By Megan Gabel

 

We often receive Facebook messages about an animal that has been abandoned or being mistreated. The writer wants us to send someone to help that poor cat or dog. However, as much as we would like to do so, the S.P.A. is not capable of getting involved directly with these types of situations, heartbreaking though they are. Unfortunately, we lack the personnel and finances, and, in some situations, the authority to do that. Further, we have space limitations, particularly with dogs. We cannot magically create “casitas” when we are full. 

 

Our adoption fee is 500 pesos and is much less than what our out-of-pocket expense is for each animal we accept, not even considering food. Intake tests alone are more expensive than our adoption fee. For cats, the fee includes sterilization, all current vaccinations, deworming, the feline leukemia/FIV test, and the feline leukemia vaccine and booster. For dogs, it includes sterilization, all current vaccinations, deworming, the leptospirosis booster, and enrollment in the Green Paw Pet Registration Program. When we are able to accept an animal, we request a donation to help defray the cost.

 

So, what are you supposed to do if you run across a litter of abandoned puppies or kittens? Keep on walking? It’s tough. If you choose to rescue an animal, that animal is your responsibility. Call us—maybe we can take in one or more of your rescues. Even when the S.P.A. is full, we will offer you a place on our waiting list and possible alternatives. 

 

We provide shelter for an average of 100 animals (cats and dogs, like Jojo and Darcy). Our first responsibility is to care for them and work on finding them homes. Remember that adopting a shelter animal saves two lives—the one that is adopted and the one we now have room to take in. So adopt! That will make it easier for us to say “yes” when we get a call asking us to take in a rescued animal.

 

We also have a lower-cost on-site veterinary clinic and a full-time veterinarian, Dr. Omar Córdova. The clinic not only takes care of our resident animals, but is open to the public from 9am-3pm, Mon-Sat and stays open until 4pm on Tues and Sat, which are our discount days. Adoption hours are 11am-2pm, Mon-Sat. We’re at Los Pinos 7, 415 152 6124. Check our website for a map www.spasanmiguel.org. 

 

To take advantage of our clinic and to meet our adoptable cats and dogs, we simply ask that you follow our safety protocol during these trying times. We prefer that no one enters the clinic other than S.P.A. personnel. If critical, only one person may enter the S.P.A. clinic with his or her animal. Similarly, only one person may enter the S.P.A. for an adoption interview. Anyone entering the S.P.A. must wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from S.P.A. personnel. Thank you for helping us all stay safe.