April 2009 publication of El Ojo Del Lago . . . .
by: Gudrun Jones --- phone 766-3813 from Lakeside

Life could be easy in the idyllic village of Ajijic, Mexico , but for an animal lover it can be torture. An animal in Mexico is a throw away life. Eight 1/2 Tons of dog carcasses are incinerated at the Guadalajara dump each month, yet there are still staggering numbers of homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets. Starving children, homeless people and severe poverty leaves little concern for animal care. The Mexican government's solution to the overpopulation of stray dogs and cats is to round them up and kill them. In Guadalajara and surrounding areas, this is done by either shooting, or poisoning the animals.

The Lakeside Spay & Neuter Center, A.C. was founded September 18, 2001 in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico by Gudrun Z. Jones and Diane Hazen. Our solution is to sterilize as many animals as we can, and try to stop the daily heartache of seeing the streets populated by mange-ridden, starving and sick dogs which are still producing litter after litter of unwanted puppies, many of which are thrown into garbage cans or starved to death. Our original mission was to spay & neuter to stop the overpopulation of street dogs; however, it very quickly became apparent that there was an urgent need to rescue injured, abandoned or abused animals and thus we expanded our mission.

Our Dog Haven, known as "The Ranch," is located on two rural acres leased for only $1.00 a year. It has become a no-kill sanctuary for unwanted and injured dogs that have been nurtured back to health and are awaiting adoption. Many of the animals in Mexico die of starvation, disease, accidents or are killed in less then humane ways. If we can, we rescue them, take them to "The Ranch", nurse them back to health and try to give them a place that represents safety and hope. In time, their trust restored, their eyes begin to glow, the tail begins to wag and our hearts overflow. The dogs that find their way to "The Ranch" are the lucky ones. There they are fed, have a place to run and need not be afraid. Sometimes we are overwhelmed and often have to dig into our own pockets to keep the food bowls filled. However until they find a home of their own, they are ours. Once an animal comes under our care, it is assured shelter regardless of age or attractiveness. Yet far too often our help comes too late and all we can do is hold the animal and tell it that it is loved, even if only for a moment, while the gentle hand of a veterinarian takes away the pain.

At times we overflow, but there is always room for one more. Sometimes we wonder if the word has spread to the dog world, for occasionally a dog will be outside the gate waiting to be let in, knowing that he has finally found a place of peace and from now on will dwell in someone's heart. Presently there are 69 dogs at the Ranch. Some of them are "Special Needs" dogs and probably will be with us until it is time for them to go over the rainbow bridge. We are a licensed non-profit organization and are not funded by any organization, we function solely on donations and fundraisers and raise money by standing in front of grocery stores, banks and other public facilities to solicit funds. The ranch is operated by volunteers, there is no overhead, only hearts full of hope that in years to come every animal will be a wanted one. If your heart breaks when you see starving or abused animals then join us in our quest to change their gruesome existence and show them that someone cares.

The Lakeside Spay & Neuter Center, A.C. has an ongoing commitment to animals: To free them from unwanted litters, hunger and thirst, pain and suffering, discomfort and distress and to give them space to run, a comfortable sleeping place and all of their tomorrows without fear.

Impossible some say, but we dream and ask why not.

For more information about the Ranch, adoption and volunteering
Call Gudrun Jones at 766-3813.