A huge turn-out for the recent three-day Operación Compasión spay and neuter clinic indicates that villagers in San Juan Cosala are latching on to the concept of family planning for their household pets.
Over the February 7 to 9 debut run of the program a total of 121 cats and dogs underwent sterilization surgeries that put an end to their reproductive lives.
The medical service is offered at no charge to Mexican pet owners, although voluntary donations large and small are gratefully accepted.
“We’re delighted with the success of the project,” said Operación Compasión co-chair Linda Rudisel-Hines as the last group of animals were being filtered through the clinic’s anesthesia, grooming, surgical and recovery stations set up inside a private home located a few steps away from the town plaza.
She credited high turn-over of four-legged patients to a team of experienced and fleet-fingered veterinarians brought in from Mexico City under the auspices of the Fundación Haghenbeck. “These doctors are pros who specialize in sterilization procedures.”
But there were plenty more accolades to go around for others who gave backing to the Operación Compasión roll. The group’s Chapala-based sister organization Operación Amor provided major impetus, sharing its roll of practiced hands-on volunteers and the fine-tuned model for operational protocols that has been polished through the series of eight clinics it has conducted since 2011.
Friends of Chapala’s Lucky Dog Adoption and Rescue Center signed up for the cause, while retired vet Bob Strand took charge of coordinating the crew of medical assistants. Balneario San Juan Cosala and Jocotepec’s Hotel Posada del Pescador lodged the visiting doctors at steeply reduced rates. Jocotepec mayor Juan O’Shea Cuevas and San Juan town administrator Jhonathan Rivera, as well as Jalisco’s Health Ministry, lent whole-hearted government support to the effort.
Thanks were likewise extended to management at San Juan’s Raquet Club and everyone who attended the Spay-ghetti Dinner fund-raiser that got everything into motion. And a special nod goes to Alicia Salcedo, who generously lent the group her property as the clinic venue.
Replicas of the sterilization program are already in the works. In about six months the clinic will be repeated in San Juan, where a serious pet overpopulation problem has been detected. Jocotepec proper will be targeted after that.
Apart from initial set-up expenses, the normal cost to run each three-day program adds up to about 20,000 pesos, organizers report. Persons who are willing to make financial contributions, as well as retired vets and others interested in joining up for the grunt work, are encouraged to contact Dee Mistrik, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone (387) 761-0041.