One year since we found Willy and slightly longer since I've posted.
Lots has happened and nothing has changed.
Willy has grown into his wrinkly face by having an enormous head.
Photos are from Sept/Oct
Happy adoptiversary Willy Vanilly
We've had to say goodbye to Miles, Hazel, Shirley and Bette, some of the best friends I've had. This is the last photo I took of Bette, hanging out with pal Archie. She and Shirley both succumbed to cancer.
Mama is doing well, despite never really getting a name, and having heart worm. We started her treatment, but the medicine has not been available for months. She seems to be feeling great anyway and has made a lot of progress from callejera to house dog.
Mama and Loretta
We have 'family' names for most of the sibling groups.
No idea why, but we've been calling her pups the Jabronis.
Here they are at half grown.
Tabelindatha (OK, it was a joke; it wasn't supposed to stay her name, but the joke's on us.) and Martha
Lenny
Bruce
Lenny and Anne
Elvis and Loretta
Bongo and Elvis
Sean found another sickly girl pup in November. She's now grown, healthy and sterilized. We call her Jewel -which we realized too late sounds an awful lot like Xmul. They also look alike.
Jewel's homecoming
For a wonderful moment all dogs were sterilized (including Frida!)
...until July 6 when someone dumped Pippy.
She's been vaccinated and is growing like a weed.
I have a new camera, just need to find the will to use it.
We don't keep track of what we do, but this is a rough tally of deeds done outside of our yard (callejeros and O.ther P.eoples D.ogs):
Helped other dog caretakers
- with building supplies to improve their dog's area and prevent conflict with neighbors
- with check ins, when necessary
- with dog food, when necessary
- with veterinary advice. We are so far from a vet that many people have no way of taking an animal for care. When we don't know, we ask Dra Sandra.
30+ dogs treated for mange
4 dogs received chemotherapy. Unfortunately, like the heart worm treatment, this became unavailable. Many dogs suffer from this particular cancer and the physical effect is gruesome.
Pelusa has recovered
5 dogs sterilized, 10+ dogs taken for vet care, including 2 hit by cars.
This is Natasha, she needed pins and plates in her crushed leg, and a long stay at the vet. Thanks everyone who donated for her care!
In the previous update I introduced these cuties.
They'd been living in this burrow about a block away.
Someone poisoned at least 5 dogs in the area and we worried the same would happen to their mother.
Three weeks later and they're ready to be adopted.
They are all fat and happy.
They're nearly weaned and are eating solid food.
I think she's had enough.
No ticks or fleas.
Some are a little shaggy.
The others have short coats.
There are a few stout ones and a few little squirts.
They'll be well socialised. Perl says hi.
A few have solid colored coats, most are spotted, all are adorable.
Contact me if you can adopt.
Donate: https://paypal.me/DogsOfCelestun
Thanks to the generosity and help of many people 36 dogs and cats were sterilized last Sunday, and many were vaccinated and treated for health problems.
Special thanks to Dr. Sandra and team, Dr Katherine Meek, Andres Marin Solis from the Casa de Cultura, Fannie and family from Tortillaria Wiberth who again provided lunch for the medical team and then helped with clean up, Marie and Nicole for fund raising, and many members of Celestun's snowbird community for their donations.
It was a beautiful day. We hope to use the space again.
The first surgery of the morning.
There is growing support for sterilization/wellness clinics in Celestun.
Lots of people helped out -a delivery of cardboard for the recovery room.
So many sweet animals and caring people.
Planning for the next clinic is underway.
Donations always appreciated and needed!
From the looks of this x-ray no amount of swimming will help Frida walk again. We're grateful that the wonderful Mexico City charity "Car-Can" has offered to donate a doggy wheelchair to help her out!
She has put on weight and is doing much better than when she arrived! Her mange has cleared up and her coat is growing in quickly. She had been nursing when she was injured and has been diagnosed with ehrlichiosis, so she was very tired. She makes her feelings known even without a wagging tail.
The traditional 1st bath photo. You can see her wounds reflected on the wheelbarrow. Despite her weakened condition she made it clear she was not a fan of bath and put up a fight!
Her back is still bony, but her ribs no longer protrude and her wounds have entirely healed. She has a real can-do attitude!
In the weeks she's been here she has adjusted remarkably well and we've made a few modifications to help. Here she stands on the porch between Otto and matriarch Zasu.
Going down the steps is easy
from the steps to her ramp
No problem. Just one of the gang.
This is one of her favorite spots to relax.
Everyone except Zasu watches a low flying plane.
Her favorite inside hangout -where she can keep an eye on things.
She can get up the 2 steps to casita on her own.
Getting some sun with Tupo. She's a happy girl, full of smiles and kisses.
Frida can really cover ground quickly -especially when she's following Sean or getting fed! She's doing better than we had hoped and we're looking forward to getting her some wheels. She's young and needs to get out for exercise.
This poor girl was hit by a car at the gasolinera and survived.
Her back legs are paralyzed, so she'd been dragging herself over hot asphalt for weeks.
She found refuge from the heat on an unused boat. No idea how she managed to drag herself on board.
Not sure how we'll manage but she needed help and we couldn't leave her.
She's a bag of bones and covered in wounds.
We're calling her Frida.
She's a sweetheart. We have her in a pen for now but she wants to be with the other dogs.
She'll be visiting the vet tomorrow. For now she's happy to have food, water and belly rubs. She's good at dragging herself but I need to figure out how to build a dog wheelchair/dune buggy.
