APC Report to General Meeting
Spring/Summer 2010

In 4 years over 400 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens from Lo de Marcos have been sterilized, and approximately 40 homeless ones have found new, good homes, both here and abroad. Imagine the huge reduction, both now and in the future, of unwanted canines and felines that has occurred! Thank you, thank you Amigos, for your part in this important work!! The APCC humbly asks for your continued support in 2011. Read on for details of the 2010 clinic and news for May through August.

The successful 4th annual Lo de Marcos spay/neuter (sterilization) clinic took place at Casa de los Ninos during March 18-21, and Ayuda a Los Animales (Help for the Animals), a branch of P.E.A.C.E, based in Bucerias, Nayarit, provided the fine veterinary service. Ayuda a los Animales is also known as MASH, Mobile Animal Surgical Hospital, and indeed it is very much like the TV MASH except that the patients are dogs, puppies, kittens and cats instead of humans. Amigos de Lo de Marcos members rose to call, as usual, which resulted in a wonderful outpouring of volunteer support! There were ample human angels to tend to pre-clinic set-up, animal pick-up and delivery, post-surgical recovery, cleaning of cages and premises, food preparation for staff and volunteers, and housing for MASH staff (5). Angels, you know who you are and the residents and animals of our lovely village thank you immensely! P.E.A.C.E required a donation of $16,000 pesos, and Amigos de Lo de Marcos voted to provide $8,000. Thanks so much Amigos, for helping this happen once again, and thank you other very generous donors! The Mexican residents here are very appreciative of this free service to the community and are really seeing the positive difference. They continue to request, ALMOST DAILY, sterilizations for their pets.

The following numbers were provided by P.E.A.C.E/MASH for this clinic:

Total dog sterilizations for Lo de Marcos: 42 -- 21 male and 21 female
Total cat sterilizations:                           10 – 6 female and 4 male
Total animals: 52

Total La Penita/La Colonia dog sterilizations: 16 – 8 male and 8 female
Total La Penita/La Colonia cat sterilizations: 8 -- 2 male and 6 female
Total animals: 24

Total dog sterilizations from La Cruz de H.: 4 females

For Amigos members who wonder why animals from other communities are sterilized in our community at our expense, please know that P.E.A.C.E/MASH has always accepted, and continues to accept, free, any animals brought into any clinic anywhere, and many animals from Lo de Marcos have been transported to and sterilized (during the past 4 years) at clinics in locations such as Los Ayala, La Penita, La Cruz, Sayulita, San Pancho, Mezcalitos, Bucerias, and San Jose del Valle. Also, Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue, JBAR (with which many of you are now familiar), based in Los Ayala, Nayarit, and the sponsor of 8 P.E.A.C.E/MASH sterilization clinics in the Los Ayala/La Penita/ La Colonia areas (see their website), continues to maintain a strong and supportive relationship with Lo de Marcos. JBAR must also pay for the PEACE clinics but has never requested $ from Lo de Marcos for the many animals sterilized at their 2x per year clinics.     

In April of this year, 10 more animals from Lo de M were transported and sterilized at a P.E.A.C.E/MASH clinic in Bucerias.

On May 20 of this year, one day in June, and one day in July, a total of 16 animals from here were transported to Sayulita Animals for sterilization. SA is a non-P.E.A.C.E, non-profit small animal clinic in a permanent location that sponsors one day per week sterilization clinics almost year round. 2 Mexican vets from the Bucerias area do the surgeries. SA also sponsors occasional 3 day sterilization clinics staffed by a volunteer vet and her assistant from northern California. A donation of $800 pesos from me was given to SA – not much for all their help but better than nothing! Happily, vet Charlotte and vet tech Bliss Fisher transported, at the expense of SA, 1 adult male dog and 2 puppies from Lo de Marcos to California for adoption! These 2 women have gone far above and beyond the call of duty, performing such surgeries as damaged eye and limb removal, exploratory surgery, and emergency IV and antibiotic treatment! SA has evolved as a wonderful and important resource for animal care and protection! Sara, the director and principal founder, has remained steadfast and positive through many difficult obstacles and transitions and is a loyal ally to me and the animals here. It costs SA approximately $150 pesos per animal per sterilization, and Sara has waived this fee for me when $ are not available. SA is closed for the month of August and will reopen in Sept.

There is a tremendous need here for dewormer/desparasitante for canines and felines, as well as the usual vaccines. A huge number of animals of all ages die here continuously from parasite infestation and diseases related to it. In a report to follow this one, I will elaborate on this grave problem. Thank you again for your concern and your help!!!

Respectfully submitted,

Ann (Ana) Embury-Lewis