Spay/Neuter and Adoption of Street Animals

Thanks to the donations of supporters through GlobalGiving, and other generous direct supporters within the Community Action Alliance, the CAA Animal Welfare Committee organized and held 3 additional dog spay-neuter clinics over the past 6 months.  During the past year, the CAA Spay-Neuter program has neutered 220 dogs, street dogs, pets of local owners that could not afford to pay for the service, or dogs in local dog rescue facilities.  

This round of clinics was organized and supervised by DVM Mark Knoeppl, the Chair of the CAA Animal Welfare Committee who volunteers his time and partially funded this important work.  One hundred percent of dog rescue work is done by volunteers and volunteer organizations in San Ramon given that the municipalities do not offer this important service.  However, the Costa Rican legislature has just passed a new Animal Cruelty law that provides for much stricter penalties for mis-treatment of animals.  If that law can be effectively enforced, it might offer some additional protection for animals in this country---however, because publicly funded rescue centers are almost non-existent in this country, most of the actual work of taking in animlas removed from owners under this law will fall to volunteer organizations.

Shown in the photo is HW, the wonderful former Austrian who came to Costa Rica many years ago and took the personal challenge to create a dog rescue center called Dogland (San Ramon) in the hills just west of the city.  HW is largely responsible for the well-being of about 200 dogs, and the CAA Animal Welfare Committee is pleased to be able to assist hers, and other area rescue centers, in this important community service work.

Thanks again to all the GlobalGiving supporters who contributed to this effort.