BMA Clinic Report – December 14, 2019

Published w. translation & pictures on the FB page. 

BMA Clinic Report – December 14, 2019

December's clinic was a day of many blessings - some hidden.

The BMA team is in preparation a week before the clinic. We have to replenish supplies and confirm who will be volunteering and reminding our clients of their appointments. Despite the best laid plans, things change. Feeling pretty confident of what was ahead, I forgot to bring the appointment sheets....so much effort to be efficienct only to be humbled by forgetting the crux of our clinic. No problem, I was 10 minutes late but Nena, Ana and Jenny greeted me with laughter and hugs. 

By 11 am we only had 14 animals. Nine of our appointments didn't show so we announced the availability over the loudspeaker in town and in a few minutes we were up to 21!

The benefits of working as a team is that we share the big jobs.  Many hands make light work.

Yesterday, some people brought in a most pitiful, neglected dog hoping that someone would adopt her and then left her on our doorstep, abandoned by the people who brought her in. 

There was a poodle under there somewhere under an impenetrable mat, an armor of filth, fleas and ticks. She also had an injured leg and paw. It seemed impossible to liberate her but a little army of caregivers hovered over her with scissors, razors and comfort - what a combination!  It took a couple of hours and was a bit of trauma that we all shouldered but we slowly whittled her out of that horrible shell. We found a feather imbedded in the mat as if a bird mistook her for a nest! And there was a nursery of ticks and fleas, flora and fauna. Her ears, legs and tail were so heavy-laden she could move freely. Finally, underneath was a white poodle-dog with trusting eyes and yielding disposition. Who knew? We all loved her and we loved each other too because we saved her together. Katherine took her home to bathe and continue the good care.

And so, we created our own little Christmas story of peace and goodwill. Thank you, each and everyone of you for all that you do for the sake of animals. When we care for the most neglected we do ourselves and the world a favor. Persistence, patience and love can turn the tide. 

BMA Clinic Report - November 9, 2019

This was one of the hottest clinics I can remember...and it's November!

The night before the clinic, our latest rescue, a wolf-dog, began looking for a cave and by 8 pm she was birthing. I had to go to bed early to be ready for the clinic so Wally camped out and helped her with the births. I woke up at 4 am to 2 little wolf cubs and to give Papa Wally some relief and there were chores to be done before heading for the clinic.

Nena, Chemo, Kenny and Ana had a beautiful full setup by the time I got there and there were two early clients checked in. I love starting the clinic that way. How wonderful to have a capable, dependable team that early in the day.

I worried that I had overbooked the day. Now I fully understand how Anne rarely said "no" to anyone who needed an appointment. Before I left my driveway this morning, my neighbor was asking for 3 appointments for 3 female cats. I already had 24 confirmed appointments but how could I say no when I did the numbers...so I said yes. As it often goes, the ones I think are coming for sure, didn't show. In the end, as always, it all worked out. We treated 9 female cats, 6 female dogs and 4 male dogs. 19 plus 2 consultations was a full enough day.

We had a most wonderful surprise mid-morning. We received something we have been longing for for a long, long time: a pet scale! A wonderful, pet scale! Steve and Michelle donated the new scale, a large dog crate, a box of dog diapers and box of tick and flea treatment. What can I say - it was like Christmas! This makes our work much easier. Try picking up a 30 kilo dog that you don't know to stand on a 12" x 15" platform. Not fun... No more. The dog stands on the scale alone and it's weight is measured even as it moves all-squiggly on a super large platform - easy-peasy.

Another wonderful thing happened...Kate is back with lunch!  When I told the volunteers they started a hallelujah choral - that's the truth, I kid you not!

After practically abusing our new volunteer, Leslie, last month, she was back for the full day with great loving care for our recovering dogs. She came in with a pitiful pup, belly swollen with parasites and carrying more ticks than a buffalo...not a way for a baby to start a life. She gave the pobrecita a bath and afterwards we had to pick ticks off Leslie! For all her tender heart she's also tough when it comes to caring for animals. We are so happy to welcome her to our community.

Today was another great day, another great clinic.

