October Clinic - BMA sizzles!

Strange, October is always our hottest month and adds to the challenge of a full day's work. Bringing in the animals and the volunteers in three shifts makes it easier for bearing a shorter stint of heat. Yesterday, we were all like sails on a still sea, sensitive to catch every breeze.

The day began with 8 cats. Margit and Cathi came to learn about cat recovery from Minerva. She had everyone in masks carefully cleaning kitty-cat ears. One of the "cats" was a tejon, a badger. He arrived in a kennel with three cats and they were clearly family. For the record, BMA does not endorse having a wild animal for a pet and will no longer be offering services outside of dogs and cats, but we all enjoyed our exotic patient and marveled at how cats and badgers get along so naturally.

Large dogs began arriving at 10 am along with Sandra, Bill and Justine for dog recovery. This is our new protocol and even though we designed it to minimize contact due to COVID 19 it is proving to be a better system. But, there are always things we do not plan - like a female dog showing up in heat in the midst a street-gang of males  - how can we say no? That's why we are here! We took in females that were in heat twice during the day, adding them to an already bulging roster. 

By 1 o'clock, our surgical team had performed 18 surgeries! Christina arrived with a hot lunch and cold, crispy salad - the whole enchilada, literally! Hard work and good food - there's nothing better!

Back to work, 10 more surgeries and another group of helpers: Leslie and Hiromi and Justine stayed on. Bill came several times during the day just when we needed help. He was our transport and ambulance service -  don't send a big, drunk dog home in a wheelbarrow on a cobbled road!  

8 cats, 20 dogs later, as the dusk turned to darkness we closed the gate and turned toward our homes in a camaraderie of weariness and contentment. Our reward: a shower, a meal, a pillow, a full heart...

Thank you, beautiful friends - it's an honor to work together!

BMA Clinic - September 12, 2020

Yesterday's clinic had many challenges, but in the end everything turned out. Atleast that's what I heard, I wasn't there.

Ana, with her new prosthesis, was there early to open.  When Wally saw her he took her into his arms for a dance! We are so happy to see how well she has come along in this remarkable recovery that we all want to dance with her! Thank you to everyone who particated in bringing this into reality! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was at home unable to walk or move my head due to  vertigo. Ana said, 'no problem' and she took the bull by the horns, managing the whole of the clinic. That's a heck of a task when you have a new leg and a day full of surgeries. But she has been through many clinics and knows what it takes in every department.

By 7:30 the clinic was open and taking in cats while Dr B. was stuck on the autopista with a car that wouldn't run. I don't know how that story turned out, but he arrived at 11 and surgery began. The final count: 15 cats, 14 females, 1 male and 8 dogs, 3 males and 5 females, for a total of 23. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. considering the late start and with the electricity blinking off and on.

A big debt of gratitude to everyone who stayed late to finish: Dr B., Ana, Minerva, Shunashi, Kenny, Leslie, Hiromi and Bill. Ana, Kenny and Minerva put in a 13+ hour day! Leslie, Hiromi and Bill wouldn't leave till the last animal was picked up. Thank you Barb and Trilby for checking in and supporting the team. Even Anne in Canada was supportive in guidance by phone. Thank you Christina for a delicious break in the long day. Everyone raves over your lunches. I hope you readers realize what dedication there is here. People who love like this are our everyday heroes who in the end will save the world!

This team is tight! Working with the same people every month and knowing each other so well that we can move together as one - HEY,  we are dancing!

Rain-n-cats-n-dogs... BMA August Clinic Report

On Saturday, August 8th, BMA had the second modified clinic since COVID.

We treated 8 female cats and 5 males, 12 female dogs and 2 males - a total of 28 animals. 

Anna, Kenny and Shunashi opened the clinic to a floodgate of cats - 13 in all, 6 of them from Santiago.  

A client from there wrote:

"... you have no idea how grateful we are for the blessing you were to us. We love animals but sometimes financial resources don't work in our favor.

We have 23 cats and 2 dogs, all rescued! And it has been a great effort to be able to sterilize them all! But thanks to people like you and with God's help it has been possible. It is difficult for us to feed them.

Again, thank you very much for your work, for your time, for your example of dedication. May God bless you one hundred fold for what you do. Thank you!"

By 11 we finished with the felines and the dogs began to come in as part of our new protocol with three different check-in schedules. This reduces the time our animals are waiting. 4 strong beautiful women came from San Blas with street dogs. Sandra wrangled one of them at 3 in the morning!  And all of them stayed to help in recovery. Thank you Sandra, Evelyn, Guadalupe and Paloma for the love and stamina you have for animals! Jenny, Leslie and Hiromi were also there to check respiration, de-tick and clean ears...the normal-special attention that our animals receive as they recover.

Ana prepped every animal for surgery and

 was the first person to arrive and the last to leave. 

The afternoon brought intense heat and rain and mosquitoes! Leon lent us tents from the tianguis to shelter us. We finished at 5:30 - wet, hungry, tired and well-satisfied. What a valiant crew! Someone should make a movie...