Our partner in Mexico, the Maya Animal Alliance, has been working extremely hard to make a difference in the lives of stray dogs and improve the overpopulation issues that they’re facing.
There are over 20 million stray dogs in Mexico. It is reported that per month, they capture and kill up to 20,000 dogs per month. There is very little in place to prevent neglect and violence towards dogs and anti-cruelty laws and virtually non-existent. From dogs being thrown off boats, left neglected or beaten the situation is dire and Mexican authorities will not prosecute offenders.
To make matters even worse, stray puppies are being born at an unbelievably alarming rate and sterilisation treatments are rare as the Mexican community believes that neutering a male dog takes away his masculinity. With searing heat, a lack of food and depleted water supplies, the street dogs of Mexico suffer enormous amounts. It is also common for dogs to die from treatable illnesses such as heartworm due to a limited supply of medication.
This is where the Maya Animal Alliance comes in.
Our founder, Nikki Tibbles, met Gillian Wood back in 2018 in Puerto Rico in the recovery area at a mass sterilisation event in Puerto Rico; we financed the recovery team which Gillian managed. It was a match made in heaven and Nikki knew that she had found someone with the same dedication to reducing the world’s stray dog population that she has. From this meeting, a partnership was formed that would get our work in Mexico underway.
Before working with us, Gil has an impressive track record, with 25 years of experience working within New York shelters. She has been pivotal in creating programmes that have resulted in the highest savings rate for municipal shelters in the USA. Also, she has worked hard to develop recovery protocols that allow mobile veterinarian teams to maximise the number of safe sterilisations they can perform.
When a property in Chemuyil became available, Gil and Nikki jumped at the chance to start their dream; of having a facility in the heart of the problem in Mexico. The Wild at Heart Foundation Resource Centre was born. Gil moved from her home in America to Mexico with her 4 rescue dogs to run the centre and from there create the Maya Animal Alliance.
The Maya Animal Alliance aims to help alleviate the suffering of the street dogs that she witnesses daily in her community. By collaborating with other like-minded animal welfare organisations in Mexico, Gil and the rest of the Alliance will strive to reduce the suffering of companion animals through humane population reduction, education and resource sharing. There is also a big focus on outreach work to provide food and medical care to strays and low-income family-owned dogs.
We are so proud to find a partner that aligns so closely with what we believe and who is as dedicated to our mission, to change stray dogs’ lives for the better. Read more about Gil and her work with Maya Animal Alliance here.
Recently, we have collaborated to set up their very own Maya Animal Alliance Instagram Page. We would be so grateful if you could give them a follow to show your support and keep up to date with what is happening in Mexico. @maya_animal_alliance