Interviewed on Channel 8’s morning program “Despierta Guanajuato” on Thursday, April 27, President Tom Reavley of Amigos de los Animales and President Paulina Abascal of Fundación Corazón Animal discussed the various missions, activities, and challenges of animal-welfare organizations. Their conversation focused on our own two nonprofit associations, both of which are devoted to improving the lives of companion animals in Guanajuato. You can watch the interview by clicking here.
If you haven’t the time to watch the interview or do not understand Spanish, here’s a summary of the interview prepared by Tom:
Animal protection groups can have many different functions: rescue, adoption, sterilization, education, shelters, sanctuaries, vaccination, medical treatment—to name the principal ones. Few, if any, groups try to offer all these services, so it is important for the public to understand what each group can offer and its limits. Tom and Paulina summarized our two organizations’ functions and limitations, including the fact that neither group receives governmental funding and both depend completely on donations and volunteers.
Paulina explained that her group works to alleviate the suffering of homeless animals by offering some of them a sanctuary—that is, a place where they can live out their lives, even if they are not adopted. Although adoption is the preferred solution, over time the facilities of Fundación Corazón Animal have filled to capacity with animals that no one wants to adopt. Now it is functioning as a sanctuary rather than as a shelter for animals awaiting adoption.
Tom emphasized the importance of sterilization and education in addressing the problem of homeless pets, and that the only long-term solution to the problem of abandoned animals suffering in the streets is to combine both approaches. He mentioned the progress that we have seen in Guanajuato, especially the broader acceptance of sterilizing companion animals and more concern on the part of the public about how animals are housed and treated. Dogs are much more likely to be seen on a leash in public, and many more owners clean up the excrement when walking their dogs.
Both speakers stressed the need for everyone concerned about animal welfare to get involved, as volunteers or donors, or both. No private organization can do it all, and every person’s effort helps.