A few weeks ago I volunteered to document a dog sterilization clinic in Cancun, Mexico, with CANDi International. I also documented the street dogs of Mexico and a local rescue group facility. I find it difficult to put this experience into words in a way that would truly say how I feel. This was a life changing experience. The dogs of Cancun touched my heart and taught me about: compassion, cruelty, love, hard work, and taking action for a cause.
I was also deeply moved by the volunteers and organizations involved in this clinic. Their compassion and work ethic to save these animals is truly inspiring.
This will be a 3 part blog series:
Part 1: the clinic
Part 2: the street dogs
Part 3: a local rescue group facility
I find it difficult to put this experience into words in a way that would truly say how I feel. This was a life changing experience. I was deeply moved by the volunteers and organizations involved in this clinic. Their compassion and work ethic to save these animals is truly inspiring.
About CANDi International:
CANDi International is a non for profit organization. CANDi believes the answer to reduce animal overpopulation is sterilization and education and promotes these solutions through the support of tourism industry corporations and pet loving travelers. “100% of all donations to CANDi go to the animals to end their suffering in this vacation paradise,” says Darci Galati, founder of CANDi.
Our Mission: “To save the lives of stray cats and dogs in Mexico and the Caribbean through spay, neuter, adoption and educational programs, supported and funded by the tourism industry, travelers and pet lovers.”
Statistics:
One unsterilized female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in just six years and one unsterilized female cat and her offspring can produce as many as 425,000 kittens in seven years.
As the average wage of workers in Cancun is approximately $300 a month, allocating funding to the needs of stray animals is out of the question. Free sterilization clinics organized by CANDi and its partners are the only resources available to locals to control the stray animal population in their community. And unlike the U.S. and Canada, there are no animal protection laws or national animal protection organizations like the SPCA to promote animal welfare so the estimated millions of stray cats and dogs in Mexico are left to die starving in the streets or killed by inhumane methods such as electrocution, poisoning, and drowning.
About the clinic itself (representative from CANDi International):
“From January 20th through the 24th we held a free sterilization clinic in the poor community of Bonfil. There are thousands of streets dogs and no humane treatment to control their population. Bonfil is about 10 minutes from the Cancun airport. Hundreds of animals were safely sterilized during these five days, saving thousands of unborn puppies and kittens from lives of starvation, disease, and inhumane treatment.Thanks to corporate support, in 5 days, CANDi and its humane partners sterilized 852 animals. 40 puppies were rescued from the streets and now are in a safe shelter until they are healthy enough to be adopted. A cocker spaniel was also rescued that had been machetted across the head by its drunk owner. The surgery took over 3 hours and the dog is now safe at Isla Animals until she is healthy enough to be adopted. The clinic was covered by television, newspaper and magazines. The magazine who interviewed CANDi said, “CANDi clinic’s are the most trusted by the people of Cancun.” The local community support and the support of the local rescue groups is incredible and we could not have done this without their help. We did an average of 10 street dogs a day through the support of the local animal groups. Another clinic is planned in Bonfil the end of April. The need is so great and we are hoping it will be our biggest campaign of 2000 animals. We are currently in the process of trying to find a corporate supporter to raise $15,000 for this clinic.”
To donate to this great cause, please visit their website, any donation makes a difference: CANDi International
A special thanks to the veterinarians of VIDAS!
People come early to get their pets sterilized. They wait while they are in surgery and then stay with them in recovery.
People find clever ways to bring in their larger dogs, as they need to be transported back home.
This is Tyson. His ride? The wheelbarrow behind him...
Puppy love!
Loved this little guy!
People that come to these clinics really love their dogs and are so grateful.
This local volunteer brought these dogs in to be sterilized...
Kitties get sterilized too!
My buddy "English John." He runs a rescue in LA: EJ Rescue
One of the veterinarians from VIDAS...
All the dogs get their vitals checked and are weighed before sterilization...
This local volunteer drives around the neighborhood to let folks know about the clinic. See his ride in the next image. Loved this guy!
This space was donated, split in two, surgery on one side, recovery the other...
In recovery, volunteers trim the dogs nails, clean their ears and remove tics...
My new Canadian friends, Tara, Chelsey, Katie and Sean. Sean is an amazing videographer from Canada. Hi guys!
Roz, another volunteer, giving this guys a little TLC after his sterilization...
Once the dogs can stand on their own, their owners can take them home...
These are the pups from the beginning of this post. Safely sterilized and resting. Please donate to help more of these dogs at: CANDi International
February 05, 2012 What a wonderful way to give back. Thank you for your time, and compassion and for shining light on another wonderful group, Candi. I had never heard of them before, and now I have found another group to donate to. Being a mom to a Puerto Rican “street dog”, these babies need as much help as they can get.
February 05, 2012 Tracey your talent is beyond amazing. What a beautiful post. Thank you for being a person who cares about life and humanity. I am so honored to know you and catch a glimpse of the world through your eyes.
February 04, 2012 Beautiful pictures Tracey, amazing work! And thanks to help the animals with your voice! A big hug from Cancun Mexico. KC
February 03, 2012 Wow – amazing Tracey!
February 03, 2012 Tracey,
What a great experience this must of been. You do a beautiful job of capturing such an important endeavor!
February 03, 2012 Great pictures Tracey! Thanks for sharing :) Nice to meet you
February 03, 2012 What a great experience, Tracey! All of the animals are adorable and you do such a good job of capturing their personalities. Amazing images for such a good cause. Can’t wait to see the rest of the series.