San Pancho Animals comprises a group of men and women dedicated to improving the life of our pueblo's animal population by providing free spay and neuter services and limited veterinary care for animals in crisis. We have been working together for 15 years and have encountered many challenges along the way, including education of pet owners, raising money to support the free clinics, and trying to find foster and permanent homes for homeless animals. Somehow throughout the years friends have stepped up to donate in many ways . . . all work is voluntary, and housing, food and medical supplies have always been provided by generous donations from residents and restaurants in San Pancho. We now see greater responsibility of pet owners . . . dogs on leashes, vaccinated pets, love shown by owners, and less and less starving animals on our pueblo streets. At this time, the end of 2015, we would like to share some touching stories from the past year.
The first story is about Coco and Valentina, two dobermans owned by one of our residents, Gloria Hanson. When Gloria passed away two years ago, one of her sons left some money for the care and feeding of her two old dobermans. Eventually, however, the money ran out. Her house did not sell, and the utilities were turned off; the dogs were left alone every day, except for the few hours that the maid and her son visited. Because there was no longer money for dog food, the maid and her son were feeding the dogs scraps from their lunches, and the dogs started to get sick, especially with skin problems. Our group was notified, and we took action. Dr. Julio from San Pancho administered to the dogs, giving them antibiotics, salves, vitamins and whatever they needed. We raised money from friends to buy them adequate dog food. Marianna Berdejo, who presently works at EntreAmigos and who loves animals, investigated the possibility of getting Gloria's dogs accepted by a Doberman rescue organization in Illinois. It seemed like a crazy and impossible idea, but life alone in an abandoned house was sure death for these lovely animals. The Doberman Rescue accepted the dogs, and we emptied the coffers of the Clinic fund to pay for their kennels, plane tickets, and vaccinations. The day finally came, and the dobies flew from Vallarta and are now in Illinois being nurtured at the Rescue and destined for their "forever homes" where they will not be separated but live together as they did at Gloria's house.
Three other dogs were adopted and sent to the USA through the hard work and effort led by Karen Razza, one of our seasonal San Pancho residents. Karen came down to work at the December Clinic and brought a very able assistant, Natalie Caetano. Karen in past years had already rescued two other dogs from San Pancho, and she arranged to have another, Hombre, flown to Boston with her and Natalie, plus Natalie's San Pancho rescue, little Peso. Complications at the airport prevented Hombre's departure. Our dear friend, Melanie Blair of Beach Dog Boarding and Salon in Lo De Marcos, volunteered to keep Hombre until Christmas Day when he flew, escorted by a friend, to Boston to be placed in his new "forever home." Again scraping together money for air fare, Peso Louie and Hombre are now residents of New England and doing really well.
Our last great story of the year is about a Husky who was in bad shape in the Vallarta SPCA. Our residents, Buc Rogers and Gail Birdsong, who also provide invaluable help at our Clinic, have a special affinity for and who have rescued Huskies in the past wanted to save the Vallarta dog. These amazing people raised $700USD in Idaho to take Lobo back to the USA where he is no longer living in a cold, cement enclosure but in his own beautiful "forever home" with a sister Husky.
While our principal work at San Pancho Animals will continue to be spay and neuter, we wanted to share with all of you the fruits of your labor. We sometimes get very tired, and the need never ends . . . but the happy outcomes make all the work and financial sacrifice worth it. At the Clinic in December, we neutered 102 animals.
If any of you would like to see our program continue and wish to help with a donation, we would be very appreciative. Our coffers are depleted and need to be replenished so the work can continue.
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone in the community who has come forward to donate in some way to our Clinics and animal rescue efforts. We wish all of you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From your PayPal account; Donate to address: kpasta1@mac.com (please indicate donation as friend and family to avoid fees) Thanks in advance! | 
