How you Can Help Raise Money for The Mexican Dogs.

Since 2005, we have been members of an animal humane society called "Tzi'te Animal Proteccion" in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

This past year, I've blogged about our issues with animal overpopulation and our plan to conquer it.

The last missing piece of the puzzle...

Funding.

While vet consulting fees, sterilization and general care does cost less in Mexico (relative to North America), it is still exceptionally high in comparison to the cost of living.

Until we joined the group, all the funding had come out of individual members pockets. If you found a dog and rehabilitated it, it was yours. At one time, we had five dogs in various stages of care.

Saving one dog or five wasn't a financial burden for us. The problem was saving one dog every.single.day.

The current system was not sustainable.

We came up with a plan that was a win-win-win.

@Iams #Home4TheHolidays Pet Adoption Drive: How to Help.

Five out of eight members of Journeys of The Zoo are adopted.

While my story has a happy beginning, Reina was found starved (almost) to death and Phoenix had his throat cut. Fighters need to win...

That's why I'm honoured to be a part of Iams Family of Bloggers promoting awareness of the Home 4 The Holidays initiative.

Did you know that this is Iams 14th year focussing on raising awareness of pet adoption and ensuring proper nutrition for more homeless pets? This year, they will once again work in conjunction with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and more than 4,000 animal organizations Worldwide to encourage pet adoption.

As part of this initiative, seven million pets have been adopted Worldwide with over 1.2 milllion during last years holiday campaign. The program which runs from Oct. 1, 2012 through Jan. 2, 2013 has already donated 486,734 meals to rescues and shelters. Their goal... 5 million meals! Iams is putting their money where their mouth is and,

Now it's your turn!

The Plan: Conquering Dog Overpopulation in Chiapas, Mexico

As I mentioned in my previous post, cultural and financial issues were inhibiting "our" ability to deal with the overpopulation of dogs in Chiapas, Mexico.

Let me start out by explaining who I'm talking about when I say "our".

Through a network of "friends of friends" a group of ten managed to find each other. Interestingly, there were only four foreigners in the bunch. We had all been trying to make a dent in the problem using our own limited resources. We found strength in numbers.

We got organized; appointed a president, created a mission statement (Education, Sterilization, Euthanization and Rescue -- in that order), met with the Mayor (this alone took several months) and received permission to set up a table in the zocalo for the purposes of educating the populace and selling some of our wares donated by local artisans.

One of the members got in touch with a friend in the USA and they in turn got in touch with a big American firm that provides *free sterilization clinics.

Ed is assisting with the neuter of Phoenix.

*They pay for the plane ticket and the vets wages. We were responsible for all other costs. The only additional fee was the cost of medication which turned out to be $7/animal. Considering local vets charge $150-200USD per sterilization, this was a deal! I would tell you the name of the "American firm" if I hadn't forgotten the name wasn't sworn to secrecy.

We coordinated over 50 volunteers, sponsors for food, accommodations, evening activities, transportation, facility rental, the list goes on. It was a big, well thought out and organized affair. Eight months in the making.

Bruce the Vet, a Canadian (small world) arrived in tow with a representative from "Humane Society International" in Washington, D.C, two vets from Monterrey (a two-day drive away) and some local vets.

The local vets came because Bruce offered to educate them in the quick, easy and less invasive (and in turn, less expensive) methods of sterilization.

It was a win-win-win.

We were ready to change the world.

You know the adage, "If you build it, they will come"? Translated into Spanish it reads, I'd love something for free as long as you're willing to do all the work and you...

CAN'T neuter my Male!

Yes, the culture is that macho. We could have all the females we wanted but we had to catch them and then care for them (for one week afterwards). At which time, we could return them to the streets their owners.

Our dedication to the cause remained unfaltered. We rounded up the poor souls and worked into the night.

Ed was fortunate enough to assist with Reina's sterilization surgery and I was there for her recovery. A unique opportunity that is not available in Canada.

I'm in the top left hand corner wearing pink. Perfect colour for the bleed and defecate everywhere recovery room.

When all was said and done, 134 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered over three days. Someone did the math and apparently, over 5 years, that one clinic alone prevented 144,000 new animals from being born. That's a lot of mutts.

The Mayor happened to be holding a recognition ceremony that week so we were all on hand to receive our certificates for "Bettering the City".

You can see Phoenix and I kneeling in the front of the top picture.

The clinic was a great start but if we wanted to have a long-term impact on overpopulation, we had to come up with sustainable and local ways to make a difference.

On to the next challenge... Money.

Besos, The Zoo

The Issue: Tzi'te Humane Society, Chiapas, Mexico

The Zoo is a founding member of the "Tzi'te Proteccion Animal" humane society of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

This picture of ancient Mayan dogs is our logo.

The story begins when we first set eyes on San Cristobal de las Casas.

The mountains take your breath away (literally and figuratively the city is located at 2,200m=7,200ft). The hillsides are dotted with shanties and untouched lushness. The rainwater (from far off places) runs the shortest distance downhill inevitably crossing the paths of indigenous women who want to bathe and wash their clothes. The temperate climate is beautiful all year and the city has all the amenities with a population of 120,000 inhabitants.

It was love at first sight.

What wasn't was seeing the emaciated, ravaged, dying, dead, timid beasts with Mange, Distemper and other contagious (and preventable) diseases. On every block around every corner, there they were. They had taken over the streets.

Hard to read about huh!? Imagine having to experience it every.single.day.

The general population was terrified to death; not so much by the dogs but as to where their next meal was coming. You can hardly blame them for not worrying about the dogs. Besides, the culture is such that you let your dog out into the street in the morning and if they come home at night, it's all good. If not, it's time to get another dog.

Canine overpopulation is a serious issue. People believe that breeding is the next "get rich" scheme. The problem is that no one has any cash and everyone has 3,497 dogs to sell. Sterilization isn't cost effective as it's equal to a 1/2 months wages. Only the fools and the rich pay for dogs. Everyone else just gets one from a friend or steals one off the street. The cost, Free. Seeing as they pay nothing, they value it as such.

It's only been within the past few years that the culture has shifted slightly to encourage people to give and/or purchase food for their dogs. In addition, the current Mayor has been coming down hard on street dogs and unleashing his Dog Catcher on them. Any dog without an owner and not leashed is fair game. Note that all street dogs technically have owners. The few that don't, don't last very long...

I found 8-week old Juan in the gutter, he had Distemper and had to be put down.

The good news is that if your dog doesn't come home, you have a pretty good idea where it is. Bad news is that it will cost you more than the dog is worth to get it back (the pound charges a $15US tequila administration fee).

The horrifying news is that life in the pound (if even for 15 minutes) is not good. Death, even worse. The term humane has nothing to do with it.

If we were going to make a difference, we had our hands full.

Next up, "The Plan".

Note 1: The name "Tzi'te" comes from the language Tzotil (one of eight languages spoken in Chiapas) and literally translated means "House of" (Tzi) the "Dog" (te).

Note 2: I use the term "humane society" to imply a sense of action and not because we are associated with them.

Besos, The Zoo