SAMM is blessed with some wonderful people who are all coming together to help make this work. We have some new volunteers who graciously did last minute home visits and offered to foster some of these gentle, sweet dogs. We are so grateful to the efforts of Jim and Sally Osbon, who again transported 8 dogs to the states and to all those who pitched in to make this work! Muchas Gracias!

Here are some of the transport dogs from this last transport and their stories. Daisy, now Darcy lived a very hard life that held little kindness or love. She was rescued from a refugio in Mexico City that had several hundred dogs. Many of the dogs were much larger than her, she was in a very bad place for someone who weighs only 8 lbs. She now will live out her life being doted on, sleeping in a warm bed and being loved by her new family. The have emailed us and reported that they just adore her.

Chula was a starving street dog, scared, skeletal and totally abandoned, she ended up in the Sociedad Protectora de Animales (SPA) where she may have lived her entire life, if it were not for an American woman visiting San Miguel de Allende for an extended vacation, that fell in love with Chula. She met Chula while she was volunteering her time at the SPA. When she took her husband to see Chula, he also was smitten with her lovely face. They agreed that they wanted Chula to be part of their family, but rescuing a dog in Mexico can create another host of problems. For visitors rescuing a dog from the street, or falling in love with one while visiting Mexico, it can be a painful and emotional experience, as many people do not know how to navigate getting their rescue dog state side . SAMM helps with this dilemma too. Chula was transported after months of living at the SPA by SAMM to the states were she is now reunited with her new family! This precious dog would have perished on the streets after months of harsh living, or lived her life in a cage, but now she is experiencing being part of a loving family. And her new family has now added themselves to the list of SAMM volunteers! Once you see how harsh life is for most Mexican dogs, it opens your heart to their plight and moves some of us to open our hearts and homes to these sentient beings as they continue to suffer in silence along the roadsides and town of Mexico.

As night falls just about anywhere in Mexico the streets become alive with the streetlight shadows of the 1000’s of abandoned dogs as they desperately seek food. It is a heart wrenching experience for those who are brave enough to see their suffering. We just wanted to share with you some of the stories that make this work bearable, it is the work that feeds our souls and we are grateful to those that help us and to those that contribute and or adopt these most deserving creatures. With heart felt thanks, from SAMM.

“Fila Brasileiros” are a rare canine breed from Brazil. These four pups (pictured below) were found wandering and starving in the streets of a small Mexican town about 50 km from San Miguel de Allende and the first we have ever seen other than in photos. These are likely the work of another unscrupulous breeder who, just as happens in the U.S., turned out or destroyed the animals they could not sell. These pups are only 4 months old and already weigh 50+ pounds . The males max out about 180 pounds and the Fila is reputed to be one of the most loyal of all dogs, great guard animals, bond to their families, and are naturally distrusting of strangers. We are transporting them to a Fila rescue in the United States next week along with 6 other rescues who have all been adopted.

We want to give special thanks to Jim and Sally Osbon who left San Miguel last Friday, August 22nd with 8 more rescues — all of whom have been adopted in the State of New Mexico. They are kind and generous people and we value and appreciate their efforts. The homeless dog problem continues to worsen in Mexico and so we continue to step up our transports. Take a look at the SAMM website www.saveamexicanmutt.org — you never know you might find one with your name on it!

P.S. In addition to SAMM, we continue to support PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and are pleased to report that more animal abusers are finding their way into prisons across the U.S. Michael Vick did an unexpected favor for the animal rights movement and is, of course, no longer eating from an NFL training table but lined up in a prison cafeteria with other convicts where he belongs. Here’s one more story that is particularly telling: Only two short years ago, PETA delivered a custom-built doghouse to Hugo, a sweet dog who had been chained outside without any shelter from the broiling sun or the freezing cold. Thanks to kind supporters like you, we regularly bring the same comfort to hundreds of neglected “backyard” dogs every year, animals whose owners will not give them away and will only do the minimum within the law—if that. Hugo’s owner knew that local laws did not require shelter for dogs, and we were lucky not to be thrown off the property when we arrived with our “gift.” PETA field workers checked in on Hugo last New Year’s Day to fill his house with new straw bedding. They found Hugo curled up inside his doghouse. Hugo was dead, and his body was just a bag of bones. PETA gained custody of Hugo’s body and had him examined by a veterinarian. Hugo had been starved to death, his stomach empty except for some grass and orange peels. PETA immediately put a case file together and pressed local officials to file cruelty-to-animals charges. Through hard work and PETA’s own testimony, Hugo’s abusive owner was convicted and has received jail time and five years’ probation. PETA also asked that once he is released from prison that he not be allowed to own or set foot in any home where an animal is present for the rest of his life, and the judge granted that condition as part of his probation. Hugo’s former owner will now carry with him not only the memories of Hugo, prison life, but will forever carry a felony on his record. Only by increasing the penalties for animal cruelty and enforcing those penalties will the cruelty stop. Mexico is woefully behind on animal cruelty prohibitions and even worse about enforcing the laws they have. The only way to lessen the suffering here is via adoption, both within Mexico and to our kind neighbors in the United States. Thank you for your support.

