Esther Honey Foundation

"We made history here in the Cook Islands with the introduction of the gas anesthesia machine. It is the first time a device of this type has been used on animals in Rarotonga and certainly any of the developing countries of the Pacific... So we can be proud of providing the island people with the country's only domestic animal facility as well as the safest anesthetic they have ever seen."
Dr. Byron Maas, October 6, 1995

The Esther Honey Foundation from the beginning... ~ A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit. ~ Greek Proverb

Starting an Animal Clinic from Half-way Around the World February 4, 2011 " We have always credited the inspiration provided by Honey, the brilliant Raro dog, for bringing EHF veterinary services to the Cook Islands. EHF was founded in 1994 following my 1993 holiday in the Cook Islands when I was befriended by a magnetic golden dog... Read the rest of the story
The Esther Honey Foundation, Inc. (EHF) was founded by US tourist and animal advocate Cathy Sue Ragan-Anunsen in 1994 following a 1993 holiday in the Cook Islands. While in Rarotonga, Ms. Ragan-Anunsen befriended a Rarotongan dog named “Honey” and learned that there were no veterinary services in the country for its thousands of cats and dogs. (According to the local anti-cruelty group representative in 1993, there were "6,000 dogs and 8,000 cats" on Rarotonga.) Ragan-Anunsen returned to her home in Oregon and, with the help of her colleagues, friends and family, began to assemble the necessary components to establish the Cook Islands' only veterinary hospital. *To maintain* services, a system would be required to provide: - A continuing rotation of veterinary professionals and support staff, - A stream of replacement veterinary drugs, supplies and equipment. Additional requirements included the following: - Affordable services available to all islanders - Whether homeless or with guardians, all animals would receive comparable care - No healthy animal would be euthanized - Humane education based on a respect for all life In 1995, there were no program models to follow. No email for inexpensive and quick communication between the home office and the program site. Phone and fax fees from the US to the Cook Islands exceeded $5.00 (USD) per minute. After returning to Oregon, the first fax sent to the island was to inquire about the starting point for building a veterinary clinic. EHF:** "what veterinary equipment and supplies already exist on Rarotonga to establish a clinic?" Reply: "Forceps". *The challenge was to create, from scratch, an ongoing veterinary care delivery system for patients who were halfway around the globe.* Limited financial resources and a determination to provide care led to the creation of EHF's unique system for providing service. The EHF VET TREK® model was developed and the name trademarked with the US patent department. Finally, in 1995, The Esther Honey Foundation Animal Clinic, named in honor of Ragan-Anunsen's grandmother, Esther, and the golden Raro canine, Honey, opened its doors to the Rarotonga community. EHF introduced its comprehensive plan to improve the animal health conditions throughout the Cook Islands in large part by humanely and purposefully reducing the number of unwanted dogs and cats through spay/neuter and humane education.
First Years
Soon after EHF's arrival, Cook Islander and animal advocate, Tom Wichman kindly introduced the EHF team to key government officials as agreed. (EHFLetterof Agreement1995) Understandings regarding work permits, immigration, visas, importation and customs protocols were established between the government and foundation that remain essential to EHF's ability to provide service. The small house rented by the Esther Honey Foundation served as both hospital and volunteer residence. Cook Islands volunteers, Tom Wichman and Elmah McBirney (on the first Newsletter cover below) and others contributed needed supplies for the furnished residence and local skilled tradesmen generously gave their time and talents too, to help turn a dilapidated motorcycle shed on the property into a new surgery suite. Dr. Barry Nicholls, his wife, Anna and newly appointed clinic manager, Jared Sather, served as the second clinic team four months after the hospital opened. In addition to surgeries, consultations and education, this stalwart team tackled the never-ending mounds of clinic wash using only a garden hose and wringer washer. Soon after the foundation's arrival, EHF VET TREKS® were created. Volunteers boarded planes and freighters to provide veterinary, including spay/neuter and education, services to animals on remote islands who, without EHF, would never receive care. For several EHF veterinarians, volunteering is a family affair. Dr. Nicholls' daughter, Brooke Nicholls, joined him on one of his many return trips to the Cook Islands and served as a veterinary assistant during an EHF VET TREK AITUTAKI. Dr. Nicholls' son, Allen Graham, and several employees of Dr. Nicholls' Animal Medical Center Clinics, have also generously volunteered over the years. Dr. Duane Schaad, his wife Karen and their family members have also returned to the Cook Islands many times to contribute their expertise and skills. In addition, Dr. Schaad has kindly sponsored several Broadway Clinic employees to travel to Rarotonga to volunteer for EHF. In 2008, Brooke Nicholls returned to the Cook Islands to assist with EHF's 100th VET TREK on Mangaia. The foundation is currently organizing its 106th VET TREK.
