This is the most commonly asked question and the answer is simple. Mayan Families believes in taking a complete look at the needs of an individual or family. We view companion animals as family members and valued members of the community. Evaluating the complete needs of individuals and families without addressing the health concerns of their pets leaves a gapping hole in a holistic approach. Additionally, by controlling over-population through sterilization, there is no need for inhumane poisonings, a dehumanizing experience for the local population and visitors. In the past, strychnine-coated meat was indiscriminately thrown to any dog on the street. Many family animals sent out to forge for food where caught up in the act. Children witnessed the long hours of agonizing deaths. Then the bodies where thrown onto the backs of pick-up trucks and hauled to the dump. The lesson learned: Animal life has no worth. We believe compassion, empathy and kindness towards animals is a vital step in building a loving, nurturing community.
Several years ago, Sharon's daughter, Zoe initiated a rescue program, primarily for the many abandoned dogs in the Panajachel area. Working closely with AWARE, a shelter located in Sumpango, Zoe and Sharon began coordinating sterilization clinics for needy family animals. Vets and assistants visiting from the U.S., Canada and Guatemala City participated in the clinics held at Sharon's house.
In March 2007, it was decided to formalize the pilot project launched by Zoe and Sharon into a permanent program of Mayan Families. Selaine named the program Healthy Pets and took on the development and directorship as a volunteer.
Free and low-cost sterilization clinics in Panajachel the last Saturday of every month
Ad-hoc free and low-cost sterilization clinics in surrounding villages
Free and low-cost vaccinations clinics
Emergency Services
Humane Education in area schools, through call-in radio programs, and soon, through a regularly scheduled program
on one of the local television stations
Food Supplement Program, a subsidy program for needy families
Adoption and Foster Care
From March 2007 - February 2008
Sterilization of dogs and cats 446
Hospitalization and Treatments 326
Vaccinations 182
Adoptions 43
Schools in Humane Ed Program 2
We do a form of animal rescue through emergency services; however, we do not and will not build an animal shelter - they are too easy to fill and too hard to empty. We believe trained foster care homes are a far better way to address abandoned or homeless animals and that through regularly scheduled sterilization clinics, the number of abandoned animals will decrease. We sterilize, vaccinate, and release street animals. We encourage local citizens to create food stations and to keep an eye on them.
Toys, chew bones, syringes, collars, leashes, flea collars, flea and tick spray (Fipronex), extended-protection flea and tick treatments (Frontline, Avantage) IV tubing, Vin Cristine (chemotherapy drug), antibiotics, Ivermectin (broad-spectrum wormer), vitamins for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens, formula for puppies and kittens, steri-strips, bandages, gauze wrap and tape, large incontinence pads (Chux), blankets and towels and grooming supplies.
Talk with your local veterinarians and their assistance about:
The Healthy Pets program and the in-kind donations we seek
Do they belong to an association that might want to help as a group?
Do they have any old equipment they'd like to donate? Ie: Autoclave, Endoscope
Raise funds for the program through traditional and creative new ways:
Bake Sales
Yard Sales
Car Washes
School, church and service organization fund drives
Recycled Gardens: One thing that's working well for the Oregon Neutermobile is plant sales. "We have a whole nursery,
"says Celeste Crimi. "It's called Recycled Garderns. People donate plants and cuttings. Our slogan is Adopt your plant,
and prune your pets! Our first year, it grossed $25,000. . ."
If you are planning an extended trip to Panajachel or the Lake, in general, please consider staying in a facility that will allow you to foster an animal. We are currently compiling a list of cooperative facilities. This is always our biggest volunteer need. Check with us ahead of time to see if there are any animals that need transport back to your area of the country. More and more good-hearted folks want to adopt an animal from here, are willing to pay the expenses, but need help getting the animal to them. The cost for transporting an animal alone in most cases is much more expensive than transporting with a ticketed passenger.
Plan your trip around "Dia de los Perros" our annual awareness and fundraising event and help out with the fun! This year the event will be held on 8 November. There are always dogs that need to be exercised every day. If you enjoy walking with a companion, this is a great way to see Panajachel!
Mayan Families Healthy Pets maintains a community on the Best Friends Network site where news articles are posted on a regular basis. Best Friends also showed its support for Healthy Pets by pledging ½ the cost of an x-ray machine to initiate the fundraising campaign for this critical piece of equipment. The additional funds were raised and the machine is in use.
The budget for the 2008 fiscal year is $45,000. This covers 16 sterilization clinics, 4
vaccination clinics, treatment of 5 CTVT cases per month, boarding for five animals per month, humane education supply
costs, weekly food allowances for 100 animals and all administrative costs. Healthy Pets was founded and is directed by a
volunteer. All veterinary services are contracted with Guatemala providers. The program has one part-time technical
contractor and one indigenous employee.
Here are our goals for 2008:
Spay/Neuters 500
Rabies/Combos 500
Adoptions 100
Animals in Food Program 100
Emergency Services 5-10 patients/mo
Humane Education classes in 5 area schools
Trained Foster Homes 15
The new fiscal year began on 1 April 2008. The budget for Healthy Pets represents less than 6% of the total Mayan Families budget.
Street Dog Program - A Wish for 2008
Businesses and individuals are asked to feed and provide clean water for an "adopted" street dog on a daily basis. Food, flea treatments and worming meds provided by the Healthy Pets program.
Launch the fundraising campaign for a Mobile Medical Unit for Mayan Families Healthy Families and Mayan Families Healthy Pets. For more information, please contact Selaine directly at selaine@mayanfamilies.org.