Dr. Sandra Lizette Hernández Gutiérrez, or Dr. Sandy, as she is affectionately known to us, joined our sterilization team in May of this year. As a surgeon at our campaigns, she has become a valuable member and increased our productivity.
Dr. Hernández was born and raised in Mexico City and lived there until 2020, when she moved to Guanajuato at the age of 22. She studied veterinary medicine and zootechnics at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. Because of Covid pandemic, she finished her last year of the degree program studying remotely from Guanajuato and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (MVZ) degree and her professional license in 2022.
In 2018, while pursuing her degree in Mexico City, she worked as an assistant in a veterinary clinic where dogs and cats rescued from various difficult situations were treated. In 2021 she performed her year of social service at the Animal Control and Assistance Center (CECCA) of the municipality of Guanajuato. Afterward, she was invited to join the staff of CECCA as a veterinary doctor. Her job there entails sterilization surgeries, consultations with pet owners, and responding to reports of animal abuse, among many other matters focusing on public health.
Sandy has three dogs: Barka, a Belgian shepherd cross, Orejas, a small mixed-breed dog, and Gala, a cuttlefish Doberman. Orejas and Gala were abandoned at CECCA two years ago and won her heart while she was working there.
Since moving to Guanajuato, she has seen many abandoned dogs and cats, a situation that reflects widespread indifference toward them. Many people apparently believe that it is easy to have a pet and do not appreciate how much responsibility this implies.
“I would like people to develop more empathy for them,” she told us. “With Amigos de los Animales, I believe a seed of awareness has been sown about responsible pet ownership and that it can spread among all people who have a vision of reaching a mutually beneficial relationship between humans and animals.”
Sandy enjoys being in contact with nature and likes to hike near the Bufa, the huge, geological precipice that looms over the southern part of the city. It’s a popular spot for people to walk and run with their dogs.
We are extremely happy to have her participate in our sterilization campaigns, which take place twice a month on Sundays, her day off from her regular job.