Dump dogs rescued by IFAW in Cozumel, Mexico
International Fund for Animal Welfare - Veterinarian Eduardo Santurtun and Monica Velasco from the Humane Society of Cozumel rescued five puppies and one adult dog at the municipal dump in Cozumel, Mexico yesterday. This work is part of IFAW’s ongoing effort in the island to improve the welfare of cats and dogs that are suffering cruelty and negligence from careless owners. The following report was filed by IFAW’s Eduardo Santurtun following the rescue:
“The conditions where these dogs and cats live are awful. Even though they receive a little attention from people that work at the dump, most of them are left to find food and water on their own, amidst heaps garbage and waste and harassed by millions of flies and dozens of buzzards that compete with them for food. Life for these dogs and cats is an everyday struggle. They fight between each other for the small pockets of shade under abandoned cars or discarded oil barrels to hide from the unforgiving Caribbean sun.
The deplorable living conditions at the dump causes most of the dogs and cats to become dehydrated, emaciated and contract diseases like mange, heart worm, eye infections or ehrlichiosis, a potentially life-threatening disease spread by infected ticks.
The puppies that we rescued today were quickly taken to the IFAW-supported clinic run by the Humane Society of Cozumel to receive emergency medical attention. In the upcoming days we are hopeful that we will find a new and loving home for them that will allow them to have a second chance in life”.
The Animals in Haiti Need Your Support We urgently need your donation to help IFAW's emergency relief teams on the ground in Haiti. Your donation will help us buy the bandages, vaccines, antibiotics and other supplies for our mobile veterinary clinic.
We have partnered with WSPA to mount a coordinated animal relief response, and our team has deployed into the devastated country.
Your donation will go directly into IFAW's Emergency Relief fund, and will be used immediately and where needed most to help the animal victims of Haiti and our Emergency Relief work around the world.
Thank you for helping to improve their situation. I cannot imagine what they have gone through. Keep up the great work, spaying and neutering, educating the residents, finding forever homes. Wonderful job.
Posted by: always4animals | July 27, 2009 at 03:50 PM
I really wish there was a way I could help these animals. It seems that everywhere you look animals are being abused, mistreated, or inadaquetly taken care of. I'm only 15, but I plan to become a veteranarian and help animals in any way I can. Please help these animals to the best of your abilities. They definately will appreciate it.
Posted by: Brianna- concerned animal lover | July 27, 2009 at 11:08 PM