Animal Welfare: Managing Stray Cats and Dogs

Dear Supporter, 

GVI joined effort with the vet project partners Coco’s Animal Welfare to run a summer course with the kids from this community. Coco’s has a permanent spay and neuter program in Playa del Carmen, and started working in the community of Invasores this year.

‘Invasores’ is a shanty town on the outskirts of Playa Del Carmen. It is surrounded by a garbage dump and it is located on federal property under the major power lines that power Playa Del Carmen. Their houses are built from what they can find in the landfill and the community lacks most basic necessities. 

Pet care is important to Coco’s but also their owners wellbeing, therefore, joining efforts with GVI they decided to run a summer course with the children to teach them more about pet care as well as other activities, like dental hygiene, English lessons, sports and art. During the pet care lessons, we taught the children the basics of how to care for animals and be responsible pet owners. We also teach them about reporting stray and sick looking dogs to the authorities. 

The provision of food was important, to ensure that the kids would be able to concentrate and have energy to participate in the classes and activities, as many go without breakfast or one lacking in nutritional benefits.

Over 40 children benefited from this summer camp. They received lessons and activities all week as well as 2 meals a day for the week. The kids were very happy to participate as they don’t have access to these kind of activities, and the food provided allowed them to focus and concentrate in the activities.

It is vital to start educating children about pet care so that they will be more aware and responsible adults one day!

Thank you for your generous support!

With Gratitude, 

GVI Mexico and Coco's Animal Welfare

Links:

• The Charitable Trust
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Dear Supporter, 

This past week, we have been fortunate enough to be able to participate in VIDAS, a 6-day free spay and neuter campaign for cats and dogs. It is of utmost importance to spay and neuter the cats and dogs in Playa del Carmen so that we can stop over population. It helps to reduce the number of stray animals on the streets as well as helping to control aggressive behaviour and the spread of diseases.  

VIDAS is held twice a year in the Yucatan area of Mexico, one of which is held here in Playa Del Carmen. During this 6 day campaign, over 1400 cats and dogs from the area are spayed or neutered. The GVI volunteers had the amazing opportunity to help out because of GVI's partnership with Coco's Animal Welfare. The volunteers got the opportunity to support during the surgeries and then monitor the recovery process and interact with the pets' owners before and after the operations. 

It is extremely rewarding to be able to be part of a such a beneficial campaign each year. Without VIDAS the majority of pet owners in this area would not have been able to sterilise their pets due to the high costs involved. 

We were also fortunate enough to be able to work with IFAW and Coco's recently to vaccinate 148 dogs against distemper and parvovirus in Tulum. The dogs were also administered with preventative medication for fleas, ticks and heartworm.  

Both of these are amazing campaigns and GVI-Mexico is proud to be part of them.  

Thank you for your continued support. 

With Gratitude, 

GVI-Mexico

Links:

• The Charitable Trust
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter