"Life has us running all the time; between work and responsibilities, we live running with our eyes forward or upward. We must slow down and, sometimes, look down." ~ Lidia Saleh Angulo, president of the Franciscan Shelter for Unprotected Animals AC (AFAD)
AFAD team member Sofia with one of their incredible and unique "Maya Hunting Hounds'. You will find these special dogs in villages all over Yucatan. Let's give them a name as special as they are to help them find more homes.
Animal lovers and homeless pets - the state of Yucatan
If you live where there aren't many homeless dogs and cats on the street, you probably get upset and sad when you hear about millions of dogs and cats struggling to survive worldwide. You may wonder what can be done to help them and if anyone is trying. There are no easy solutions. It takes bravery, determination, and extraordinary optimism to take on this monumental task.
I live in Yucatán, Mexico. Yucatán has a complex relationship with dogs and cats. Undoubtedly, it's a state filled with people who love pets. Every street has at least one household providing food and water for the many street animals. As you walk your dog in parks, people will stop to ask you about them and admire them. There are no fewer than three Petcos and hundreds of veterinary clinics and grooming parlours in the capital city of Mérida. More public dog parks are appearing in the city, along with pet cafes and doggy daycares. Many businesses openly advertise as pet-friendly. Even the newly elected mayor of Mérida, Cecilia Patrón Laviada, is actively involved in animal welfare in her spare time.
Unfortunately, this is contrasted with a considerable overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats, many of which are living in fear, pain, illness, or injury. Animal abuse is considered a regional problem, although most of the suffering is due to neglect, abandonment, and irresponsible pet care. According to the Mexican government's Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), there are nearly 3 million dogs and cats in Yucatán, with an average of 3.1 pets per household. Unfortunately, most of these animals are homeless.
There is a low cost spay and neuter clinic in Merida
In recent years, anyone living in Yucatán will be aware of the overwhelming efforts to tackle these issues in effective, realistic, and humane ways. Education and sterilisation are the foundation of this work. Numerous non-governmental organisations operate low-cost or free spay and neuter clinics across the state, along with outreach, awareness campaigns, and education within schools and communities. The government is even running its own sterilisation programs along with low-cost veterinary services. In fact, animal welfare was something all candidates addressed positively in the recent elections in response to growing calls by the public for real change. For decades in Yucatán, dedicated, tenacious individuals and groups have worked diligently to make this happen.
Many people may not be aware that a purpose-built, permanent, low-cost sterilisation clinic is nestled behind a wall just outside the Periferico, which we'd call a 'ring road' in England, in Cholul, a suburban town on the outskirts of Mérida. This clinic offers low-cost spay and neuter services to any dog or cat owner every weekend. We will look into this clinic's fascinating history and why it's so important.
The Franciscan Shelter for Unprotected Animals (AFAD) was founded by María Eugenia Escobedo Bobadilla and the renowned artist Georgia Charuhas in 1995. They met by chance when Georgia was trying to raise funds for homeless animals and teamed up to find ways to help. They took stray dogs into their homes to provide shelter and care. People thought they were bonkers, but they must have been doing something right because they convinced the then-Governor of Yucatán, Víctor Cervera Pacheco, to donate some land. They created an animal shelter and started the hard work of caring for and sterilising dogs and cats, raising awareness, and seeking changes in the laws of Yucatán to provide better animal protection.
Fast forward 30 years, and AFAD stands out as a model of excellence in animal welfare in Mexico. In 2003, they reopened with modern facilities to provide temporary shelter for 65-70 dogs and 15-25 cats until they find suitable homes. Most of the animals in the shelter are there due to abandonment or abuse. Animals that arrive are medically evaluated by AFAD's full-time veterinarian and quarantined in special accommodation until they are healthy, spayed or neutered, and ready for adoption.
AFAD has a full time veterinary surgeon on site. MVZ Zairet Solares with team members Monserrat and Sofia examining a cat in the AFAD clinic.
On weekends, the shelter comes alive with people. Volunteers arrive to bathe, play with, and socialise the dogs. At the same time, the purpose-built sterilisation clinic starts accepting patients for surgery. These surgeries will not only prevent dogs from reproducing and spreading sexually transmitted diseases but will also change the lives of their caregivers and the people living in their communities. Dog and cat overpopulation not only impacts the animals but also affects the health and quality of life of the people living around them.
AFAD's work was bolstered by the involvement of international partners, most notably the well-known veterinarian Dr. Jeffery Young, famous for his show 'Rocky Mountain Vet' on Animal Planet. Recognising AFAD's dedication and responsible practices, Dr. Jeff was pivotal in bringing the dream of a permanent spay and neuter clinic to life.
Dr. Jeffrey Young - Rocky Mountain Vet
Dr. Jeff, as he is affectionately known, is a long-standing advocate for sterilisation and has dedicated years to shifting perceptions and making it a cornerstone of animal welfare in Mexico. In addition to opening a school in Puerto Morelos to train veterinarians in specialist sterilisation techniques, he founded a clinic in Mérida, Planned Pethood, which is not only an animal hospital but also offers low-cost sterilisation. They also participate in statewide efforts to bring spaying and neutering to areas with little access to veterinary care.
