St. John is a special place, we all know.
There are things on the island you don't expect to see or experience. More than once, I've shaken my head, smiled, and said to myself, "What a cute little island." Now sometimes it's been a good thing that's happened, or a bad thing. But it's always a reminder St. John is unique.
Carolina Corral in Coral Bay is one of those things. Who'd expect to find horseback riding trails on such a small island, or a menagerie of goats, donkeys, dog and cats. And don't forget the native donkey-drawn wagon tour through Coral Bay.
The Corral is the labor of love of Dana Bartlett, but perhaps not for much longer. Late last year, she staged a fund raiser for the Corral because it takes lots of money to keep everybody fed and healthy and, now she frankly she told St. John Rotary, it's really getting tough.
The club is so concerned that a committee is going to help her with another fund raiser in April or May, according to a report of a recent Rotary meeting. "Proceeds from the event would be used to assist Dana to continue her animal rescue efforts which she is no longer able to fund without assistance," the club said.
On her own, Bartlett also manages the only large animal rescue center on the iusland – at her own expense. "The corral is the last hope for all of the horses in residence and most of the smaller animals too, having been abandoned by their owners or found themselves unwanted," she said.