Ramblings From The Ranch – September 2025

Epidemic Edition!

Remember the lore about Typhoid Mary, the cook in the early 1900’s who spread a deadly disease around New York? Well, The Ranch had their own version of this recently when Bert and Ernie arrived. These two Malinois mixes (brothers?) were dropped off by a farmer from Mezcala in mid-March. He found the dogs abandoned in a field. They were starved nearly to death and were literally covered with ticks.

“The ticks were too numerous to count,” said Ranch super-volunteer Cheryl Okerlund. “I would estimate them in the thousands – between their toes, on their faces, everywhere. All stages from big fat adult ticks to tiny baby ones.” Cheryl, a retired nurse, manages much of the medical care for the Ranch dogs. Bert and Ernie were treated with a Bravecto-type medicine, which causes feeding ticks to die within 24 hours. However, those ticks not actively feeding can drop off and look for other warm bodies. Ticks are particularly dangerous because they can harbor so many blood-borne diseases.

Soon, Ranch staff and volunteers started finding clusters of ticks on other dogs. “In over 20 years of being a shelter, we have never seen anything like this,” Ranch Board member Corrine Kelly said. “We would find one or two ticks occasionally, but this was unprecedented.”

After consultation with veterinarian Dr. Luis Maciel, it was determined that all of the dogs needed to be treated with the very expensive three-month medicine. The medicine costs a lot, but it does treat internal parasites, heartworm, and mange in addition to ticks and fleas. Dr. Luis also recommended that The Ranch be fumigated. Rene Miranda from FuMiGa pest control was helpful in developing a plan for three treatments over three months. He is also super kind to dogs! After all this, we are thankfully seeing very few ticks.

In the meanwhile, Bert and Ernie entered a five-week foster stay with my husband and me. We fattened them up and ensured they healed from their trauma as well as from their neutering surgeries and a dental surgery (Bert). My husband also bathed them twice and worked hard on their matted coats. These two dogs are now healthy, gorgeous, affectionate, playful and well-behaved. They are super food-motivated (you would be too if you were nearly starved!) and easy to train. These Muppets are now back at The Ranch waiting for their forever homes. Please contact The Ranch if you can offer a home to one or both of them. I am available to answer potential adopters’ questions, too. Despite the Muppets’ role in starting a tick epidemic, we don’t hold it against them!

If you can help The Ranch with donations toward the expensive parasite medicines and spraying, we would love it. We have to keep up on the treatment for at least a year, as ticks can live up to 12 months without a host.

You can find out more on our Facebook page and you can donate through www.theranchchapala.com. Or email us at adoptaranchdog@outlook.com with questions.