Sylvia and the Amigo

We’ve made some new friends in Mexico.

When we first met them, they were friendly but a little shy and reserved, but as the days passed and we saw them more often, they relaxed and opened up to us, despite our cultural differences.

In fact, it wasn’t long before they started hanging around at dinner time, being unabashedly charming while waiting for an invitation to join us for supper on the patio.

You see, Sylvia is a feral cat and the Amigo is a homeless dog.

Love those eyes!

Sylvia is a beautiful, dainty, black and white medium-haired cat with striking iceberg blue eyes.

The Amigo is a small to medium-sized dog – we think he is likely a mixture of Jack Russell Terrier, Wire Haired Terrier, Dalmation, and who knows what else. He is an enthusiastic and happy little guy.

The Amigo

They survive by scavenging and from “donations” from people like us. I’ve seen Sylvia make the rounds along the resort’s patio, checking out each table to see who will give her some food. Apparently one man in the complex buys cat food and feeds her regularly. But what happens when he goes home?

And the Amigo, despite being homeless and often hungry, amazed us with his gentleness when he accepts food from us.

In Mexico stray dogs and cats are everywhere. An animal rescue group in Bucerias was started a number of years ago by a group of women who saw that an excessive numbers of homeless or “street animals” needed help. These animals are usually in pretty bad shape, riddled with worms and skin parasites. They often have skin diseases and are severely malnourished. To add to the problem, the females have endless rounds of puppies and kittens when they don’t even have enough food to sustain them themselves. It’s heart breaking.

P.E.A.C.E., a local charity in Bucerias, offers free spay/neuter clinics periodically throughout the year. From what I’ve been able to ascertain, the clinics have been offered since at least 2004. In one month, over 100 animals were neutered in four days with a total of about 500 that particular month. Some of the animals have owners, others are neutered and returned to the streets. We think Amigo is one of those. Sylvia is not – we know she recently had a litter of kittens.

Ayuda los Animales, another charity in Bucerieas, is also working to deal with the homeless animals. They are initiating a a formal animal adoption and education program and they will NOT adopt out an animal that is not spayed or neutered.

Sylvia and the Amigo are doing pretty well considering. They are in better shape than many of the homeless but I can’t help but think both of these fine animals deserve the love and care of a good home.

It’s encouraging to see progress and to know that over time the population of street dogs and cats will diminish, and more animals will be wanted animals.

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For more about pets and how they can be a benefit to our heart health, see smart-heart-living.com.