This was passed onto me from a co-worker who is involved in this project. The Baja Animal Sactuary is a not-for-profit organization working to rescue homeless/abused animals from the streets of Rosarito Beach, Mexico, and bring them up to the United States for adoption. They are working in almost primitive conditions, lacking even the basic necessities like electricity and running water.
I realize this time of year is always a crunch for everyone, but I would appreciate your consideration if you have anything left over. Or keep the site bookmarked until after the holidays. This is an ongoing labor of love for this organization.
A suggestion was raised about setting up some charity auctions and I'm going to work with the local support staff to see if they would be interested. I'll let all you animal lovers know where to find them once they are off the ground.
In the meantime, thanks so much for whatever you can do. If you happen to be local to the San Diego area, please contact me at [email protected] regarding their wish list. There are three local volunteer drop-off points that can make sure all the items get there safely. They will also be coming up to the San Diego area once a week with the animals available for adoption.
posted on December 10, 2000 11:01:41 AM
Oh now you did it njrazd, now I want to adopt one! We want another dog, but have been too poor to do it right now. I might ship them some food though. Thanks for the link!
posted on December 10, 2000 11:04:58 AM
krs...I don't know. I haven't been down to the site yet. According to the map, they are on Blvd. Isidro Alvarez Munguia (which is actually a dirt road) which runs off of Calle Palma, which runs off of Blvd Benito Juarez. Their newsletter talks about a church-sponsored orphanage about 1/8th mile from them. That and an abandoned condo complex is all that appears close by.
Urban sprawl! When I had a place in Rosarito Beach I don't remember any named roads running off of anything. Avenida Benito Jaurez is the main drag, or was. Maybe there's a Hollywood Blvd. now?
What happened? Did all the San Diego commuting gringos put a stop to barbequeing dogs? Meddlesome busybodies.
posted on December 10, 2000 06:04:47 PM
krs...most of these roads are unpaved. They probably only named them so the Americans could find the place. There's also a note on the map that says to please watch for people and animals crossing the roads. I don't think my insurance company would let me take my vehicle down there!
pareau...that was one of the good things about this place. Every animal that comes through gets spayed/neutered before being put out for adoption. One of the problems with working with a 3rd world government is the people can't get any kind of decent care, so what can the animals expect?
posted on December 10, 2000 06:12:39 PM
njrazd, as soon as my current auctions are over, I will relist some that didnt sell as a "donation sale" (after ebay fees). Proceeds will go to your cause. I will email you soon, so I can get the address to where to send the funds.
posted on December 10, 2000 06:56:22 PMOne of the problems with working with a 3rd world government is the people can't get any kind of decent care, so what can the animals expect?
njrazd, I find this comment totally insulting.
I live in Mexico, and I totally disagree with your comment. Sure there are a lot of poverty over here, but there are a lot of well educated people as well. Social security is available to everyone, as is education also, free of charge, so please don't go throwing stereotypes around.
It wouldn't be fair if I told you that all people living in the US are Junkies, just because a few millions are, now would it?
posted on December 10, 2000 08:25:45 PM
Gotta' agree with the preacher on that. There are hoards of Americans who migrate to Mexico to avail themselves of the excellent, AFFORDABLE health care, particularly dental care, and to be able to purchase the exact same prescription drugs they need as would cost upwards of four times the dollar amount in this country. I mean 'exact same' to say that the drugs are the same; same manufacturer, same packaging, pill shape and color.
As to your car--you're right,njrazd, your insurance company won't insure it in Mexico but it's got nothing to do with dirt roads and lots to do with your company's inability to work the compensation systems to their advantage. You can buy Mexican insurance at the border.