15 YEARS OF SERVICE Benefiting... Animals, Volunteers, Communities, Tourism and Local Businesses
► EHF's founder, Ragan-Anunsen, recruited 230 veterinarians and thousands of support staff volunteers to provide service to the Cook Islands animals and communities. ► The foundation and its supporters continued to provide all of the drugs, supplies and equipment required to treat more than 2,600 patients annually. ► EHF treated more than 27,717 patients, including spaying and neutering 11,853 cats and dogs. ► Volunteers, too, benefited from the foundation's programs and the unique learning experiences they offer. Dr. Jay Kerr, incoming president & current member of the California Veterinary Medical Association Board of Governors, recently returned from volunteering for EHF. Dr. Kerr wrote, “I whole-heartedly recommend EHF to anyone looking for a great way to use their veterinary skills & enjoy a wonderful travel experience. The EHF experience is an opportunity to work with a dedicated and international group of volunteers & be truly gratified that you are helping the animals of Rarotonga." Ms. Ragan-Anunsen's dedication combined with the generosity of individuals, organizations, veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies and animal advocates, resulted in ► more than $3.7 million US dollars in veterinary goods and services being delivered to the Esther Honey Foundation Animal Clinic since 1995. The foundation continues to provide skilled and compassionate veterinary care, emergency services, humane education, humane population management and shelter to more than two-thousand five hundred Cook Islands animals each year. Ms. Ragan-Anunsen serves as the foundation's CEO and Board President working full time with the Clinic Director and the EHF Board of Directors, Dr. Barry Nicholls Dr. Byron Maas Dr. Kim Erbes Dr. Tonia Norton Susan Ponder CPA EHF is one of the longest running and most successful island nation veterinary services in the world thanks to the contributions of caring people from around the globe. Over the past few years, new programs very similar to the EHF model developed over 15 years ago, been initiated by other organizations. We are especailly heartend by those started by past volunteers who used what they learned while volunteering for EHF as their inspiration. The idea of people combining volunteering and travel is now so popular a new word has been coined: "volun-tourism". The Esther Honey Foundation programs were recently named one of the world’s ‘best 100 volunteer vacations to enrich your life' in the National Geographic’s 100 Best Vacations series for its work in the Cook Islands and Bora Bora.