SAMM received the following message and photo from Guapo’s new mom. Holly says, “Guapo is just the best dog…as you know. We feel so blessed to have him. I am sure he misses, Eric, but he seems to be settling in more and more everyday. For the last two days he has been playing very persistently with Tazio, our Hurricane Katrina rescue dog (the white one). Here are some pictures.”

This world is a better place because of good folks like the Merrigans. Thank you both!

Jim and I head north this Sunday with 9 dogs and our dear friend, Greg, is transporting another 3 to Dallas on Monday. Stay tuned for those blog updates and photos!

An animal-loving reporter at Fortune magazine caught wind of our charity, Save A Mexican Mutt, and sent a photographer to San Miguel de Allende last month. The article appears in Fortune on the newsstands Monday, June 16.

You can see the online version of the Fortune article here:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0806/gallery.Fortune40_after_work.fortune/3.html

If you are interested in learning more about the plight of homeless animals and are interested in adopting or helping go to http://www.saveamexicanmutt.org . Volunteers for care, transport, foster, and donation are all needed and appreciated.

Guapo’s amazing journey continues.

Guapo was released almost immediately from his cell in the Mexico shelter when a wonderful couple from California decided to adopt him. Another wonderful family that transported Guapo and 5 other dogs to Albuquerque, New Mexico, took Guapo to the hospice where his old friend and rescuer is, to say their goodbyes. His person can now rest knowing his best buddy will be loved and again be part of a family for life.

Guapo handled transport very well, so well in fact, that he agreed to an “accessoring” session to get ready for his new life in California. His new family drove all the way to pick him up in Albuquerque!

When Guapo got to Albuquerque, he was taken for a short walk around the block to get the kinks out of him, after a long two day drive. Half way around the block, two dogs charged their closed fence to bark. Guapo looked at us and then got behind us to get past these two unruly neighbors. He look relieved he didn’t have to be “front man” to deal with any trouble that may of come up.

This has all been a lot for a middle aged guy, but he has handled it with his sage canine approach to life and the amazing capacity that dogs have to suffer, grieve and still trust people and love unconditionally. We packed his familiar dog bed into his new family’s car and he is now heading towards a new life, a joy for him, his old friend and his new family.

After months of pleading to find a home or at least a foster home for Guapo, whose owner/rescuer has terminal cancer, an angel finally heard us and came through to help.

Guapo has been given a new lease on life. He will be living the good life in Indian Wells, California with is new ‘mom’ and two doggy siblings. No more shelter for Guapo!

Through a concerted effort, Gaupo will leave San Miguel in June with volunteer transporters (along with 5 other dogs) for SAMM, bound for Albuquerque, NM. From there, another generous volunteer for Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer rescue will pick up Guapo and two rescued Giant Schnauzer’s and drive them all to Phoenix, AZ. Guapo’s new mom will drive from Indian Wells, CA to Phoenix, AZ to get Guapo and take him to his ‘furever’ home.
Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you will automatically get the whole story via email of Guapo’s transport and pics of him with his new family.

