Mexican city makes it their mission to improve the lives of stray dogs living on their streets
The increase in the stray dog population worldwide has become an epidemic, and cities around the world are struggling to meet the demands imposed on their infrastructure by a booming dog population. Unfortunately, with over 200 million stray dogs around the world, there is little relief in sight. But one city in Mexico has made it their mission to improve the lives of stray dogs living on its streets.
The homeless dog problem in Soledad de Graciano Sánchez
The city of Soledad de Graciano Sanchez in Mexico started taking steps to ensure the health and well being of the dogs living on its streets in 2019. An estimated 300,000 dogs are roaming the streets of the city, many of them in need of basic care. Working with dog-loving citizens across the city, government officials are looking for ways to provide for this homeless dog population.
The city steps in to help
One of the first measures that city officials undertook was the installation of feeding stations around the city. As a part of a program called “ComeDog,” the feeding stations consist of a PVC pipe. Simple in design, the feeding stations are filled with food provided by the community. The stations also have clean drinking water for the animals.
Feeding stations
The stations are filled by volunteers from the Respuesta Ciudadana, or Citizens Response organization. These workers are also tasked with helping any dogs out that they happen to come across while doing their duties.
Ambudog
In addition to the feeding stations, the city has also bought an ambulance with the sole purpose of treating local pets and street dogs. Called Ambudog, the service is the first of its kind in Mexico. Staffed by veterinarians and other health workers, the program offers free healthcare to the city’s cats and dogs, whether they are homeless or have a home.
Services offered by Ambudog include spaying and neutering, vaccinations, as well as medical care. The purpose of Ambudog is to cut down on the number of homeless animals on the city’s streets in the future through population control, as well as ridding the animal population of Soledad de Graciano Sanchez of disease.
The importance of fighting disease in the homeless dog population
According to Dolores Elisa García Román, Director of Municipal Services Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, a failure to help keep the street population free of disease could have far-reaching implications. Distemper and parvovirus, if not treated could spread to other animals and even people. The Ambudog program helps prevent this.
Other cities in Mexico are planning on following suit
Other cities in Mexico are planning to follow Soledad de Graciano Sánchez’s lead and develop programs of their own to help the stray dog population on their streets. With so many dogs on the streets of the city, there is little chance of them all finding a home. Fortunately, the city can provide them with the next best thing, food, water, and access to the medical care they need.
Check out this video which is a step-by-step breakdown of how to rescue a street dog.
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