LEAPING INTO ACTION!

The Manzanillo Humane Society needs your help!

By Susan Dearing

In teamwork is strength, and true solidarity means cooperation with--and empathy for--more than simply our own two-legged species. Those who know me, know I'm actively involved with several children's foundations. Through a relative newcomer to our community, Debi Teter, I've been given the opportunity to become involved with a new cause, the welfare of Manzanillo's many animals.

This has long been a goal of mine, which is probably why I am now the proud owner of 3 street dogs and 12 or 13 (or is it 14 today?) street cats. 

"Breezy" showed up at the office one day, a malnourished kitten of the calico variety. Our excuse to adopt her was that we needed a good "mouser." That she has become. "Garfield," a kitten who showed up recently, hungry and full of worms, is now our "assistant mouser."

Next came "Windy." A poodle-terrier mix, she showed up at the office one day, horribly matted with burrs and full of fleas. Her owner never came looking for her, though she appeared domesticated and housebroken. We had Windy for almost 4 years before she was stolen. I hope the person who took her will take as good a care of her as we did.

Upon arriving to work one day, we found a pit bull mix tied to our gate on a cruel choke chain. Her neck was bloody and scarred. Her owner never came back for her. Thus, "Lucky" became another adoptee.

"Old Dog" started hanging around the office, I guess, because all of the other pets we have, and the readily available food source: Us! He was at least 14, had teeth that were worn down to nubs, and up until we "found" him, had more ticks than hair. 

Though he had a blind eye from some injury many years ago, his hair grew back and his black coat (mixed with gray from old age) turned shiny and thick. He was with us 2 years before he went to "Dog Heaven." We miss him, but his final years were good ones. 

None of these dogs would have been deemed "adoptable"; Windy was filthy, Lucky was cowering from being beaten, and Old Dog would snarl in his toothless way to ward off would-be do gooders or abusers.

Then came "Amy." We are happy to announce that we have found a good home for this beautiful, sweet-natured little dog that has been through hell in the short time she's lived. But there's more animals where she came from.

The humane society, known as ARA (Amigos por un Refugio Animal--Friends for an Animal Shelter in Manzanillo) really needs your support. First, through donations and pledges, they need meet their goal to sponsor year-round spaying and neutering. ARA's aim is to provide 100 free or low cost sterilizations each month. Currently, this small group of volunteers has accomplished a lot. They have set up an A.C. (Asociación Civil--a Mexican nonprofit organization), opened a bank account, set up a web site: www.ara-manzanillo.org, defined their goals, and have planned fund-raising activities.

Dedicated to the welfare of dogs and cats, their objectives include:

1. Ending the needless suffering of abandoned or homeless animals;

2. Promoting sterilization to lessen the overpopulation problem and reduce the number of stray animals on the streets;

3. Helping animals to find and stay in suitable, loving homes (or safe and proper environments);

4. Fostering an atmosphere of respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals through education and leadership;

5. Referring out to approved veterinarians medical care for the homeless injured.

Other goals include education of children at the elementary school level, fundraisers, and an active hot line. 

The society has a web site, which is almost finished, but will be enlarged and added to as news and events take place. Two local doctors have offered to do low cost sterilization on homeless pets, and pets whose owners cannot otherwise afford to pay for spaying or neutering. Radio K-liente at 93.7 is doing public service announcements, and several local newspapers have offered to help promote the society, its goals and fundraisers.

To see what progress has been already made, go to www.ara-manzanillo.org  or call the HOTLINE at: 044-314-117-8150 if you have questions, need to have your pet sterilized, or want to help. Everyone's getting involved. E-mail: ara.mzlo@yahoo.com 

One of their events is a "Dinner Diva & Dance" affair held Dec. 4 at La Toscana restaurant at 7 p.m. Tickets are 300 pesos per person and include a night of dining and dancing under the stars, with a special performance by Clarita Valdez. For tickets call Jean Maierhofer at 333-2376, or Susan Dearing at Scuba Shack, 333-3678.

This is a special message from Ginny Ruiz, chairperson of the Christmas Bazaar, one of ARA's major fundraising events:

"For the past two years we have held a "Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale" as a fund raiser for our association.

"We will be holding our 3rd Annual Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale this December 14, 15, and 16, 2007 at Scuba Shack in Santiago.  I would like to ask you and your friends who might be coming to Manzanillo for donations of items we can sell at the Bazaar.  Dollar and discount stores are wonderful places to find inexpensive items that can be marked up and sold.  Things that are either hard to get here or are somewhat expensive to buy here are sure winners.  Unusual items you don't see everywhere are excellent.  Discounted or "second's" or salesman's samples are other items that may be available.  Children's toys and gift items for anyone are especially good as many come to buy their Christmas gifts after receiving their yearly bonus.  Jewelry, makeup kits, stuffed animals, playing cards, calendars, household and office items, to name a few, are also popular.

"We at ARA are very excited because each year we grow and move forward.  Our immediate goal of getting a handle on the pet population growth has really taken hold and our "Sterilization Certificate" program which assists people who can't financially afford to "fix" their animals is now in place.  Every dollar we can add to the program will ensure fewer dogs and cats will be left to live on the streets.  Every dollar we can earn or have donated will get us closer to our overall and long-term goals.

"I would appreciate if you could e-mail me with the items that you plan to donate at ruginiz@yahoo.com.  I will keep a list so we have an idea on how we are doing and what we will have to sell.  Keep in mind that "gently used" items will be accepted.  If you have an electronics item or electric kitchen appliance, etc. that works, we will gladly accept those as well.

"If you are interested in serving on the bazaar committee or working at the event please send me your information including when you will be in Manzanillo (if you're not already.)   Also if you plan on baking for our very popular bake sale, I'd love to know what you will make... and of course we have time for that later down the line.

"We thank you for your generosity and participation.  I personally want to thank those of you who volunteer to help with this particular fundraising event.  You are the ones that make being chairman of such an exciting and major event a fun and easy undertaking."