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Helping Homeless Dogs and Cats in La Paz

Baja Dogs Helpline of La Paz is a registered Mexican charity ( RFC BDH060927DB6 ) that was formed in 2006 to aid homeless, sick and abused dogs. After consulting with many experts on how to best help the many needy dogs of La Paz, Dhorea Ryon, the founder, made a decision to start with the basics: education and spay and neuter.

Dhorea Ryon and her late husband Paul Durant first came to La Paz approximately 7 years ago. Both being dog lovers they found themselves rescuing, nursing and finding homes for the many stray dogs that crossed their paths. They started construction on a permanent home in El Comitan in 2003. Unfortunately 10 days after the work started Paul was diagnosed with brain cancer. While in Canada for medical treatment Dhorea and Paul got pleasure from the many displayed pictures of the dogs they had rescued in La Paz. Paul died in April 2005 and Dhorea, a former Realtor and volunteer for Network for Animals in Port Coquitlam, returned to La Paz to carry on their dream of helping the needy dogs and thus Baja Dogs Helpline of La Paz was born.

In November of 2006 Dhorea was introduced to Dr. Pepe Acosta a veterinarian now working with Centro Salud. Pepe enthusiastically supported Dhorea's plans for a free spay and neuter clinic and introduced her to Dr. Maros Acuna who agreed to help with this sterilization program. Centro Salud under Dr. Acuna's direction provided medications, personnel and locations. Baja Dogs helpline of La Paz is very grateful to Centro Salud for their support.

Dr. Calvin Rice of Winnipeg, Manitoba volunteered to come to La Paz and help with our program. On behalf of Baja Dogs Helpline of La Paz Dr Rice worked 5 days a week for a 3 month period spaying dogs and cats "gratis" and teaching his surgery skills to other veterinarians who helped with this program. Starting in El Centenario and moving to different colonias the team worked in challenging conditions sometimes without running water. In all over 200 cats and 500 dogs were spayed. Assuming 2 litters a year this team potentially prevented 8,400 unwanted kittens and puppies from being born in the first year alone!! Dr Rice has returned to Canada but with dedicated board members like Olga Trigueros Cruz and Joni Costa and support from the community, Baja Dogs Helpline will continue to support a spay and neuter program

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The other very important aspect of this charity is education. Our goal is to change the mindset of the children by teaching them to love and respect their pet. This program will be self sustaining in the future and hopefully part of the education agenda in the schools. The educational component consists of a 30 minute interactive class called "Respect for Animals". The program is taught by Olga , a former teacher and was started at Leona Vicario Primary School in El Centenario. Grade 1 and 2 children are taught the basic needs of an animal: clean water, food and love and respect. Grade 3 and 4's get additional info about fleas, ticks and parasite prevention. Older children are introduced to the responsibility of spaying and neutering. This class is enthusiastically received by the students and the teachers.

In obtaining permission to start the Respect of Animal program , Dhorea was asked if she would feed the children. Dhorea assumed this meant a cookie or two while teaching the course. She soon found out that it meant breakfast and since has organized a new volunteer group named Madres Madrugadores del Centenario that feeds 115 children in two schools. Food is provided through donations, American and Canadian women provide their time to purchase the groceries and the Mexican mom's do the cooking.

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On June 1 Baja Dogs Helpline of La Paz will officially have it's own veterinary clinic, pet food store and grooming parlor. All net proceeds go to the charity to aid spay and neuter. The building will be located on the highway in El Centenario across from the new Centenario Plaza. There will be free clinics to teach people how to prevent fleas, ticks and parasites and general dog and cat care.

A new website http://www.bajadogshelplineoflapaz.org will also be available. It will feature an adoption center for recovered strays and a registry for lost and found dogs and cats. Currently there is no centralized service to link owner with their lost pet so this will be a welcome aid.

Both Baja Dogs Helpline and the school breakfast program are always in need of volunteers and donations. For the animals tick and flea collars (outdated ones sold in the dollar stores in the U.S. and Canada work great!!) and flea shampoos are badly needed. All pet items are appreciated and can be used. 250 pesos (25 USD) will spay or neuter one dog or cat. For the breakfast program money donations buys the fresh food. Donations of goods such as shelf cartons of milk and juice are always welcome. Used clothing will be distributed within the community.

To contact us: info@bajadogshelplineoflapaz
http://www.bajadogshelplineoflapaz.org
Carretera Augustin Olachea
e Hidalgo y Nicolas Bravo
El Centenario
La Paz, BCS, Mexico
23001

Publisher's Note: The BajaInsider provides free publicity for charitable events which support causes to which the publishers are sympathetic. We do not investigate the validity of our contributing charities and encourage our readers to check out any institution before making significant contributions. We also wish great success to all charities with sincere motivation.