The well-known saying “It Takes a Village” is indeed true for the organization Tails of Mexico.
This group of expat and Mexican volunteers worked under their previous name, Operación Compasión, for five years. Their main focus during that time was to provide spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs owned by low-income Mexican citizens within the municipality of Jocotopec. Operacion Amor, a sister organization, provides the same service in Chapala.
In late 2017, Operación Compasión changed its name to Tails of Mexico. The primary focus was to hold one- and two-day clinics in two towns within the Jocotopec municipality: San Pedro Tesistan and San Cristóbal Zapotitlán. Neither of these places had a vet, and many of the town’s residents had neither the transportation or the funds to take their family pets for attention elsewhere.
Happily, the lives of 172 cats/dogs that lived with their families in these small towns were enhanced by the clinics. Likewise, cat and dog sterilization clinics were held in San Juan Cosala and Jocotopec, providing 308 surgeries for family pets there. Sterilization surgeries were also provided on an individual basis when a Mexican citizen requested this service, in between scheduled clinics. Surgeries were also provided for “street dogs” when they were found to be showing signs of having had puppies recently or starting to come into heat. In 2017, 56 dogs in these two “categories” were sterilized.
Setting up a spay and neuter clinic takes a lot of planning, coordination, advance advertising and dedicated volunteers. A major aim is to educate and affect attitude and cultural change, while building trust with residents.
The education and trust building appears to be working, as there has been a gradual increase in male dogs being brought to clinics for surgery over the past five years. The organization has received many individual words of gratitude and letters of appreciation from the delegados (town administrators) where clinics were held.
A special thank you must go out to the wonderful volunteers and donors at lakeside who have been part of these clinics. Without their ongoing support none of this would have been possible.
The next clinic will be held on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4 in Potrerillos (located about 35 minutes from San Juan Cosala) and two nearby villages: San Luciano and Los Trojes. All are welcome to become part of this team. Contact Linda Rudisell-Hines at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or message her on Facebook.
Dogs head north
Along with the name change to Tails of Mexico, a new program has been added to the organization’s labors.
The goal is to relocate selected dogs to carefully chosen adoptive homes and specific rescue organizations and shelters located north of the Mexican border.
After some research, it was found that many locations in the United States and Canada have been so successful with their spay and neuter efforts that they no longer have an abundance of dogs in shelters awaiting adoption. Even a dog in one of our local shelters can be considered as a candidate for this program.
Tails of Mexico has created work teams of volunteer members to take on specific tasks and components of this program. Last year, 12 Golden Retrievers were accepted by a Golden Retriever rescue group up north and had homes waiting for them. In November, four local dogs found loving homes in Vancouver, Canada. In late January, five dogs are scheduled to go to homes awaiting them in Phoenix, Arizona.
If you would like to be part of this program or contribute financially, contact Dee Mistrik at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
No-balls Dinner
Remember, the 5th annual Spay-ghetti No-balls Dinner to raise funds for the admirable work of Tails of Mexico will be held at the Raquet Club in San Juan Cosala Saturday, January 27, from 5-8 p.m.
The dinner features all-you-can-eat spaghetti (meat or vegetarian), with a Caesar salad, garlic bread, and a cash bar. There will be a dessert auction.
Tickets are 350 pesos each and are available at Diane Pearl, or online at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you want to reserve a table for the fundraiser, the following information is required: the name of the person reserving the table, the names of the people sitting at the table (they must have purchased their tickets), size of table, inside/outside, and any other special requests.
Visit tailsofmexico.weebly.com to learn more about the work that your support has helped!