Honey & Friends, Island Ambassadors
According to the Lonely Planet guidebook on Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, "The oldest archaeologically dated item in the Cook Islands is a dog skull dated at 2,300 years old, found on the island of Pukapuka." Many traditional Cook Islands dogs appear to be Dr. Seuss-like creatures (See Discover Magazine on our site's News and Articles Page Click Here) with full sized bodies on stubby little Dachshund-like legs. Their dispositions are extraordinarily sweet and they are, by necessity, highly resourceful. These intelligent, charming animals love to interact with the tourists and assume the role of welcoming ambassadors for the islands. Dogs, such as Honey, who are connected with a tourist accommodation, learn to assess each new motel guest to determine which parties are most likely to provide dog snacks and meals during their stay. The congenial companions form bonds that last for the customary two week vacation stay and as the second week draws to a close, the dogs are back to greeting the motel van to secure the next two weeks' meals. As evidenced by the high number of letters and emails EHF receives from tourists (Please see examples on this website's Home Page) Ragan-Anunsen's experience with Honey during her 1993 vacation is typical of other island visitors both then and now. After arriving at the motel, one of the first friendly faces to greet Ragan-Anunsen was Honey's. The Raro dog escorted the woman to her room and soon became a constant companion. Each morning, Honey walked with her new friend to the road that encircles the island and waited for the arrival of the island bus. After each day of enjoying island activities, Honey was waiting to accompany her temporary guardian across the same road to watch the sunset. Strolling along the ocean's edge, they waded together in the warm waves until nestling down on their blanket to watch the sunset. Honey carefully, but confidently, took her place at the blanket's edge and the two quietly watched the sun ease into the Pacific Ocean. Honey stood guard at the door throughout the night and joined Ragan-Anunsen in the morning for a breakfast of fresh papayas and coconut. No tourism campaign in the world could be more effective in creating a lifetime connection between visitors and the islands, than the natural bond established by the Raro dogs and cats.
15 YEARS OF SERVICE in collaboration with our extraordinary partners, volunteers & supporters
Cathy Sue Ragan-Anunsen shared the following message with attendees of an EHF fundraising event: "The Esther Honey Foundation was inspired by one brilliant, engaging, golden dog, who touched one person. I am honored to be that person and to have been able to respond to Honey, her friends and her island community’s need. My contribution was and remains only the starting point. If not for the thousands of people over the past 15 years who learned of a need and instead of continuing on their way, asked, “How can I help?” the effort to bring care where none existed would have ended with my return to Oregon. Because of this lovely mix of incredible, like-minded people, the concept of establishing a clinic half-way around the world evolved from an unlikely and optimistic vision to reality. Charlie Powell, Communication Director at Washington State University Veterinarian School, responded to my call with an offer to “write about your project’s needs in my newsletter.” Veterinarians, Dr. Byron Maas, Dr. Barry Nicholls and Jared Sather placed their lives “on hold” to travel to an unfamiliar country to provide service to animals without access to care. Skilled Cook Islanders joined the effort to turn an old motorcycle shed into a surgery suite. Animal advocacy organizations, pharmaceutical companies and other businesses, individual donors, and volunteers have given their funds, products, time, skills and their hearts to keep EHF programs growing, to ensure that someone who can help alleviate their suffering is there when a dog or cat is crushed, poisoned, shot, sick or abandoned. Talented writers like Hsin-yi Cohen, Tarah Campi and other media professionals such as Erin Hirn of May Street Productions (Who flew their film crew to Rarotonga to document EHF’s efforts to save dogs targeted for destruction) have contributed to the more than 100 international magazine and newspaper articles published and documentaries produced about EHF. These projects ignite interest in our work and in the plight of island nation dogs all over the world. Veterinarians, vet students and interns travel to the clinic at their own expense to contribute and to improve their skills. In some cases, their experience with Esther Honey will change their life course. The growing level of support from businesses and individuals, locally and world-wide, confirm that the number of those asking, “How can I help?” continues to expand. It is gratifying to be a part of an organization initiated by one powerful little dog and continued by a diverse coalition of extraordinary people who form the heart and soul of the Esther Honey Foundation." Thank you
Contact
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"THE PROGRAM IS A GREAT SUCCESS..."
