The demise of our truck this week has left us having to walk to the shelter. While being without transport is inconvenient, especially as we rely upon it to be able to transport multiple big bags of dog food at a time and being unable to get to the vet (taxis won't take animals) is a huge problem, having to walk to the shelter is not that big a deal. It has however, served to remind us, once again, exactly why we do what we do.
We don't live in 'tourist' Playa del Carmen, we live on the 'other' side of the highway. We live amongst Mexicans, which means we also live amongst street dogs. A lot of street dogs. Over the last few days we have seen some truly awful sights. Skinny, starving, tick-ridden dogs abound. Most of them absolute sweethearts.
Take a look at the young Weimaraner in the photo. She is terrified of all human contact. She is filthy and every rib sticks out. Her hunger is so apparent as you watch her rifling through garbage bags in the hope of finding some small edible morsel. The food you can see in front of her is a can of meat we brought to her. This young girl brings tears to our eyes every day. More shocking still.....THIS DOG HAS AN OWNER. This is how her owner chooses for her to live. We have been told that if we try to take her we risk being arrested. We give her food when no-one is around, that's all we can do. We feel helpless and hopeless, but then, so does she.
As many of you know, we recently accepted into the shelter a puppy (vet checked) who proved to have distemper. Our walks have shown us why. There are dogs lying dying at the side of the road. Diseased, convulsing, horribly sick dogs. It is beyond upsetting, beyond sad.
Distemper has virtually been wiped out in the U.S., Canada and most of Europe due to immunization. Government sponsored Rabies vaccines given out to dogs living on the streets here, has virtually wiped out that horrific disease. Without a multiple vaccine program, diseases like distemper and parvo virus will continue to grow and flourish. This is just one of the reasons why we feel it is so important for Peanut Pet Shelter to get it's own clinic up and running. Basic preventative veterinary care needs to be affordable for low income pet owners. With sufficient funds we can vaccinate a huge percentage of the homeless population.
An end to disease on the streets - just one of the aims of Peanut Pet Shelter.
We should somehow force the authorities to punish those people who do not care for their pets. Many of us grow up thinking animals have no feelings and dont feel anything when they are hurt or abandon. Just last month I rescued 4 dogs, one had to be put to sleep, he was dying when I found him, one I named Oscar a wonderful small dog I saw him once at night begging for food and he got kick out of a porch by my neighbour who refuse to give little Oscar shelter to spend the night so I took him home feed him, he spend 2 weeks at Claudia the Vet, I found a home for Oscar he is very happy, healthy and loved, needless to say I cried for two days when I had to send Oscar to his new family. I also found a home for Katrina, she will soon be spayed. Sadly to say most people in Playa want a dog or have a dog... starving and tied to a tree.
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