Dear Sir,
The other evening at around 12:30 a.m., while returning home to Ajijic from the charreada in Tlajomulco, we had a flat tire. We were on the Guadalajara-Chapala highway at the La Barca exit, near I believe, the pueblo of La Calera.
As luck had it my wrench was unable to get one of the lugs off. Having had difficulty dealing with the insurance company and the tow company for over an hour, I spotted a municipal police car parked about 50 meters away which had just pulled up. I walked over and told them my problem in my “best” Spanish.
The two officers immediately drove to my car, put lights on it, took a look and in no time flat got my flat off, had my spare on and didn’t allow me to lift a finger. Being grateful to these two professionals is an understatement. It was about 2 a.m. by this time.
I offered them a thank-you propina, which they refused.
Once again, thank you to these two professionals.
Doug and Donna Vernet, Ajijic
Dear Sir,
We are volunteers who help in several area animal shelters. We hope that the enclosed letter will help lakeside’s winter residents see all aspects of the adoption of animals and that we’ll be able to protect local animals from abandonment just a few months after adoption.
Winter residents, first of all we are so glad you are here. We enjoy having you here, we appreciate your input and assistance in many area organizations, and we appreciate that the additional income you bring to local businesses is a great boost to the economy.
However, as animal shelter volunteers, we respectfully ask that you don’t adopt a pet unless you intend to provide a forever home for that pet. Taking a dog into your home for a few months is not helping that animal. Please, plan to take it back north with you when you return in the spring, or don’t take it at all.
None of the local shelters run “Rent-a-Pet” services. “Adopting” or “fostering” a dog (or cat) and then returning it to the shelter in April is emotionally horribly hard on the animal, and a sudden influx of animals at the shelters in the spring push resources beyond the ability to help. Even worse are the winter residents who, hard as it may be to believe, dump the newly adopted pet in the street, tie it to the gate of one of the shelters, or worst of all, leave the animal locked inside the rental house, without food, water or means of escape.
We know you must miss your north of the border pets. There’s a wonderfully kind and humane solution – if you volunteer to help at one of the many local shelters, you can get your dog or kitty fix and help both the lonely animals in need and the busy volunteers.
Anita’s Animals in San Juan Cosalá always needs folks to provide a little face-time, love, and attention to the 75 dogs and cats housed there. The Friends of Animals Cat Shelter in Riberas del Pilar will be delighted to have you help care for or just sit and snuggle with the cats and kittens. The Dog Ranch in Chapala has more than 80 dogs who love to be walked, trained, or played with in the large exercise pen. And, there are 20 dogs at Chapala’s Lucky Dog; they’d love attention as well.
We know your intentions are so very kind and loving, but this year, won’t you think of the consequences of taking a dog into your home, but just for a few months. Please, keep the springtime welfare of these animals in mind!
A collective of Lakeside’s animal lovers and volunteers
Dear Sir,
Thank you for printing the article on the back page of last week’s Guadalajara Reporter titled “Children’s Charity Seeks 2-Hour Volunteers” about Niños Incapacitados.
As a result, so far 16 people have responded to me. To my surprise and delight, some have offered much more than two hours of help. Some have said that they would be willing to volunteer at all five Niños fundraisers this winter season.
One gentleman, a retired executive from Canada, responded and said that he was the Director of Fundraising for Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario for three years, President of Champions for Children Foundation (part of Children’s Aid Society in Ottawa) for five years, and then owner/president of a company producing major fundraising concerts across Canada. He added that he is willing to help us in any way that he can. Along with other Niños board members, I am excited to think about the expertise and help he might bring to our charity that is always “behind the eight ball” trying to raise enough money to cover the medical costs of the 141 Lakeside children in our program.
For many years with pleasure I have read Judy KIng’s interesting articles in various media. I was happy when she became a regular writer for the Reporter. Niños Incapacitados, along with so many other charities and organizations, is indebted to her for coverage that is so important in order to help our children.
Margaret Quinn, Volunteer Coordinator for Niños Incapacitados