Our first campaign of the month took place at Resplandor International, a community center in Cajones that serves some eight nearby villages. There, our team sterilized 43 female dogs, 11 male dogs, 22 female cats, and 4 male cats, for a total of 80 animals on February 4.
Our second campaign in February was held in the community center serving the city suburb Las Teresas, where again we sterilized 71 animals—35 female dogs, 8 male dogs, 17 female cats, and 11 male cats. More than 50 animals had to be turned away for lack of medical supplies on hand, but we have scheduled our first campaign next month will probably be at the same location.
In general, both campaigns ran smoothly, but a male pug died of respiratory failure in Las Teresas. Despite our advice to avoid feeding an animal for eight hours before surgery, the dog had been fed that morning and vomited when given anesthesia.
Antonia (Tony) López, our education specialist, heads our program to teach children compassion for animals. After registering the cases in Las Teresas, she gathered a group of young children to read them a story about two puppies that get lost but eventually find new homes with families that love them. Afterward she gave the children copies of the story, which is also a coloring book, so that they could take the story home and color the pages. She also played games with them about the care that pets require to live happy, healthy lives.
Both campaign sites are spacious and have outdoor areas for people to relax while waiting for their pets to be sterilized. Convenient parking nearby also makes them desirable locations.
We are very grateful to the veterinarians and volunteers who participated in our campaigns this month. They were Drs. Verónica Almaguer, Ricardo Montes de Oca, Arturo Rocha Bravo; Abril Herrera, a veterinary student who will receive her DVM degree this year and who now routinely performs surgeries; and Amanda Berger, Julie Boyles, Mary Beth Canavan, José Luis Cortés González, Paulina García, Daniela Jasso Álvarez, Victoria Larrazolo, Antonia López Palacios, Beth Lozano, Vero Mares, Adhán Alberto Mata López, Alexis Uriel Nuñez, Antonio Olmos, Marta Ortiz, Alejandra Preciado, Gabriel Antonio Ramírez Ramírez, Itzel Rocha, Dulce Sandoval, and Vicky Sandoval.