Homeless Mexican Dogs and Cats in Trouble: Can You Help?

At first all I could hear was a slight rustling against the wall outside our bedroom window. It sounded like scratching. It could have been anything. The wind blowing leaves, maybe? I dismissed the sound and went on reading my Spanish lesson. But, that sound would not be dismissed so easily.

I heard a whining. Almost a whimper, it seemed. Whatever it was, I decided at this point it was not only a soft whimper but it also sounded impatient. I began hearing small "woofs." I went to the window of our Mexican street-level casita to check this out. It was a dog. A hungry, beautiful, purebred Cocker Spaniel was stretching toward our window with huge watery eyes and a pleading tone to her doggie whimpering.

She hadn't been on the run for long. Most street dogs my wife and I encounter here in Guanajuato, Mexico, look terribly shabby and near the end of life. We constantly hear stories, though, of amazing feats of veterinarian science bringing some of the seemingly hopeless cases back from near death. These dogs go on to thrive in new homes. It is amazing, really, that some of these dogs that are barely limping about, pregnant, ears torn off from fighting over mating rights, as well as some with broken legs hanging like a swinging gate can be saved. These wonderful, talented vets do it. But, it costs.

After discovering the source of the strange sound, my wife got on the phone and I went for the hot dogs. While she called for help, I fed hot dogs and water to this poor creature. By the way this little female greedily gulped the food and drank water, I knew she had not had food or water in while. Once the hot dogs were eaten, I asked my wife to get whatever else we had in the fridge that was meaty. She showed up with ham. Finally, the doggie was satiated. From our observations, it was the first time in days.

She is a beautiful golden-brown Cocker Spaniel. The tips of her ears looked like she had been surviving on filthy, river water. They were wet, blackened and slightly matted. Her coat looked good and her condition led me to believe she was a recent addition to Guanajuato's tragic street dogs and cats horror.