Thursday, January 17, 2008

Amigos de Los Animales

On Tuesday, January 15, Jim and I made our first visit to Amigos de Los Animales. In an hour and a half, we walked 8 dogs that otherwise may not have been given any love and exercise that day. The few staff members work hard on a shoestring budget to help care for stray, sometimes abused, dogs and cats. Occasionally animals will be given to them by people who cannot keep them, for one reason or another. With a limited budget the animals receive medical care and attention. Expats provide financial aid and assistance, but, of course, there is never enough time and money to help the large numbers of stray and abandoned animals in the city. Yet it is extraordinary what has been accomplished by this small facility. Because of a bad knee giving me trouble, I will not be able to help walk the dogs anymore, but Jim plans to do this twice a week. (My hero!) Here is one of our new canine friends, looking sad and lonely in one of the kennels. Looks forlorn, doesn't he? Now how can anyone resist him?!

26 comments:

Southern Heart said...

Awwww....what a sweetie. It's heartbreaking, isn't it? I know that I couldn't resist that face. All of our pets have been adopted, and they make the most wonderful companions.

Pat said...

Love that face! Just a sweet buddy!

Pat

Guelph Daily Photo, Pat's Photo-a-Day

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

Yes, he does, poor sweetheart. Tomorrow I'm posting something (also about dogs) that will probably make you cringe like I did when I learned about it. Some people should be shot in the arse, if you ask me.

Nikon said...

I like the way he looks - like he's asking "yeah, what do you want?"
Good luck to the volunteers & the pets!

AVCr8teur said...

That is so sad. You and Jim are doing a good thing. Are you guys there on vacation or on a humanitarian trip?

Olivier said...

bravo pour ce post,et bravo a ton héros. On ne peut que feliciter les gens qui prennent du temps pour aider ces animaux.
cheer for this post, and cheer has your hero. One can only congratulate people who take time to help these animals.

Isadora said...

He does look forlorned and wouldn't you if your prospects were similar to his?

I often look at my cats faces and I know what I want to do with them, but they look panicked because they don't. By the token of their size and their dependence they are completely at our mercy. Think about it, I can pick up and take them wherever I WANT TO, whether or not they want to go (like the car to go to the country, which they always enjoy but the ride is another thing)

You are doing a nice thing for those poor helpless animals.

Peter said...

Always difficult or impossible to resist against the charming looks of dogs (and cats and...)! Do you want an address for knee surgery? Just made one, obviously successful!

Kerri Farley said...

I definitely couldn't resist! He is sooooooo cute!!!

Anonymous said...

You two are an inspiration. At least you want to help in your heart, Kate.

R&R said...

Although he does look a bit forlorn, he's lucky to have people looking after him. Touching post.

Jilly said...

Oh dear, look at those eyes. I suppose the only thing to say is that he has shelter and is being fed and cared for - and happily, sometimes taken for a walk which I'm sure he just adores. What are the chances of such a large dog being re-homed, Kate? And is this a no-kill shelter?

brian stout said...

How nice of you to go and spend time with the dogs there... he does look sad, like he wants to come home with someone....

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

Oh! This post broke my heart!!
I will show it to my dog, Kuka Girl!

(she also has a blog hehehehe... it's at http://kuka-girl.blogspot.com)

Get well of your knee, maybe you need some heat there or a massage.

Olivier said...

désolè pour les Green Bay, mais je ne vois comment ils pourront arretés les Giants ;o))

Sorry for Green Bay, but I do not see how they can arrest the Giant ;o))

isa said...

Jim is my hero, too!!!

I wish I could adopt all those who need a home...starting with this fella...

Pat said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You have received the Make My Day Bloggers Award! Check it out at my blog, Guelph Daily Photo.

Anonymous said...

If it was up to me there would be no stray animals but people do have them and get rid of them or sometimes allow them, chained, to starve to death. My solution is to hang the owners by the you-know-what until they kick the bucket. I would adopt a lot of animals but my wife no longer wants to go through the death experiences and taking animals to the vets and being home to let them in or outside. I can't blame her as we have had dogs for the past 52 years as a married couple and I have had dogs for 73 years.

I like your photograph and hope the place there can continue to care for and support them.

This will sound stupid, Kate, but I know the dogs in Japan are clueless when you give them a commant in English. They speak and understand Japanese. I assume the same can be said for the dogs in Mexico -- they speak and understand Spanish.

photowannabe said...

That is really a forlorn face if I ever saw one. Its a real heart tugger.
Hope your knee feels better soon. Its not good to be out of commission when you are in vacationland...

Uma por Dia said...

I had adopted one 16 years ago, and he is still with me, i didnt resist his looking too

Kekiinani said...

Ohhhhhh he is sooo cute... Hope he was one that got a walk!! :) :) That is just so awesome of you folks to help out!! :) :)

Suzi-k said...

oh what a SAAAAD face! So glad you brought a little love into his day! Gammy knees are SUCH a pain aren't they, I hate not being able to walk as much as i want to, or keep up with the new improved post-bypass Max!

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

Your husband and you are... Great persons.

Sally said...

I can only echo everyone else's thoughts. bravo to you and Jamie, and love to those dogs.

Ming the Merciless said...

Last night, I had a dream and in it, I adopted a pet dog. How coincidental is that?

sonia a. mascaro said...

You and Jim are very kind person!

Love dogs!