Why you think that it is beneficial to promote the adoption of Mexican mutts when the entire United States is inundated with homeless pets, less scruffy usually, awaiting homes in the pounds in every county in every state every day is beyond me.
posted on December 10, 2000 08:44:23 PM
Come on guys. There is nothing wrong with the title of this thread. Amigo means FRIEND, does it not? And why not help those animals? Cant make everything perfect, so gotta do it one piece at a time. Njrazd chose to help this particular group and I commend her for it. If it was helping greyhounds that nobody wants after the races, or abandoned horses after rodeos, or whatever the case is, its still doing one little thing at a time. Why pick on her good motives? Sheesh.
posted on December 10, 2000 08:50:58 PMFranny
Being an Animal lover myself (Cats especially ), I can't argue and totally approve njrazd's approach on trying to solve the stray animal's problems. It's just the comments highlighted on my above post that I completely disagree on.
There's a little bit of sarcasm, and a lot of truth. If you are living in Mexico then you already know the truth of what I said about the medical care and the drugs. If you are involved in Mexico beyond establishing a cheap extension of an ostentatious American way of living then you know the people to be warm, friendly, and of amazingly good sensibility in most things. How odd for Americans to discover that the Mexican people do not fit the stereotypical American conception of being dirty beggars and cheap border hustlers who would adopt the line from an american depression era song which goes "brother, can you spare me a dime?"
posted on December 10, 2000 09:14:19 PM
From what I read, this sounds like a business move:
"When participating shelters are asked why they would import dogs into areas that are just now turning the tide on a problem they've fought for decades, their first reply is that overpopulation is still a big problem. Next, they uniformly assert that they need small mixed breed dogs to increase adopter traffic. Simultaneously, they maintain that the small dogs do not displace any of their other dogs. In effect, they're claiming that the foreign strays serve as loss leaders for their less desirable but still adoptable longer-term residents. This is not a compelling or convincing argument given the myriad responsible actions that could be taken locally to stir up interest in their current inventory. Moreover, it is disturbing to hear shelters justify importing strays because of the demand for small mixed breeds. When did it become the responsibility of humane societies and animal
rights groups to fill consumer demands? If this continues, local humane societies may soon become the biggest pet stores in town."
The organization behind this quote (see the link I posted above) may have an axe to grind, but they make sense. Transporting animals in this way is simply mad, unless there's a concerted effort to stop the problem at its source, as I said above. If the groups aren't performing spaying and neutering in the originating countries, it would appear they're effectively using these countries as uncompensated puppy mills.
The piece ends:
"At NAIA we are not predisposed toward new legislation or regulation. In the case of organized international importation of strays, however, we believe that a potential threat to our own pets' health exists which is serious enough to warrant a review and tightening of the current laws, regulations and policies. Readers with similar concerns can help us initiate such action by investigating leads regarding importation of strays to their states and regions and by sharing what they learn with us. This will help us get a more complete picture of the extent of the problem so that we can share it with regulators."
I'd wondered about the legalities too, especially in CA, which forbids the importation of some seeds and plants from sources as exotic as Pennsylvania.
posted on December 10, 2000 09:53:57 PM
preacher...my comments on Mexico can be directly attributed to the news reports that come across the border constantly regarding the poor conditions down the baja coast. Our church takes up blanket collections every winter because of the families in Tijuana living in adobe homes with no heat. There are stories every year of children and elderly freezing to death. If the free education is so great, why do they send buses to the border daily to pick up kids to go to US schools? And if conditions were so wonderful, why do so many risk their lives everyday to make their way here? And the reason doctors and medicine is so much cheaper is because the entire cost of living is much lower.
I have a deep affection for the Mexican people that I have met here. My son's Godparents are from Chihuahua. But they have no desire to move back. And I have no reason to think they would lie to me about the conditions they put up with while there.
krs...the title of this thread does not reflect upon the people of Mexico. If you read the website, then you will know this organization receives no money whatsoever from the Mexican government and relies soley on personal donations, most of which come from the US. I know there are many people who include animal organizations when deciding to make donations to charity. If you are not one of them, then that's fine. The overpopulation of animals is a problem worldwide. This is just one little place trying to cope with it the best way it can.
posted on December 10, 2000 11:46:14 PM
"Why you think that it is beneficial to promote the adoption of Mexican mutts when the entire United States is inundated with homeless pets, less scruffy usually, awaiting homes in the pounds in every county in every state every day is beyond me."
