Here is our new mom warming up her pups after their bath this morning, such a good mom. This must be black dog week, out of the thirteen puppies there is only one white one.
We are so looking forward to moving ahead this year. With all the rescue groups and people that we are working with now, we can get more done and we're hoping that we can get some help with this. Already we have some wonderful monthly donators, and it makes a huge difference.
So many people ask me what they can do to help, well it's really easy. If we can get enough people donating $10.00 a month we will have a budget to work with. Ten people giving up two starbuck coffees every month can buy enough dog food for a week, or three spays or four neuters, or twelve vaccines, or five distemper tests, or four parvo tests, or two and a half medium crates, or ten bottles of specialty shampoos, or two bottles of de-wormer, or five dog rides to the airport, or five health certificates, and on and on. Every penny goes to the dogs, there is no administration, we pay Marcelino's salary (he works at the house and helps with the dogs). IT'S ALL FOR THE DOGS.
We've been home three nights and already have two momma's with their pups. There is no where else for these dogs to go. We will find homes for the pups and spay the moms. Each spayed female is one step closer to a better life for dogs in Mexico. If you already donate, ask a friend to do it too, and ask their friends to do it as well. Ten dollars a month and we can make a huge difference together.
I forgot to mention in this blog yesterday that the Isla Animals Website is set up to do monthly donations. If you scroll down to the very bottom of the front page there is a donate button, click on that and then there are instructions on how to continue. Thank you everybody, in advance, who donates. It makes all the difference.
We are setting up for a big spay and neuter clinic today and getting ready for all the street puppies that we find.
We haven't finished with the tally because Jeff is still working at the music festival but as soon as we have numbers I will post them. We had over sixty runners thanks to all of you wonderful people who signed up to sponsor school kids. And for you generous supporters who sponsored teams of five, it added so much excitement. Unfortunately we couldn't fill all the teams but next year people will have a better idea of what's going on.
The whole event was fun and involved the entire community. From the island government to the police department to the Navy that allowed us to run on the runway. We had help from the Red Cross, they sent their ambulance to be on standby. We had runners of all ages from many different countries. For the first year we couldn't have asked for more.
Into this
It's a great gift idea for the person who has everything. You can buy them a monthly donation to Isla Animals. I will make sure that every penny that you donate is put to work. It's the most wonderful thing to know that we can count on a certain amount of money coming in each month. It allows me to plan ahead in this work that is other wise, to say the least, financially chaotic.
And if you are looking for something different you can donate a certain amount of spays and neuters in someone's name. The surgery averages out to $20.00 an animal and it's the bottom line solution to overpopulation and suffering of animals in Mexico.
Donate and then let me know by email bayfirestd@aol.com so I can make sure that a Christmas card is sent to your friend or family member. They will love it.
Author Archive
BUFF’S BETTER
Buff is finally getting a bit better every day. Yesterday I gave him a bath and he loved it and today I had him up on all four legs. He could take a step if I supported him. Yahoo I’m so glad that he has stopped dragging himself around, he was rubbing his legs raw.
Some other good news is the progress with Missy. From the beginning she was the shyest of our pups. We could pick her up if we cornered her but she was terrified. The good thing was that she never bit or even snarled. Well we sent out the last two pups, Roz and Davie who were in her kennel and she got really lonely. I think she decided that she better try that “people thing” if she wanted any attention. She is coming along beautifully.
CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR BUFF
Last year, in March, we had a spay and neuter campaign at the Guatalupana. During lunch one day I noticed a group of children running around with two very small puppies. When I looked closer, the pups were obviously sick so, of course, I asked the kids if I could take the pups to my house. Sadly, by the time I got them home, the white one, who we called Mini, was unconscious. I managed to get some fluids in her and after 24 hours I was pretty sure she would live. The other one, who we named Buff, was stronger and survived as well. 
That was a year ago. Since then whenever I visit the area Buff is always glad to see me and he looks healthy and happy. But last Monday his family called me to say that he was very sick. By the time I got to their house Buff couldn’t walk. In the last month we’ve seen two cases of tic paralysis so I was sure that this was yet another case. I gave them the appropriate medicine and told them to call me if things didn’t improve. Two days later they called again to say he was worse. When I arrived, it was an awful sight, he was lying in the dirt covered with ants and mud and he’d wounded his left eye by banging his head on a log while trying to get up. It broke my heart. We brought Buff to my house, cleaned him up, put him on IV fluids and started inject-able meds. 
That was five days ago, some days he was better and some he was worse, but through it all he wagged his tail every time he saw me. Today he’s finally moving his legs a bit and if we position him properly he can even sit for a while.
Then his owner showed up and Buff perked up even more. We are hopeful that he’ll continue to improve. He’s definitely staying here with us until he can walk. We have a perfect place for him where the breeze comes through the pillars and keeps him cool.
MY KIND OF DAY
Last weekend I went to an area called the Guatalupana. The government on the island has been absconding with property that belongs to the islanders. So a large group of Islenos squatted on a big piece of property mid island on the Carrabean side. It has been a few years now and they still don’t have water, electricity or sewage. Most of the homes are shacks and many of the homeowners have dug wells or bought large water tanks that sit in their front yards. 
Of course there are dogs everywhere and when we have spay and neuter clinics we go there to pick up animals. And when we get donations we go there with de-wormer, collars, vitamins, food and medicine if needed. I would love sometime to be able to vaccinate all the animals but we will need a bigger budget for that as most of our funds go to the sterilization clinics. 
