Great Volunteers = Great Campaign!!

Our fifth annual spay neuter campaign ended in Holbox at Casa de Morelia on May 17th.  In addition to many familiar faces in our volunteer corps a number of new volunteers joined us.  We are so fortunate to have such a great group of dedicated people help us every year.  Without our volunteers nothing could be accomplished!

We started this years clinics on May 12th in Kantunilkin. We have visited Kantunilkin every year and have seen a growth in the number of animals every year. This year we had our largest one day clinic with a total 91 animals altered.

Sunday we drove to KM 80 which is a small village on the road to Cancun.  This town had some very sick dogs and was in desperate need of help.  We usually try not to go this far from Holbox but I understand why Morelia wanted us to visit KM 80.  We were able to help 51 animals.  The local official that organized our building and lunch honored us with a delicious Mayan specialty-a chicken soup that had a wonderful flavor.  We were also visited by this beautiful blue butterfly.

 

We learned the first year that everyone benefits from a day off after two intense days in the heat. Monday was our day off and everyone relaxed in their own way.  

San Angel is a small community located between Solferino and Kantunilkin. The sign says 850 inhabitants.  I had thought we might have 40 or 50 dogs come to the clinic.  Unexpectedly on Monday half of our veterinarians decided to leave for Merida which left us with four very dedicated and busy surgeons.  We had over 100 animals come to the clinic for surgery.  We decided to concentrate on adult females and made arrangements for the other puppies to be altered next week by Dr. Laura Bevilacqua from Holbox.  We were able to help 69 animals in San Angel.  With the prospect of many more being helped in the near future.   We were very thankful for a secure building as the heavens opened and it poured rain most of the day.  Tropical rains are a wee bit different then our Seattle rains!

We always like to hold the last day of clinics on Holbox at the Refugio. Morelia's Refugio is a wonderful spot with animals of all types being rehabilitated.  Those that can be returned to the wild are and those that can't be released are cared for or sent to other sanctuaries.   There are pelicans, raccoons, coati mundi, various birds, dogs, cats, rabbits and any other creature in need of care.  The house and grounds are kept clean and smell of disinfectant (very unusual in this area!). Morelia is an amazing woman that organizes the clinics for us and cares for all animals. We are so lucky to have her help.

 Esther feeding the pelicans with cats helping!!

Esther always serves us fresh limeade, various juices and a great lunch.  The rains came during lunch!  

We altered 48 animals on Holbox. 

One of two orphan mapaches.

The end of the clinics always brings about reflection.  We were able to help over 250 animals this year with prospects of many more being helped during the coming year.  In the last 4 years we have provided surgery for over 1250 animals and left supplies for many more to be altered.  We have shared supplies with groups in Merida, Playa del Carmine and Puerto Morelos.   We continue to believe that it is in the pets' best interest if we maintain standards as close to US standards as possible.  What does this mean?  It means that every animal has an autoclaved pack,  every animal has a new suture packet, every animal has an autoclaved drape, our surgical prep is very thorough, most animals are intubated and have iv catheters.  We do our best not to cut corners in anyway.  These animals are already compromised by parasites, nutrition, and living conditions.  Does this increase our costs per animal- absolutely but I think it is worth it.