I am sorry but I have to agree here. There are millions of abandoned pets - quite a few in California - why bring in those from another country. While I applaud your organization to help the needy - I just don't understand why you aren't assisting the neglected and orphaned animals here that are put to death daily. To bring more into this country is only going to perpetuate the problem we already have here.
As for the posters that alluded to Mexico's wealth or overall poverty I disagree. We have many friends that live in Mexico as well as I worked with numerous people over the years from there. You are either rich or poor - there is no middle class - so I guess that makes you both right to some degree.
Anyway, - when you make your trip with the blankets for the poverty stricken - please post as that is a worthy cause we would be happy to donate to.
posted on December 11, 2000 11:04:59 AM
Why send funds to starving children in India or africa when they are starving right here? Why give clothing to Goodwill and Salvation Army when its distributed everywhere in the US? Why give to the American Cancer Society instead of Seeing Eye Dogs for the Blind? Why support Greenpeace, verses SPCA? Kindness is kindness. One chooses a charity to assist, and it isnt good enough, poor enough, needy enough, well known enough. Yes, there are animals in California, and the rest of the states who need assistance. Cant do them all. Njrazd chose THIS one, and even though I donate to many animal charities, this one will also get assistance, small though it may be, because I am a fellow poster, in a forum where I met her, and to show my support, I will do what I can. One can be overwhelmed with all the charities out there. So instead of doing NOTHING, one chooses one, just one, which wont make a dent, but its SOMETHING.
Njrazd...my offer still stands and I will be working on it soon. If just one animal benefits, then thats great.
posted on December 11, 2000 12:38:11 PM
From http://www.bajadogs.org/:
"The Baja Animal Sanctuary, A.C. is a legally registered non-profit corporation established within the required laws of the Country of Mexico."
There's nothing on the site that says or even suggegsts that this is a legal U.S. charity. They seem to be using the PO box in San Diego as a drop box. Their "sponsor" is a mobile dog grooming service, "You Dirty Dog," also in San Diego. (http://www.udirtydog.com/index.html).
FrannyS, this thread seems to have been launched as a solicitation ("Amigo, can you spare a dime?"; "...but I would appreciate your consideration if you have anything left over". As such, scrutiny and discussion, pro and con, are appropriate. AFAIC, IMO, this particular organization doesn't measure up.
posted on December 11, 2000 12:54:38 PM
Pareau, I will do more checking on this organization. Thanks for the link. Meanwhile, if you have a pet that needs assistance (i.e. surgery, food, etc), I would be more than happy to have a PAREAU PAL CHARITY auction. Seriously, I apologize if I got a bit annoyed. I just have a major weak spot for any animal that needs food, water, shelter and I tend to believe all charities are kosher.
To change the subject, I got my two dogs a WIGGLY GIGGLY each (saw it on oprah). One already chewed the end up, lol. They were supposed to be Christmas presents, but it fell off the tree stand and made noise, so of course the dogs had to see what it was
posted on December 11, 2000 12:55:42 PM
Not expressing my opinion one way or the other, but for what it's worth the charity itself refers to Mexico as a "third-world country".
posted on December 11, 2000 02:06:32 PM
Franny...thank you and please contact me at [email protected] if you need to. We are working with the local contacts now to set up some auctions. I will probably be doing the listing down here and donating any eBay fees. I will be glad to pass their information on to you as well.
Pareau...another AW poster suggested that I post this information in the RT because of all the animal lovers on this board.
Moderator...since other posters feel they are in a position to divine my intent, please close this thread.
), I can't argue and totally approve njrazd's approach on trying to solve the stray animal's problems. It's just the comments highlighted on my above post that I completely disagree on.
. As such, scrutiny and discussion, pro and con, are appropriate. AFAIC, IMO, this particular organization doesn't measure up.