The updated 2012 Q1 Spay & Neuter Campaign schedule is now posted in the Campaigns and Events tab in the Campaigns category

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ONE BY ONE - GSL IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

GSL Welcomes Saltillo Vets to Rosarito Nov 17-22

Animal Advocates of Mexico sent 4 vets to us for training this week. We are having a educational, fun, and busy week. The first day was spent receiving GSL philosophy and theory training with one of the original founders of GSL, MVZ Joaquin Villaseñor N. The next day they went to  Dr Joaquin’s clinic to observe and practice the GSL Efficient Spay Neuter Techniques on more than 20 animals. Dr Joaquin shared tips and tricks he has perfected over the last 12 years to maximize their efficiency and help them gain confidence performing anesthesia application, and surgery on a variety of cats and dogs. A GSL spay/neuter campaign for 42 animals was held in Tijuana on Day 3. The vets then were able to observe the surgical expertise of other GSL vets. Dr Cesar Tejeda A., the GSL Medical Director spent time with each vet imparting his knowledge of S/N while Drs Palafox and Zumudio also partnered with the vets to share their experiences. The Saltillo vets had ample opportunity to practice, ask questions, and attempt procedures they had learned throughout the day.  The whole day wan’t just work, on the way home to Rosarito we were able to enjoy a walk in the sun on the Playas de tijuana boardwalk. Eager to keep learning day 4 continues with another S/N campaign in Ensenada. As they say practice makes perfect! The evenings were filled with discussion, food, song, and dance, also a little tequila and a lot of fun.

****** GSL Feral Cat Project needs your help ******

On any given day in Rosarito, someone asks GSL for help managing feral cats in their neighborhood. GSL has sponsored many surgeries and a few local folks have been regularly self funding the sterilization of feral cats, but the problem has exploded so fast help is needed from the community. GSL has a Feral Cat S/N Project to help defray the cost of surgery for these poor homeless creatures. The GSL Foundation will match each $150 peso/$13 dollar donation we receive towards the Feral Cat Project.

Many people say ‘It is not my problem’ but as the number of feral cats grows, it becomes a community problem.  No one wants to bear the cost, but in the long run we all pay the price. Noise, cat fights, disease, fleas, ticks, starving cats and feces everywhere.  Some folks have decided to handle it themselves by poisoning the cats with antifreeze. It is not only a horrible way to die – it doesn’t even solve the problem! When cats in a colony die, they are soon replaced by more kittens until the colony is the same size as before. Another comment I often hear is ‘I don’t have a cat or even like them, I am a dog person’ Unfortunately poison and disease don’t discriminate between dogs and cats, or even children.

The only permanent solution is spay and neuter.

Please drop off donations and cat traps at the Low Cost Clinic km 31.5 Rosarito, look for ‘Cat’ boxes at local vet offices and businesses, or donate via PayPal.

Cedros Island Project Update

GSL recently completed a 5 day spay/neuter campaign on Cedros Island. The island is located off the coast of Mexico where Baja Norte meets Baja Sur. In 1922 fishermen founded a lobster and abalone fishing cooperative on the island and it now has about 1,500 full time residents. As we all know, where there are people they bring their pets.  Unfortunately without control a few pets turn into a major problem. The uncontrolled over population of companion animals is now threatening the ecosystem of the island. There are 5 animals and 17 plants that are unique to this island and do not exist anywhere else on earth. A controlled animal population is critical for this island to flourish.  Thanks to GSL and its volunteers the people of the island, their pets, and the island itself will will feel the immediate benefits but there is still much to do. The island does not have a resident vet so our impact will soon disappear if spay and neuter does not continue for pets and feral animals on the island. GSL is proposing a long term project and would like to send a vet to the island for up to 6 months.

Your help will make it possible for us to continue this necessary work. Thank you.

ANNOUNCEMENT

June 29, 2011. The Give Some Life Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of a new Medical Director, MVZ Cesar Tejeda Aguirre. Dr. Tejeda owns a private practice in Ensenada, Dog Spa Veterinaria,  and is dedicated to the cause of Spay & Neuter. He has been an active participant with various sterilization groups in Mexico as well as GSL spay/neuter campaigns for several years. We are excited to have Dr. Cesar’s medical expertise and look forward to a successful and fun year. Welcome to our family Dr. Cesar!

GSL sincerely thanks MVZ Rebeca Serrano, for all she has done during her 11 years of service as Medical Director. She was instrumental in developing the original GSL Efficient Spay/Neuter protocol and continued to improve and perfect it over the years. As GSL Medical Director, Dra. Rebeca trained Dr. Tejeda in the GSL process and shared many hours in the surgery room working with him. Dra. Rebeca is currently working at the Los Cabos Humane Society providing much needed spay and neuter services in the Cabo area. GSL looks forward to working with her again when she returns from Cabo San Lucas. She is and always will be part of the Give Some Life Family.

The Give Some Life (GSL) Foundation is a U.S. 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to provide spay/neuter  in Baja Mexico. GSL is a group of dedicated animal rights activists who share a common bond. We receive no government funding and rely solely on donations from the community, animal lovers, individuals, and other animal advocacy groups.

The Give Some Life Foundation was formed in 1998 by a small team of dedicated people who wanted to do something to help and protect the wildlife of Baja.

In conjunction with SeaWorld, these people saved baby seals abandoned on the beaches and rehabilitated smuggled parrots at the request of the Mexican government. Although rewarding, the GSL team realized that there was an even larger problem, virtually ignored, throughout Mexico—pet over-population.

The GSL vision soon evolved into a specific desire to stop the proliferation of dogs and cats in a country where killing by electrocution was the accepted method of population control. Daily exposure to virtually thousands of starving, neglected, and sick companion animals roaming the streets galvanized the team to begin a massive effort to carry the spay/neuter message to the people. Many of the ‘street’ animals were often offspring of neighborhood pets. Major hurdles in the beginning revolved around cultural differences, resistance to sterilization, as well as the cost and availability of surgery materials.

In spite of obstacles, the GSL veterinarians have sterilized over 20,000 animals in past 11 years and continue to share their knowledge and experiences with local veterinarians and the people of the communities on a daily basis. We are making progress, but the work is far from over and we are very dependent upon support from those who believe in our vision.

Those without a voice appreciate your generosity. Thank you.