Well-known lakeside resident and philanthropist Geoffrey Kaye stunned local animal welfare enthusiasts when he announced his pending retirement from the popular nonprofit Animal Shelter and Store at Hidalgo 212 in Riberas del Pilar.
“The deal is done,” he said in an interview with the Reporter. “We’re just waiting for the government to finish all of the paperwork that completes the sale of the building and contents to the Lakeside Friends of the Animals (LFA). By the end of April their nonprofit organization will take over and my wife KiKi and I will be free. After 14 years of being here every day, we can take off to spend time with our three daughters and eight grandchildren.”
Kaye quickly turned the conversation back to the changes at hand. “I want to set the record straight. There has been a good deal of speculation about what is happening here and it’s really very simple. I’ve sold it all to LFA.”
There’s no question that Kaye remains eager to assist local animals in need and several other local non-profits. Kaye is selling the building and its renovations at his original 2001 price. LFA will pay the cost for the store’s inventory and the fixtures and fittings are being sold for 50 percent of their original cost.
“I am giving them the most valuable asset – the goodwill – at no cost,” Kaye said. “I want them to be able to carry on the good work here and that includes continuing to give all of the store’s profits to the same seven charities that the Animal Shelter has supported.”
Kaye, who has helped with a number of other lakeside projects over the years, became involved with animal welfare when he was asked to financially assist the Animal Shelter’s predecessor, the Lake Chapala Humane Society. With substantial funding, he began donating time and offering his business experience based on years of operating a successful grocery store chain.
“When I was back in my native England,” said Kaye, “I visited the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Not only did I garner valuable pointers on how to operate a safe and successful shelter from my first contacts, they arranged a three-day Society course for me. “The Animal Shelter has applied those principles in the care and adoptions of animals as well as those of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the World Society for the Protection of Animals, whose vision is working toward a world “where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends.”
During its first decade the Animal Shelter arranged adoptions for 1,622 dogs and nearly 1,400 cats. A few years ago the dog facility closed but the Cat House is still very active.
Over the years Kaye developed a special interest in exotic and large birds. His own collection grew significantly when he inherited the birds of the late Stan Goldberg, a long-time Ajijic resident and bird collector. Visitors to the Animal Shelter enjoyed seeing and interacting with the birds in an aviary constructed for them there.
Representatives from Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa) arrived at the shelter a year ago while Kaye was in England. They demanded to see official paperwork for each of the birds in the collection. When Kaye was unable to produce the documents, the agency took ownership of the birds, citing their status as endangered species. The birds still in the Animal Shelter aviary belong to Mexico and cannot be moved, sold or given away. Kaye has contacted Sagarpa to notify them of the pending changes and is awaiting its decisions on the remaining birds.
In 2001 Kaye built the adjoining Riberas Ladron de Guevara Animal Clinic. His original agreement with the veterinarians included a ten-year lease with the understanding that they would provide care for the abandoned and rescued animals and spay/neuter a number of animals each month. The veterinarians have purchased the clinic under Kaye and will continue in the same location, separate from LFA but with the same assistance for the animals.
LFA President Mike Jones, a seven-year lakeside resident who will be in charge once the legal work on the non-profit status is complete, called Kaye “the driving force” of the Animal Shelter. “I’m thankful for his guidance of this thriving operation and the great team of employees,” he said.
Kaye’s valuable assistant, Lourdes Avila, will remain at the site as treasurer of LFA. Other LFA officers are Vice President Sue Hollis and Secretary Dena Begg.
Jones said much of the recent work of LFA is consistent with the goals of the Animal Shelter. This includes conducting some 40 spay/neuters per month for Mexican nationals of limited means, providing financial assistance with five emergency surgeries each month for injured animals, and leukemia testing.
“We have a new project that will help lessen the number of animals abandoned or needing care after the death of their owners,” said Jones. “We’ve established a post-life planning system for animals. Now area residents can ensure that their pets will continue to receive care.”
As for Kaye, he plans to spend more time helping people as financial director on the board of directors of another lakeside nonprofit organization, Love in Action.
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to help Love in Action clear up some of the problems that resulted in the loss of many valuable volunteers last year. Together I know we can recreate the peaceful working conditions they so enjoyed with the children.
“I’m a non-practicing Jew but I’ve studied both parts of the Bible – the history of my own people and the history of Jesus, who was a Jew and rabbi. I know that Jesus said sometimes you have to turn the other cheek and that’s what we need to do now so we can get on with the work at hand, helping those kids. We can do great things there just as we have here at the Animal Shelter, if we all work together.”