Marshall is a DOLL of a dog.  My best guess is he is a Springer Spaniel mix.  Marshall is about 2 years old, neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm negative, was treated for Ehrlichia (a tick borne disease) and weighs about 14 kilos.  He’s a medium sized boy.  He’s got the floppy ears, the lobbed tail and the character!  He is SUCH a fun dog.  Very talkative and lets you KNOW how happy he is that you have returned home with his sweet chatty talk. 

Marshall was brought here after being hit by a car.  The poor dear had to be on crate rest and pain meds for quite a while as by the time a vet was found that could repair the break in his pelvis, it was already setting.  It was too late.  SO SAD, I know!  I sent his xrays out to so many clinics in Cancun and called and called and called and couldn’t get a response.  Finally, after a great friend of mine suggested, I reached out to a good friend who has a shelter in Playa Del Carmen for a referral and wouldn’t you know it!  The vet responded within MINUTES of receiving the xray!  He is now the ONLY go to for me for issues like this, and thankfully… I haven’t had any since.  The vet in Playa reassured me (after asking a few questions) that Marshall would heal just fine and he has!  He told me to continue the treatments he was put on by my good friend and vet Dr. Erik.  He does need more low impact exercise like swimming, he is not a jogging dog by far, but it doesn’t hold him back from a good run around outside with dogs.  He just needs to be monitored and ensured he doesn’t go too too crazy.  He just loves to play but prefers belly rubs BY FAR!  He is no longer on any pain meds as he does not need them. 

Marshall was named after the character from the show called Paw Patrol.  If you dont know the show, its a kids show where these dogs “Save the Day”.  One is a fire “marshall”, a police officer… you get the picture.  Marshall is one of the main characters who is a dalmatian dog that wears a fireman’s hat.  My 5 year old of course, LOVES the show and any white and black dog with spots is a Marshall.  This is the first male dog we have had who resembles the dog on the show… so he is officially Marshall and Katie and him just adore each other.  He really is a good, good, good boy!

The hardest thing, is to get him to look at me when I am taking a photo of him haha.  It’s as if he knows “if I take a good photo, I’m going to get adopted”.  But what he doesn’t realize he NEEDS a home of his own.   He will be more spoiled than I or Katie or Val could ever do because we have to spread ourselves out amongst all the dogs and pups.  I can’t wait for the day when he has his own bed and people to worship him the way he just LOVES to be worshipped. 

Without any further delay… here is the gorgeous, sweet Marshall!  (Please excuse my finger.  I was trying SO HARD to get him to look at me, I didn’t even notice I was getting my finger in the shot! haha!)  I just LOVE his smile!

I am SO excited about the up and coming campaign April 29th, 30th and May 1st, 2016 in Cancun, Mexico.  We are aiming to spay and neuter 400 to 500 dogs and cats in 3 days.  It won’t be easy, but it can be done!  Long hours, lots of work and thankfully the dedicated vets from Vets in Action will be on the scene operating non stop. 

Save our Scruff, one of my rescue partners in Canada is funding and bringing down supplies and volunteers for the campaign.  It is a LOT of work from coordinating flights, who’s bringing down what, where are they going to stay, what is every one going to eat and drink, where are we hosting the campaign… its a lot of work, but it will be WELL worth it!

Did you know that one litter of pups can produce 63,000 puppies?  That is a LOT.  Cats, are even higher!  With the amount of animals on the streets in Mexico, spay and neuter IS the only solution.  You can’t turn a corner without seeing a homeless dog or cat.  There used to be campaigns up to twice a year in Cancun but that has not happened in a couple of years now and I am so worried that all the work that was done over those years will quickly and easily be undone.  And it will, if we dont hurry up and get back on the campaign track.  I was so excited when S.O.S brought up possibly doing a campaign, at the time it was just an idea they threw out at me and I took it and RAN with it haha!  I know it will be a great success as the Vets in Action team are amazing local surgeons with excellent training in low cost, less invasive, teeny tiny incisions which makes recovery and healing shorter and FAST surgical techniques thanks to Planned Pethood International and the Spay and neuter guru himself Dr. Jeffrey Young.  Dr. Jeff has travelled the world teaching his techniques for years.  I am so greatful to be able to work with such a great team of vets headed by Dr. Luis.  This campaign WILL prevent a lot of suffering and poor little lives from being born to suffer.

During this campaign, we will be providing the dogs and cats with all their injections, AND dewormer and flea and tick meds.  This makes the cost per surgery approximately $30 per animal.  We are using only the BEST injectable antibiotics and meds we can buy.  IF there are enough funds left, we will also be buying vaccinations in bulk to also give FOR FREE.  After all, we do want the animals to have the best recovery and live long, healthy, non puppy and kitty producing lives.  If you would like to sponsor a dog or cat surgery, you can do so via Paypal at donations@allpetsdeservevets.org  Please specify in your donation that you are a dog or kitty sponsor.  I will be SURE to send you a photo and basic information on the dog or cat that was spayed and neutered thanks to your donation!

