A month after the Esther Honey Foundation closed down on Rarotonga, the animal welfare charity has broken its silence to claim it was the victim of a high-level “conspiracy”, involving government, other bodies and former volunteers, to remove it from the island. The organisation says it was the victim of “local collusion” that saw Cook […]

Esther Honey to close down
The Esther Honey Foundation, which has offered free vet care on Rarotonga for 22 years, will close down this month. You can read the full story here

Vet takes break from life in the fast lane
New Zealand’s top female enduro rider is taking time out of her fast paced, adrenaline fuelled life and is offering her services as a vet to the Esther Honey animal clinic. You can read the full story here

Students learn to serve community
As part of Tereora College’s mission of developing excellence in citizenship: “Tangata Tiratira Tu”, school staff and students were involved in serving the Cook Islands community on Friday last week. Principal Tania Morgan said the day was students’ incentive to invest in the local community and the people who live in it. “The purpose of […]

Vet’s year off spent caring for animals…
A new senior veterinarian at the Esther Honey Foundation (EHF) clinic hails all the way from Poland, in Eastern Europe Planning to spend at least six months volunteering in Rarotonga, Alex Liska spent the last six months working voluntarily in Thailand; a place she says cannot be compared in any way with the Cook Islands […]

Cruelty case renews call for change
A dog taken to the Esther Honey Foundation (EHF) clinic with maggot-infested puncture wounds has reignited calls to reform animal welfare law to make penalties tougher for animal abuse and neglect in the Cook Islands. The dog that had “too many puncture wounds to count”, was brought in March 10, Jo Taylor-Kupu, Esther Honey Clinic […]
What is heartworm and why it so dangerous for dogs?
Heartworm is a parasite of dogs that is found most commonly in hot, humid areas. It can uncommonly affect other animals, including cats, but the disease is usually much less severe in this species. Heartworm does not spread dog to dog, but rather it is spread via mosquitoes that are infected with heartworm larvae. Mosquitoes […]

Sponsor sought to help fight fatal disease
Esther Honey is seeking a generous sponsor to help them conduct blood tests on dogs. The animal welfare foundation has been overwhelmed with people wanting their dogs checked for heartworm. The CI News reported on Tuesday that as many as half the dogs on Rarotonga could be affected with the disease. Heartworm is fatal if […]

Barking pets dog Tupapa
In Tupapa, night after night, not far past Super Brown heading to town (as well as the back road around the same area), dogs are barking continually. Generally the reason they bark so much is because one is on heat and the others probably haven’t been taken to the animal clinic to be “fixed”. And […]

Check reveals dog health issue
The Esther Honey Foundation is urging dog owners to have their animals checked following the discovery of a heartworm in a dog that was being checked for export to New Zealand. Clinic manager Jo Taylor-Kupu said during a routine veterinary health check required for the exportation of animals to other countries, Esther Honey vets tested […]