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Legislation Update
We saw new, desperately needed animal laws put forth but tabled. It was like a bone being snatched out of a dogs reach. We know that once these laws are approved it will be another fight to get them enforced. |
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Volunteer News
Volunteers, Volunteers!
While we said goodbye to two volunteers this year, Cindy and Jen, many more have joined us in our work. We have good support from the local community and a number of key volunteers help us from afar - in Vancouver, Nanaimo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, to name a few locations. We still have some volunteer jobs that would take only a couple of hours a week.
If you're interested, send us an e-mail. |
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Education News
Children's Festival
On May 1st we were invited by the Mayor, Lic. Estela Ponce, to participate in the Children's Festival which was held on the Malecon. We had the opportunity to talk to over 100 children. We set up a booth with information about the refuge and some age appropriate educational material. Children drew, colored or painted a picture with a message encouraging them to respect and love animals, but more specifically how to prevent bites and attacks from dogs. Each child was able to take home a stuffed animal donated by the Greekas family from Calgary. It was really nice to see all those kids leave our booth with a smile. We also had a great group of volunteers that helped us keep up from around 9 am to 4 pm. |
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Employee News
Our manager, Mario, and his wife had another baby, a little girl. We said goodbye to Daniel and hired Jose. We've also hired a half-time night guard, but may have to increase his hours since we have a new housing project being built close to the refuge and we're worried about the safety of our dogs. Juanita, our bookkeeper, keeps us all in line and submits all our information monthly to our accountant, who we're required to have under Mexican law. |
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Good Search
Each time you use Good Search we benefit. Thank you to everyone who uses this toolbar to search the web. It's easy to download and each search or purchase you make using this toolbar donates a bit to us. Shopping from the GoodSearch site also contributes. Each time you use GoodSearch, we benefit. Your searches have raised over $875 US for Baja Dogs La Paz Incorporated so far. Keep up the good work! Don't have it yet? Makes sure you select Baja Dogs La Paz, Inc of Port Hueneme, CA.
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Fundraising Events News
Cindy Crane and the Events Comittee oganized a Spring Fashion Show at Palermo's restaurant with Centro Mujeres and it was a big hit! The models were enchanting, the clothes super and everyone had a wonderful time. We raised $14,687 pesos.
Two used clothing sales at Pelicano's Bar and Restaurant gave everyone a chance to buy, sell and trade their clothes for something "new to them"and it raised $4182 pesos for Baja Dogs too!
We had two different 2012 calendars produced on our behalf; one by Val Hunter of Vancouver who did a unique calendar on Rescue Dogs of the West Coast with funds going to us. Val's calendar festured 9 of our rescues with their happy tails stories and it was a sell out. Our second calendar was created by the hard work of the events comittee. Luke Inman of Studios Calavera was the chosen photographer. He did an incredible job with both kids and dogs - quite a challenge. This calendar contained an educational message on each page with the emphasis on Spay and Neuter. If you live locally and would like a calendar e-mail: mr@bajadogslapaz.org
Guau Guau (Bow Wow) Festival - We were invited by Ana Ortega of PRODAN, Purina and City Club to participate and be the beneficiary of the First La Paz Guau Guau Festival, with contests for Best Dogs Costume and Best Dog/Owner Costumes. There have been Guau Guau Fests in other states in Mexico, so it was an honor for us to be chosen to participate in La Paz. It was a really fun event and it also raised awareness of or work locally, and it opened the door for future events with City Club and Purina. We recieved $4000 pesos from this fun event! |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
We received a lot of press coverage with our events. We also appeared a number of times in the local media, on TV (Canal 10), Radio (Radio Formula, RadiumMX), and print (Mamá Gallina, as well as various newspapers) promoting our message to Spay and Neuter!
Thanks to Hotel Perla, we also had a very successful Calendar presention with over 100 guests present, inculding various dignitaries, including Directors of local Government Departments who we we interface with, such as Animal Control, the Perrera (Municipal dog pound), NGOs such as Red Cross, the parents and children in the calendar, and others.
We were also invited to present our calendars at the Bazar Navideño where they were well recieved.
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REFUGE NEWS
Our hard working and hard walking refuge volunteer, Shawn, made a plea for funds to pay for Eli's heartworm treatment. Enough funds were raised to pay for medicine for two dogs and Botas (Boots in English) was chosen to receive the second treatment. It has been a long hard battle for both dogs, especially for Eli who is waiting for her final treatment.
Shawn has done an incredible job with her dog walking team. If you need some exercise, or if you miss having a dog in your life, e-mail Shawn .. or drop by the Refugio either Tuesday or Friday between 9 am and 1 pm and she'll show you the ropes and leashes! Repairs to the Refugio We received donations which were earmarked for Refugio repairs. Because of these special donations, we have greatly improved the living conditions inside the palapa, repaired the gates and added a sealer-coat to the cement so that we can keep the kennels more hygenic.
Money was donated to purchase a washer and a drying rack, Towels, blankets and sweaters need to be washed well and often to prevent the spread of disease.
While these funds are very important and needed, we depend on our subscribers (Monthly donors) to continue to operate on a month-to-month basis. We are very grateful for all your help.
We have two couples who have collected shade cloths, lonas (banner signs) and old sails which we have used to provide much needed shade for the corrals. These additions have made our pups far more comfortable during their stay with us.
We were thrilled to be selected to receive a $15,000 grant from a Foundation located in the Bay Area of California. They found out about our work and contacted us and offered a grant to fund an Education and Volunteer Coordinator, which will help us move to the next level as an organization and enable us to educate more children.
on how to care for their pets.
Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers of Pawsitive Match Rescue in Calgary, many dogs have flown north to their forever homes. To date, 352 dogs have been adopted to homes in the north.
As of Dec 15, 2011, you have helped us give care to 801 dogs and puppies! Our Cemetary got an overhaul and looks much better thanks to volunteers.
We lost our longtime resident and 3rd dog to enter our refuge. Jack came to us when were were on the highway and became our little mascot. He lived a happy life at the refuge - he finally had enough food, water and love. He was safe from attacks from other dogs in the scramble for garbage and from the rocks that are invariably tossed at the street dogs on a daily basis.
We escaped hurricanes this year, but did have a few days of heavy rains that cut off access to the refuge for a couple of days.
Sadly, our donated car has broken down and is too costly to repair, so we have had a difficult time transporting dogs in need. A remaining need we have is for a new vehicle, or at least new to us that is imported to Mexico and in good repair. |
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Our Board Members have not changed.
Dhorea, Maggie, Maureen and Sophie
We wish you a very Happy Holidays!
FROM ALL OF US AT
BAJA DOGS LA PAZ
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
for allowing us to keep on saving these precious dogs!!
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