Tails Of Mexico

Tails Of Mexico

By Jackie Kellum

 

Tails of Mexico is a new name, but not a new organization.  This group of ex-pats, with the original name of Operacion Compacion and Companions  initially had a singular focus. It was to provide spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs of families who lived in the Municipality of Jocotopec, who could not readily access or afford this type of care. Similarly, Operacion Amor in the municipality of Chapala has provided many free cat and dog sterilization multi-day clinics for several years now. As you probably know our local dog shelters, “The Ranch” and “Lucky Dog” are usually at capacity. Generally a ‘vacancy’ at the shelter is created if and when one of their dogs has been adopted.

Tails of Mexico’s co-focus is to relocate selected Mexican dogs to go to  adoptive homes, specific rescue organizations  and  accepting shelters located north. This particular program is in its infancy. Credit should be given to “The Ranch”  who started their own  program  called “Fights  to Freedom”  about  one and a half years ago. Since that inception  they worked through a complex process, and to date have successfully  relocated about 48 dogs north. This group of ex-pat volunteers have graciously shared what they have learned with the Tails of Mexico  volunteers as  they all share the same goal of providing a good life for a dog.

Many locations up north have been so successful with their spay and neuter efforts, they do not have an abundance of dogs waiting in shelters for a new home.  Hopefully in my lifetime here at Lake Chapala we will be in such a happy situation.  To make this dream a reality, please help support our local spay and neuter on-site programs. Contact info – Tails of Mexico: Carolyn Cothran and Operacion Amour: zo-onna@hotmail.com

Tails of Mexico has created work teams who have volunteer members to take on specific tasks and components of this program. One team’s work identifies locations in the USA and elsewhere who have rescue groups, agencies and or shelters  to work with who will accept our Mexican dogs. It also includes follow-up regarding how the dog is doing in its relocation and adoption. Another group is to work on the logistics of moving the dog from here to there. This involves many steps: knowledge of rules & regulations of the involved countries and transport companies, as well as develop alternative plans if there is a problem along the way. Each dog for going north has to be identified for being a suitable candidate, have its health and temperament evaluated, prepared health  wise to meet all requirements, and secure the agreement of  the northern  receiving party. Even a dog in one of our shelters can be considered as a candidate.  Another task is to find a person willing to travel north with the dog(s), and prepare and support that person in this role. This of course all takes money.

So one team’s task is to work on publicity about the program, develop   a website, create fund raising events to pay for all the expenses involved with this program. Some of the relocation costs involve: vaccinations, health certificates,  sterilizations if not already done, travel costs of the dog(s) and human accompanying the dog(s), purchase or  borrowing of travel crates, grooming and possibly boarding of the animal(s)  until time to travel. If you would like to assist and be part of this program or financially contribute to this dog going north program, please contact: Dee Mistrik: deemistrik@gmail.com. I know your help is appreciated.