Some of the things we will be doing for the animals as they come through the clinic are;

Basic examination,  surgery, nails clipped, ears cleaned, ticks and fleas picked and meds applied, fur brushed, the badly matted dogs will get a nice shave in recovery while they are still sleeping, for those animals that come in with leashes or collars fashioned out of anything from wire, seatbelts, chains, rope – will be fitted with a leash and collar to take home.  The volunteers will be working along side the owners in recovery, showing them the basics on animal care.  The education here for owners is very low.  We will be working with the locals to help change that.

We are currently looking for corporate sponsors as well for the campaign to help us cover the costs of the supplies and other things needed, like lunches and cold drinks for the vets and volunteers.  If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor for the campaign, please write me at pamela@allpetsdeservevets.org  We will be advertising the campaign internationally, and will include your logo on ALL our campaign fliers, news updates, facebook pages and MORE. 

For those of you who would like to donate items, here is a general list of items that we will be needing.  Please contact me to arrange to have these items brought down, if you are donating from Canada or the USA.

Surgical Clinical Items

• Surgical drape or surgical gowns (we cut gowns and make our own drape)
• Sterile pouches (envelopes) for packing drape and gauze into to be sterilized for surgeries.
• Syringes 1 ml and 3 ml with 22 gauge to 24 gauge needles
• Surgical gloves sizes 6.5 to 8
• Examination gloves sizes medium and large
• Cold sterile/chlorhexidine
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Alchohol
• Surgical masks/hats
• Sleeves of 4×4 gauze
• Intubation tubes sizes 3 to 8.5 (with the bulb working)
• Catheters 20 gauge to 24 gauge
•  Tape
• Suture – suture material is REALLY important.  We can only use the best absorbable suture as many of these dogs do go back to dirt floors.  The suture we need is pds/monocryl 0 to 3-0.  We can use braided vicryl, (same sizes) but only internally as the braided suture can trap in dirt and increase the chances of infection. Reels are also excellent as we can swag our own suture onto syringe needles.  Expired suture is accepted as we test the strength before surgery.

Non Surgical Items

• Collars and leashes all sizes
• Cones- all sizes
• Food and water bowls
• Eye drop lubricant for cats
• Collapsible wire crates all sizes
• Transport crates sizes medium to extra large
• Puppy X pens
• Bathing mitts
• Shampoos – medicated and non medicated
  
• Flea and tick meds
• Heartworm medication
• Dewormer
• Towels, blankets, bedsheets, pillow cases, old bath mats
• Dog shirts and sweaters
• Dog nail clippers
• Clippers!  We are always in need of professional clippers for prepping dogs for surgery and for shaving down the really matted dogs whose owners can’t afford grooming services.

If you have anything you would like to donate for the campaign, or not sure of how you can help please do not hestitate to contact me! 

I cannot wait for campaign day.  These campaigns are SO addictive!  Once you’ve participated in one… you are hooked for life.  I know I am.  I am hoping though, that within my lifetime, I can see a Cancun that no longer NEEDS spay and neuter campaigns.  It CAN and WILL happen, but it can’t happen without the support and dedication of volunteers and sponsors. 

While we all wait for this campaign to kick off… here are some adorable photos of my daughter Kathryn with puppies.  These puppies are lucky because they found their way here.  They will never spend a day of their life suffering or having to survive without, as their momma has had to experience in her life.  Please help us to stop the overpopulation and end the suffering the unlucky ones face.  We can be the change.  We can make a difference and the only way we will do it is together!

Pamela

Frosty.  Frosty was a sweet dog that took a lot of work to get to me and thank goodness I have amazing, hard working friends.  I found him posted in a group for Playa del Carmen by a woman begging for someone to take him in or she would have to put him back on the street.  She was moving the next day, and was not allowed to bring this darling little boy with her.  He had been picked up off the street by her only a short time before hand and I could not let him go back to the streets after being in a home… again.  So my wonderful friends sprung to action.  Between Loraina and Sherwood, Frosty was picked up, brought to Coco’s for his neuter, fostered in Akumal for a few days and then my amazing friend’s Sherwood and her husband Bob drove him alllll the way up to me!  (Sherwood also picked his name!) I am so blessed to know so many wonderful people so dedicated to helping an animal in need!

What a love button he is. Spunky, energetic… non stop player (of the toys, not the ladies!)  Frosty and Ears hit it off right away!  Those two LOVED to play hard, and hard they did play!

