New Hope for Dog Pound Dogs
By Marlene Dunbar
contributor
A brighter future awaits Rosarito homeless pets thanks to the hard work of three people; Carlos Meir, Rosarito City Canine Control Director, Robin Gunther, the center`s volunteer coordinator, and Augustine, the on-site supervisor and caretaker.
Together, these three people have completely transformed the Rosarito municipal perrera, as Mexico dog pounds are called, into a first class dog rehabilitation center. The Baja Times met up with Robin Gunther at the recent Give Some Life-Scaat sterilization clinic. Robin was helping care for the dogs and recovery and she told us about her work at the city pound. “I go to the perrera almost every day. I work with the dogs, walking them on a leash, training them, socializing them and preparing them for adoption. I even take some of them home.” Robin added that she wished she had more people to help foster these dogs. Every effort is made to rehabilitate and prepare dogs for adoption. They are treated for fleas, and tics and sterilized, with the help of Joaquin Villasenor and the SCAAT—GSL clinic. Puppies are de-wormed, and with the help of Augustine, all the dogs are bathed and groomed. Robin couldn’t say enough good things about Canine Control worker Augustine: “he keeps the whole place, and the dogs spotless!” Robin added that Augustine sees to it that all the dogs have fresh water and plenty to eat. Robin did say that they are always in need of food, and happily recieve donations for food and supplies. The City Canine Control now has a website…and there is a “wish list” where people can see what kind of supplies are most needed.
Canine Control Director Carlos Mier y Teran is the perrera “man about town” so to speak. Know by many as a former local channel 54 TV personality, Carlos has been responsible for organizing a number of public pet events and programs. Training programs were offered free to Rosarito pet owners this year. Special children’s events, such as a Halloween Costume Contents and a Run with Your Dog event, were presented in 2008 and another big event is scheduled for Oct. 24. These programs are intended help educate families and kids about proper pet care and of course provide a day of fun.
Under the administration of Carlos Mier y Teran, with the help of Robin Gunther and Augustine, the city Canine Control Center has become probably the best run “perrera” in the state of Baja. In a recent San Diego magazine Reader article, the Rosarito Canine Control Center was described as a “doggie Hilton!”
TO find out more…log on to the beautiful new website these folks have created! www.adoptauncan.com
All contact information for Carlos and Robin are there. Also photos of adoptable dogs, list of needed supplies, a map to the perrera and photos of the facility!
GSL-SCAAT UPDATE
71 pets were sterilized at the recent October clinic. Special thanks to Rosarito Vet Dr. Pala Fox. Karen, president of SCAAT, told the Baja Times that the “response to these clinics has been overwhelming!” She also reminded everyone that new Halloween and Christmas decorations, some of which are rare antiques, have been donated to the Trading Post. Karen also added that volunteers were needed “to help decorate” and get the shop ready for the holidays.” Of course clinic volunteers are also always needed. SCAAT welcomed a new volunteer this month; The lovely and charming Evon Riviera, from Rosarito, has joined the SCAAT team. On Oct. 13, Evon was helping Bill Clark at the reception desk, greeting pet owners bringing their dogs and cats for sterilization. Evon speaks fluent Spanish and her charming presence helped arriving pet owners feel welcome and at ease.
Karen and Joaquin are becoming local TV celebrities! Karen recently appeared on Rosarito channel 54, talking about the SCAAT-GSL programs. Joaquin Villasenor, the clinic veterinarian, is also a regular on the Rosarito channel 6, which airs weekly on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Joaquin told the Baja Times;” We talk about the importance of pet sterilizations, humane treatment of dogs and cats and other important pet issues.
Joaquin and Bill Clark will be embarking on a spay & neuter expedition this coming November. These are special expeditions where they take their spay & neuter programs, vets and volunteers and head for some of Baja`s more remote areas. Animal activists in these areas coordinate with Joaquin, who then organizes the vets, volunteers and equipment into a traveling clinic. This time they will travel to San Felipe, San Quintin, Tecate, and El Hongo, and other remote places. Volunteers are needed and welcome, but must agree to a training session, (and be ready to “rough it”)
The regular SCAAT-GSL sterilization will of course be held…on the second Sunday of November at the Trading Post clinic on Popotla Boulevard, across from the Tapanco steak house and the OXXO store. Please check the Rosarito Town Crier website for dates and times of this and future clinics, and don`t forget to visit the SCAAT Bazaar!
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