"HSI (Humane Society International) has informally published the proceedings of the Island Nations Conference and in this document, four organizations report on successful programs. The one which will be of most interest to you is the first. Cathy Sue Ragan-Anunsen founded the Esther Honey Foundation in 1994 to provide veterinary care for the animals of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The program is a great success, reaching out to other neighboring islands and making a huge difference for the animals. Not only has her project served as a model for others, but she has been incredibly generous in sharing information and giving encouragement to others who want to establish a similar program elsewhere. She is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished by one caring, committed individual." Janet Frake, Humane Society International _________________________________
THEN 1994

THEN August 1995 Excerpt from tourist's letter regarding treatment of animals on Rarotonga
"I will be contacting the tourist authorities responsible for promoting Rarotonga both in the UK and in New Zealand and highlighting to them your disgraceful conduct with respect to animals on this island and advising them of the unsuitability of Rarotonga for any tourist who cares about animals." To read full text of letter: Large file Click Here
THEN September 1995
►THEN: Statesman Journal September 1995 Salem woman starts vet clinic on Cook Islands
A DECADE 2004
In a 2004 interview in The Cook Islands Herald, Cook Islander Tom Wichman discussed the animal health improvements that he had witnessed since Esther Honey arrived in the Cook Islands almost a decade earlier. Excerpts from that 2004 interview follow: ►Before EHF: Sick animals, no veterinary care, shootings and bad publicity “Eleven years ago,” Tom said, “cats and dogs were breeding and many were sick and dying because there was no treatment available. The police started shooting dogs. If they (the dogs) didn’t die immediately, they ran and the police would shoot them again or beat them to death to finish the job. It caused us very bad publicity with the tourists, many of whom were animal lovers.” ►2004: Improved care & health Now there is a very big difference. “People take better care of their animals. When an animal is sick, they know who to call, Esther Honey. We come and pick the animals up.” Good for tourism “We receive letters from tourists, saying how good the work we are doing is. It is very good for Rarotonga’s image. Tourists tell me it is really sad how other countries treat their animals.” Humane Education changing attitudes Tom pointed to EHF’s Humane Education program and the role it has played in changing attitudes. “From the beginning, EHF volunteers have gone into the schools to talk with the children” about compassionate and respectful animal care. “There is a new generation growing up,” he explained, “We teach them that animals have feelings and need to be fed and watered every day not just now and then."

NOW 2009
Statesman Journal 2009 Foundation improves lives of island animals
NOW 2010
►NOW: Statesman Journal September 2010 Veterinary Foundation Serves Animals in Tropics
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION for EHF
► EHF named one of the 100 best volunteer vacations to enrich your life Cook Islands News May 21 2009 EHF one of world’s ‘best 100’ Esther Honey Foundation programs were named one of the world’s ‘best 100 volunteer vacations to enrich your life in the National Geographic’s 100 Best Vacations series. Author Pam Grout said that the foundation, one of the first, if not the first organisation to recruit veterinary volunteers to provide ongoing service, was selected for its Cook Islands and Bora Bora VET TREK programs ‘partly because of their unique opportunity to give’. EHF is listed alongside organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute and volunteer opportunities to rebuild monasteries in Mongolia and save sharks in South Africa.
NOW "Volun-Tourism" 2010
►"The Esther Honey Foundation, founded by president and CEO Cathy Sue Ragan-Anunsen, was honored for offering one of the world’s 100 best volunteer vacations to enrich your life in National Geographic’s 100 Best Vacations series in 2009. The foundation uses “volun-tourism” to humanely control animal populations and has provided veterinary and education services for South Pacific nations since 1995. The program is grateful for the UO’s international internship program IE3, which has sent interns to the Cook Islands clinic since IE3’s inception in 1996."
NOW Recent tourist's letter regarding EHF's impact on the Cook Islands' animal population
"My husband & I have just returned home to Australia from a holiday in the Cook Islands. I conduct research into the human-companion animal relationship and companion animal animal welfare. As part of this, I work closely with a number of animal shelters here. This means of course, I can never resist the opportunity to visit welfare facilities whenever I travel. I was honoured to visit the EHF hospital and spent some time with Gregg, one of your volunteers. I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the volunteer staff and the level of care provided for the animals. My husband and I both commented that the animals on the Island seemed surprisingly healthy and well looked after compared to other communities. I think this is a testament to the positive impact that the Foundation has had over the years. Warmest wishes and our congratulations on making such an obvious difference to the gentle dogs of Raro and the Islands." Dr. Linda Marston PhD
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