Once all of Frosty’s vaccines and deworming and testing was all done, he was sent up to Toronto to find his new home  through my amazing rescue partner Save Our Scruff.  While he was in foster, and at the dog park one day… he ran into a great friend of mine named Tami and her dog Socks who I doggy sat for her in the fall until Socks could make it up to Toronto to be reunited with her Momma.  Its funny how many of my pooches Tami runs into and sends me photos of.  After a short time in foster, Frosty found an AMAZING home with Olga and her husband.  They are totally head over heals in love with him!  The husband’s chair, is now Frosty’s chair and you will see why he’s claimed it – really, it is the best seat! 

Even though all my little loves get adopted soooooooo far away, I am so greatful the internet makes the world that much smaller.  Between Tami and her amazing ability to run into one of my pooches in Toronto, or know the person who is fostering or adopted one of my babies… and the internet itself connecting everyone together… I may not be able to pet him and hug him or tell him how happy I am for him, but these photos make my heart smile just the same AND I get to tell his Mom how happy I am for him and for her and her husband.  OH OH  OH OH OH!  And the BEST part!?  Ms. Ears (now Bella) and Frosty only live 10 minutes away from each other!  Friends forever they will be!!!!

Sooo…Here he is.  In all his chair and sunshine glory. 

My sweet Frosty.

 

       

 

Thank you to the Save our Scruff team for always going above and beyond and finding my pooches amazing homes.

Olga and family.. thank you for loving Frosty more than anyone else ever could and for giving him the home he always deserved to have.   I look forward to years and years of happy photos of sweet Frosty in his chair. 

Remember sweet Kris?  He was brought to me right around Christmas.  His poor skin was like leather.  He was SKIN and bones!  Here are some of his befores when he first came to me.  Just a reminder to our fb readers, click the link at the bottom to see all the photos and his wonderful transformation! 

 

 

 

The poor dear was just a mess.  He was totally shut down.  He did not know what affection was or if wanted it.  He was starving. (I still can’t believe how much this boy can eat!) Well, without any further delay, I introduce you to… the new Kris!!!

Isn’t he just the cutest!?

 

 

Kris with his shadow and good mate Marley!

 

Day or night, his little tail doesnt stop wagging.

Kris is now about 14 months old, but a very calm, loving young dog.  He is neutered. Fully vaccinated And READY for adoption! It wasn’t easy getting Kris to where he is now.  The poor fella itched so badly and because his skin was so sensitive, he was in sweaters to protect him from scratching himself.  Also, he had to be kept away from the animals so they wouldn’t accidentally hurt him while he healed. He developed a growth on his back leg that needed to be removed and sent to a lab for testing.  We should have the results soon!  Keep your paws crossed it was just an ulcer!  Kris says thank you to everyone who helped him along the way to get him where he is today!  It could not have been done without you!

Keep following to see Kris again, once he has found his very own forever family.  I have a feeling it won’t be long now!

I have so much to update today, but first up – Momma and her 4 BEAUTIFUL puppies.  For those of you reading this on our facebook page, please click the link at the bottom to see all the photos!

 

  Family time.  Angel making sure all her pups are accounted for.

Angel is such a happy girl.  She loves her people and her babies with everything she’s got. I have to say, having the Momma dog WITH the puppies makes such a HUGE difference.  Last year at this time while my husband and I were running a shelter for another organization… the amount of puppies we took in without mothers made for extremely stressful times.  Bottle feeding all hours, and even waking up every 4 hours to feed those babies already weaned to the mush food.  Hard work aside, the babies just do not have good chances of surviving without their mothers.  The last two litters I have been able to take in, both had mothers and for the first time – we really got to relax and fully enjoy seeing them grow!  Not having to worry or wonder… will they make it, how many will make it?  Having the mother with the puppies gives them the immunity they need, the vitamins and nutrients their little growing bodies need, the comfort, support and warmth only a mother dog can provide.  And when the mother dog is as SWEET and as LOVING and HAPPY as Angel is, WOW!  The pups have even greater chances of finding their perfect forever home.  They have the greatest little characters.  They absolutely LOVE to snuggle, as does their mom.  They are curious and playful, very confident and LOVE to explore. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These ones are going to be tough to let go of when the time comes.  Same with Angel their mother.  She TRULY is an Angel.  No other name suits her personality so perfectly.

“I’m guarding Momma while she rests.”

So, there are 3 boys and 1 girl.  If you have any name ideas, DO let me know!!!  This one, above and below is the female.  She just melts my heart! 

“I know you can’t resist picking me up!”

I DO have a darling video of all the pups and Momma Angel as well as one with Katie and ALL the puppies loving on her and playing with her.   I will upload it as SOON as I can!