Dr. Jeff took a particular interest in the work that AFAD was doing. He recognised their commitment to responsible animal welfare practices and became a friend and ally to AFAD President Lidia Saleh. Dr Jeff provided expertise and support, enabling them to access funding from Dogs Trust International to build the first purpose-built spay and neuter clinic in Yucatán. At the time, Lidia said, "Beautiful, great things are happening in the Yucatán because of Jeff. There was the Yucatán before Dr. Jeff and a better Yucatán after." In fact, Dr Jeff funded the clinic for the first 3-4 years, and the clinic is now known as 'Quirofano Dr Jeffery Young'—translated, meaning the Dr Jeffery Young Operating Theatre.
A mighty woman with a huge heart is AFAD's President
We spent some time with Lidia at AFAD to learn more about her and the incredible team of staff and volunteers she works with. Warmth and strength emanate from her, and though it's obvious she has seen some of the worst aspects of human behaviour, she remains empathetic, vulnerable, and hopeful. Her quick laugh and enthusiastic hugs make her incredibly likeable, and her wisdom and pragmatism stand out. There's no doubt why she has been able to achieve so much since becoming President of AFAD.
We asked her how she got into animal welfare. "In 2002, after Hurricane Isidoro passed through Yucatán, a totally devastated dog arrived at the door of my business. Skeletal, practically hairless, with a look that broke a thousand hearts. I immediately prepared to help him, and together with my husband, we took him to the veterinarian. The vet received him, performed tests, and started treatment immediately, but the poor dog had been in such a bad state for so long that his kidneys and other organs had failed. It was impossible to save him."
Lidia Saleh, President, AFAD
Lidia's experience with the sick dog was more than just a fleeting moment of compassion. It was a turning point that opened her eyes to the countless animals suffering in silence all around her.
She explained, "From that day on, I began to see dogs everywhere—on the streets, under cars, coming out of corners, dogs everywhere. I wondered if all the dogs had decided to come out just because I rescued that one dog. Why was I suddenly seeing so many dogs on the street or suffering? I began to look down towards where the most unprotected and vulnerable are." She takes a moment and then emphasises, "Down."
What began as a single act of kindness became a deep awareness of the widespread neglect of animals. This realisation drove her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Yucatán's abandoned and neglected dogs and cats.
Lidia with some of her fantastic AFAD team and helpers. L-R Sofía González, Monserrat Caballero, and Lidia Saleh.
While at AFAD, we visited the kennels that currently house approximately 40 dogs and 25 cats. Kennels generally are not warm and welcoming places, especially when disease control is a priority. When we visited Yucatán was in the midst of a severe parvo virus epidemic. Seeing dogs and cats alone in these circumstances is always hard on one's heart. Still, we were delighted to see the ample space behind the kennels, full of trees, logs and other types of natural enrichment where the dogs can free run and socialise daily.
Lidia feels strongly about not taking on more animals than the organisation can care for at any one time. "For organisations, the ideal would be to have more regulated practices regarding controlled populations—ensuring that the number of animals can be supported with an acceptable quality of life, including space, food, and healthcare." She tries to operate AFAD to these standards and hopes to see greater collaboration between organisations so that minimum standards can be established.
AFAD has been responsible for sterilising over 5,000 pets in their clinic. This has had an enormous impact, but Lidia knows that more resources are necessary to do even more. AFAD has already done groundbreaking work in animal welfare in Yucatán. They have worked with international organisations like Dogs Trust to achieve this and partnered with Pedigrí Adóptame, which provides them with space at Petco for pets they are making available for adoption. Initiatives like this help move people away from buying pets and encourage them to consider adoption.
Lidia never seems to rest. She is one of the fiercest animal welfare superheroes in Yucatán. Her work is often traumatising, demanding, dirty, and thankless, yet she remains hopeful. Along with a truly outstanding team, she continues to help the neglected, abandoned, and abused animals of Yucatán while striving to inspire real change in the long term because, as she says, "We are convinced that a society that is responsible with its animals is a society that is responsible with the environment and its fellow human beings."
One of the many beautiful dogs, all sterilised and healthy, available for adoption at AFAD.
How you can help
Keeping such a vital community service running is a costly undertaking. Donors and supporters are always needed. You can help by donating directly, organising fundraisers, sponsoring sterilisation surgeries, or raising awareness of AFAD's work and how others can help. They always need volunteers on weekends to bathe and socialise dogs.
If you want to be a leader in change, let people know about AFAD's low cost sterilisation clinics, which are advertised on their Facebook page, help the community and organise to take local dogs and cats to the clinics.
AFAD team member Monserrat with a beautiful dog who is constantly overlooked for adoption because she is a very special 'tripod'. She deserves a loving and comfortable place to call home.
Special thanks to AFAD supporter and volunteer, Cindy Wagner, who helped us immensely with this article.
Additional source for information and quotes: AFAD, in search of comprehensive well-being, Diario de Yucatan, 10, October 2018
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