The children are wonderful and after many, many visits the people are used to seeing me hang around making a big fuss over their dogs. 
FOLLOWING UP
When we do spay and neuter clinics it’s so important to check on the animals that have had surgery. Many of the islanders don’t have cars and most taxis won’t pick people with dogs up, especially when the animal has a big open wound. So for a few days after the clinics we visit the animals to make sure they are healing well. 
It was a good thing that Bonnie checked on one pup because the pup was infected and needed to be restitched. But there was an extra bonus for me because I got some added puppy time. Across the street there was a litter of five little beauties. We took them home for a bath and deworming and we are going back when I get some vaccinations so they stay healthy.
You should have seen me on the back of Pepe’s motto with a pup in each arm and my helmet, which was too big, flapping in the wind behind me and no hands to do anything about it. I wish we had taken that picture.
ONE HUNDRED MORE
Peace, with help and supplies from CANDI and Isla Animals organized a spay and neuter clinic on Isla Mujeres from April 9 to April 13. What a great week. We did exactly one hundred cats and dogs and a few special cases. 
As usual we picked some of the dogs up at the Gautalupana where the kids always help and we had great volunteers at the clinic.
We spayed my Momma Chima and her four pups. Momma decided to recuperate in one of my flower pots.
Spay and Neuter Clinics
Wow, it has been the month of spay and neuters. With the help of CANDI, (Cats and Dogs International) Isla Animals did three days in Puerto Juarez where the ferry boat from Isla Mujeres lands on the Cancun side. We did 80 cats and dogs with a minimal amount of people and fuss. It was wonderful. 
We have started to invite the dog and cat owners into the recovery room to help care for their pets. It’s a great educational tool as we have them cut nails and clean ears and watch us make a big fuss over every animal that comes in. Jannet and Fredrique joined us from Isla and ran a tight recovery room. And we were really lucky to have Colette and Alex there to keep things running smoothly. A special thanks to Pamela from Puerto Juarez, she did a lot of work setting things up.
BIRD POOP LUCK FOR BUTTERCUP
Here’s what happened. Jeff and I took the ferry to the mainland to send Buttercup to Calgary for the wonderful forever home that she deserves. Just as we were getting on the back of the boat where you have to sit if you have a dog, a big bird pooped right on my head. It was so disgusting and smelled like fish. I tried to wash in the bathroom but there was no soap and no paper of any kind. That’s why my hair looks wet in the picture. Any way I’ve heard that it’s supposed to be good luck even though I’m sure someone just made that up to make people feel better while they are standing there with bird poop on their head. If it is good luck then I hope it goes to Buttercup so she finds the most magnificent home.
The other news is about the three gorgeous fluff balls that we picked up at the park so they wouldn’t be taken by the city. Well the owners showed up today and we had to give them back but if the owners continue to let them run around unprotected we’ll pick them up again. There’s no rest for bad dog owners.
WE FOUND TOTO
I received a call from a woman who kept finding a little black dog on the wrong side of the fence around the Selina Grande, which is a small salt water lake in the middle of the island. She told me that every day she would lift the dog over the fence away from the water where he’d be safe. Then the next morning she’d find him back there. Perplexed she asked around looking for the owner. Sadly she found him and the story is that the owner doesn’t want the dog anymore. He put the dog by the water so he was trapped and couldn’t come home again. As sad and awful as that sounds, I’m thrilled it happened because now Toto is here with us and we are going to love him up.
But wait, there’s more, it must be short fuzzy dog week because this morning Tiffany called me to say that the three little dogs that live in the park in front of her house were going to be picked up by the city. The owner of these dogs denied that he was their owner so they were labeled street dogs and that is not a good thing for island dogs. Wow are they beautiful and they haven’t even had a bath yet and yes, these are three different dogs.
THE BOW WOW CLUB
There has been a wonderful group of people that have supported Isla Animals for years. Cheryl House has created this group and stayed with it to help us save pups and spay and neuter every cat and dog we can get our hands on. This year has been one of the best as far as donations and we are so grateful and pleased with the work it has allowed us to do. Below is the list of donors and the beautiful dog that has sadly passed but instigated such generosity. His name was Dr. Zhivago. Thank you all for your support.
2011 ROSIE’S BOW WOW CLUB
The club for 2011 raised a total of $2,950.
In memory of Dr. Zhivago
Extra Large Bones $300 & Over
Cheryl House. In Memory of Rosie
Jan & Terry Gerken (Moby)
Large Bones. $100 to $299
Lael House Wojcik, Honoring – Rookie
Julie House Presa, Honoring – Trucco
James & Kristin Yasord. In Memory of Vago
John & Jean Epler
Chris & Kim Cannon
Roxane Osantowski, Honoring – Tequila – adopted from Plaza Almendros(AKA, Oreo, Patches)
Kelly Ragsdale
Valerie Kordyban
David & Karen Childers
Ron & Diane Seals
CRAZY HOUSE
Ha we are still a crazy house, full to capacity. And we have our new babes that I just posted, they seem so small compared to the rest of my pups. I bring them inside in a box to feed them. The box picture is blurry because they get so hungry and excited they never stay still.
Our bathtub babes are much better as well, they are going to be big dogs and already tower over some of the pups that are older than they are.
Even though there are a ton of pups I love this time when they all at least have two vaccinations.