If you can help us to help other such deserving animals, please, turn your browser to: http://www.saveamexicanmutt.org/Donate.html

Guapo lived for several years on the streets of Mexico. He experienced hunger, abandonment and has had half of one ear macheted off! A very kind American man, who had retired in Mexico, found Guapo and opened his heart and home to him. They became devoted to each other and life looked like it was finally going to improve for Guapo. Then his person was diagnosed with terminal cancer and Guapo’s future is once again taking an awful turn. After trying for months to find his loving dog a good home in Mexico, his person’s health has become so bad, that Guapo had to be put into a very overcrowded shelter in Mexico where he has virtually NO chance of being adopted, but will live his remaining life in a cage, surrounded by the endless barking sounds of other caged dogs. Guapo is as depressed as his ailing person is about this cruel twist of circumstance. This is one dear, sweet dog, he’s 8 years old, mellow, loves to nap and take walks. He has known intense hardship and then loving kindness. We are hoping Guapo can live out the remainder of his days with someone to love him, again. Time is running out for Guapo’s person. We would love to be able to tell him, his best friend is safe, sound and loved - soon! We can work out the logistics of getting Guapo to his new forever home. If you are looking for a mellow companion, please consider Guapo.

Who doesn’t love a happy ending? To be a dog lover in an area that has so many suffering dogs makes for some long, sad days. For anyone who has ever visited Mexico or another country south of the border, you’ve probably noticed the numbers of skeletal, desperate dogs roaming aimlessly. The problems of pet over population are huge and yes, it requires massive spay and neuter campaigns, as well as changing cultural norms towards companion animals. SAMM participates tirelessly in both, but the rescue efforts are by far the best part for us! The “before” and “after” stories keep us going and so here is another story to share, another reason to hope that someday Mexico’s dogs will have a much brighter future. Here’s the picture of Cupie “before”.

But the real joy comes from the “after” picture.

This is one cute little dog! Since Cu (formerly Cupie) has few teeth due to horrible nutrition and starvation, her new mom cooks for her! She will be spoiled for the rest of her days. Please consider donating to SAMM now, to save another little dog in need. All dogs are given complete veterinary attention, spayed, or neutered and quarantined before leaving Mexico.

Miel was found wandering, starving, cold and completely alone, along a busy Mexican roadway. Just a little waif of a dog, discarded among the roadside trash. Like countless other dogs, roaming countless Mexican roadways, desperately looking for a scrap of food, Miel would have no doubt ended up another little dog, dying quickly from a car, or slowly by starvation. She ended up instead through the kindness of a SAMM volunteer being scooped up to safety. In the seconds it took to coax Miel into her rescuer’s arms, her entire little world changed. Kindness can do that, change a world in the beat of a heart. Miel has since been adopted in the states and has grown into a happy, mischievous little character. Miel’s new family adores her, (even though her new mom would like to know where Miel buried most of the pond pump). Whether she’s at her favorite dog park chasing a ball, carrying her beloved ball with her to the Farmer’s Market, (she never leaves home without it), hiking, or trying to “fish” for huge goldfish in her family’s pond, she will never again know the suffering, that so many dogs experience south of our borders.

Please consider helping to rescue another little dog from Mexico’s streets. There are no overhead costs with SAMM, every penny goes directly to dogs, as we like to say!

“Phew, my life will never be any tougher now, than losing my ball at the dog park.”

Little Emily started out her life living, as so many dogs in Mexico do, on top of a family’s home. With little protection from sun and rain and no way to find food, but to jump two stories down, little Emily had few options when her family decided they did not want a dog after all, and simply stopped feeding her. She languished for some time on that isolated rooftop, in a small mountain town, just outside of Mexico City. Her chances of being saved were doubtful. She did what many dogs living in South America must do, she just waited for starvation to release her from her suffering.

In a world that appears at times to be overflowing with suffering, Little Emily was to find out what we hope many SAMM webpage readers learn, that with immense suffering, there is always, also, immense kindness and hope. Through a passing comment a Mexican woman made to a SAMM rescuer, Emily was rescued hours before she perished from her rooftop prison, and through the efforts of SAMM, Emily arrived in New Mexico and was adopted by a new family, a woman who cherishes her and would not trade her, literally, for a million dollars. The world is healed through countless acts of kindness, whether they are extended to a little starving dog, a person, or a country. And no act of love for a living creature is ever lost. Emily has repaid her thanks many times over, by being the smile on Gwen’s face ever since she joined her new family. Emily now spends her time “ tre chic at Albuquerque’s dog bistro, and is a regular at the photo shop with the Easter Bunny, or Santa.

Please consider helping another little Emily by donating now to SAMM. Every penny goes directly to helping another precious creature, who is suffering in silence.
Our world needs more happy endings.  SAMM works hard to make sure every little dog taken from the streets of Mexico has such a story.