. They recently held a big training session for the Bocas del Toro area about preventing abuse of animals. In a picture, slide shows were presented and dozens of people were in attendance. Also good news is that the corregidurias, political appointees who have no real power, are being replaced by Justices of the Peace. They have more broad-reaching authority, including the power to levy fines and actually order people to jail. The clinics are a full-time job for me, but the work is a project from my heart, something I can't NOT do. I'm still bothered greatly when I see a suffering animal, or a female dog with big milk-filled teats. It's difficult for me to internalize the fact that we can't save them all. But we are making progress, both with the number of dogs and cats spayed/neutered and the fact that Panama is now serious about preventing animal abuse. As I created the web page for this 116th clinic, I happened to look back at the 8th clinic, which was on March 16, 2008-- exactly two years after we began the clinics. I was really excited to have rented the building that I still rent today. It is ideal for our purposes. http://spaypanama-chiriqui.org/Eighth.html. It is a very long web page but interesting to see where we were then and where we are now. As of that date, we had sterilized 378 animals, and to date the number is 4,417. Among the changes since then, the volunteers are all different today. In that web page, I mentioned the costs of certain medications and supplies. Like everything else, those costs are much higher now. And my phone numbers and email address are not the same as then. Also different from the earlier days: I walked door to door all over town each month, handing out literature about the benefits of sterilization and trying to sign people up for appointments. After I was able to stop doing that, then for a long time I put up 60 notices all over town each month, inviting people to register for the next clinic. Now, for a long time, it has been just word of mouth and clinics are full two months in advance. Good news in a way, and in another way, while people wait, puppies and kittens are being born to unsterilized dogs and cats. We will have two clinics in August to try to help this situation. Big thanks to Dr. Andres Tello, to all our volunteers, contributors whether financial or otherwise, and to the people who bring their animals to be sterilized. It is heartwarming to witness so many Panamanians who dearly love their pets! Big hugs, Dottie

The training in this post was in Bocas del Toro province. I wonder when/if they will have training in Chiriqui.

What they can do at the hospital in Volcan is very limited. For anything except the most minor issue, they will send the person to the hospital in Bugaba or to Hospital Regional.

Desde 5 de mayo, entró en vigencia la modificación del artículo 421 del Código Penal de Panamá, la cual establece castigos para quienes maltraten a los animales. "Quien mediante actos de crueldad, cause la muerte o lesiones gravemente a un animal usado como mascota, será sancionado con penas de cárcel de 18 a 24 meses o su equivalente en días-multa o arresto en fines de semana", se lee en el artículo. En Panamá ya existe la Ley 70 de 2012 de Protección a los Animales Domésticos, donde se contemplaban sanciones, mas no penas para aquellos que afecten a algún animal de forma agravante. Para hacer valer el derecho de los animales, las denuncias deben presentarse en el Ministerio Público, despachos de Justicia de Paz o marcando al 311. Google translation: Since May 5, the amendment of Article 421 of the Penal Code of Panama came into force, which establishes punishments for those who mistreat animals. "Who through acts of cruelty, cause death or serious injury to an animal used as a pet, will be punished with prison terms of 18 to 24 months or its equivalent in days-fine or arrest on weekends," reads the Article. In Panama there is already Law 70 of 2012 on Protection of Domestic Animals, which provided for sanctions, but not penalties for those that affect an animal in an aggravating manner. To enforce the right of animals, complaints must be filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office, Justice of the Peace offices or by dialing 311. ------------------------------ Does anyone know what is a "Justice of the Peace?" (Probably the correduria.) Dottie

Apparently not true any longer. My birthday is in May. I remember when the renewal was the last day in May. However, this time, my renewal was due on May 12th. I went on May 9th to renew, and the renewal date is May 9th, 2020. If I had gone on May 1st, I wonder if the renewal would have been May 1, 2020?

Long ago I bought neem at a store in David that stocked organic gardening supplies. Darn it, I can't remember the name or where it was/is. Does anyone know where to buy organic gardening supplies? Thanks!

John, I've done the "walk out" at other stores, DoIt Center for one, for something I "need" but not right away. But at PriceSmart, everything I have in my cart is something I need right then that I can't find elsewhere. Like 4 to 6 bags of Kirkland dog food. (I buy the 20-lb bags, not the 40, because I can lift those!)

Despite my complaints that PriceSmart is often out of the things I'd LIKE to buy regularly, I'm grateful they are in David. At least I can buy some items that I can't find elsewhere. But as often happens, they had no ground turkey logs (which have increased in price when they DO have them), no fresh or frozen turkey wings...plus several other things on my shopping list. Yes, Bud, those 300 people were trying to check out with most of the cajas closed. My big complaint is that they have no concern for customer service. Yesterday (Wednesday) at 1:00 pm, there were 3 cajas open and 6 closed. People in lines for the 3 open cajas stretched all the way back to the refrigerated section. It wasn't that way in the past, but now it is the norm. And I try my best NOT to shop at PriceSmart near a payday or a holiday. The situation is even more horrible at those times. I don't know if this is within Sissy Blake's "job description," but if so, could she please pass the word up to the powers that be? I'm not the only one who has complaints about the long line and closed cajas. Whatever, though, I guess we're a "captive audience."

I have a sick-looking avocado tree. (Grafted, bought in Volcan, March of 2016. It's about 10 feet tall now.) Please see the attached picture of some of the leaves. If any of you expert gardeners know how to treat this situation, please advise! I have sprayed with a neem solution twice. I don't find any sign of insects, but something is obviously wrong. Thank you!

Yes, and her nickname is very appropriate!

45 animals were spayed/neutered by Dr. Andres Tello,our wonderful veterinarian. http://spaypanama-chiriqui.org/115th.html This brings our total to 4,370 dogs and cats sterilized. Plus he also performed several other lengthy procedures, including removal of a venereal tumor from a male dog. See the details in my web page. This time we were thankful to have had a lot of no-shows. Otherwise we'd have been at the clinic until 10:00 pm instead of 6:40. "Dra. Death" in Volcan had struck again. The owner unknowingly took the dog with the venereal tumor to her before our clinic. She supposedly injected "tumor reducing drugs" over a priod of time. The owner ended up paying her $260 for nothing, except perhaps having his dog injected with toxic chemicals. The tumor was huge, and Dr. Tello removed it surgically for a cost of $60. The May 20th clinic is already fully booked and we are taking reservations for June 24th. For appointments in June, call 6640-3171. Because the clinics are filling up so fast that we have to schedule animals far in advance, we will try to play "catch up" and we will have two clinics in August: the 12th and 26. Regarding the photo albums: I am FURIOUS. First Picasa Albums quit, and all of my previous Picasa albums were gone! Then I started using Flickr; now they have been sold to SmugMug and my previous Flickr albums are gone! I've spent hours searching for a simple photo album to use. (I tried google photos but was unable to include captions for each photo. If anyone can teach me how to use google photos to create an album with a heading and a caption below each photo, I will be VERY grateful. But--For the photo album for this clinic, go to: https://albumizr.com/skins/mrburn5/index.php?key=81um Sorry, I couldn't figure out a way to title the album or set it up any way except for a slide show. I did manage to put captions below each photo. The good news is that in the slide show, the photos are large. As always, thanks to Dr. Andres Tell, our wonderful volunteers, to everyone who contributed whether financially or otherwise, and to everyone who brought their animals to be sterilized and/or returned to good health. Dottie