Thank you everyone. The generous impulse of our community is humbling. It is how we are able to function. We could not begin to do what we do without what you do. This is the wonder of giving. It feels good to give and it makes others want to reciprocate. It is an honor to be in this cycle of giving and receiving. These are lasting and meaningful connections.

Here's a heads up! Next clinic, December 14th, we are having an open house at our BMA clinic site, which is also the Museum. We will be doing what we always do, spaying and neutering, but we will also be having a mini flea market with food! Talk about full-service! We invite our neighbors and friends to come see us at work and gain some deals as a teaser for our upcoming Silent Auction in January. Please lend your support for raising funds for another year's worth of monthly clinics. 

See you next month!

Kenny - worth his weight in gold

BMA Clinic Report - October 12, 2019

This past summer BMA and the Culture Center  sponsored a summer school program on what it is to  be from this community. It was called, Yo Soy de Nayarit - I am from Nayarit. A secondary theme evolved: what is it to be a hero/heroine in your everyday life. Well, yesterday's clinic was a manifestation of what happens when everyone brings their particular gifts of heroism to a cause.

After a harrowing night of hurricane-force winds we ventured predawn to open the clinic. Wally was prepared with flashlights and a chainsaw. He had to remove two places in the road blocked by fallen trees. The museum courtyard had a thick covering of mud and there were large limbs covering the cat recovery area. I held the flashlight while he cut. Despite a fever and deep cough, Nena came to help she and brought another BMA friend, Chemo to help. He brought a blower. Kenny carried many buckets of water to move the mud out and we each took a broom. Soon it was light and people began to arrive with animals.

Everyone who came to the clinic left home without power or water, with debris and mud awaiting them, but they came to volunteer and they came to keep their appointments.  We took in 25 - 3 female cats, 18 female dogs and 3 male dogs, plus 2 consultations.

No one complained. When Ana arrived to set up surgery she acted as if it were nothing to start with a floor covered in mud and no running water. By the time Dr. B. arrived it looked like another clinic day in paradise - the sun was up, the sky was blue and the courtyard was cleaner than usual.

Randy, Jani and Ryan came at 9 and set to work with Minerva, spraying chloro and hard-brushing the courtyard which was slick with green slime.

By the time Jenny arrived the first dog was coming into recovery and the sun was drying up the courtyard.

Minerva invited someone she had met on the beach to visit our clinic. Her name is Leslie and she is looking to make Santa Cruz her new home. She stayed for the whole day helping Jenny in recovery. She had zero experience in this kind of work but her willingness to help was over-the-top, truly an angel sent from doggy heaven.

Kenny hauled water all day long in addition to picking up and carrying every animal to and from surgery and to the owner's car.

We had 4 pit bulls, 2 were pregnant - when it rains, it pours pit bulls! At least it seemed that way yesterday.

I knew I should have stayed home...

Can you feel it?  Everyone was drawn into a whirling dervish dance. From chaos, evolved a choreography that transformed us into heroes, a community of heroes really! We had every excuse for canceling and going home to take care of our own messes and I don't know why we didn't. But we kept facing one tree-in-the-road at a time and in a few hours we went from SOS to "All is fine and well."

At the end of the day, as the church was ringing the bells for mass and I was locking the gate of the clinic, the last thing I saw as I locked the gate of the clinic was Ana on her motor scooter with a knocked-out pit bull pup in a bag between her feet, Baltazar behind and Kenny in the rear... I was too tired to find my camera for a photo but please try to conjure up that image...it says it all and it will warm your heart and make you grin.

OMG, I love this community! I hope none of you feel abused by yesterday's difficult day... I hope when you got home the refrigerator hadn't defrosted and you could take a shower.  I'm humbled by your heart and stamina. You ARE heroes.

Thank you Wally for forging the way in the dark. Thank you, Amaranth for holding the light.

Thank you, Nena for showing up when sick. And Chemo for coming armed with blower.

Thank you, Kenny - you're always our MVP.

Thank you, Ana for never flinching.

And Dr. B - man, 25 surgeries, STOP! - no don't stop!

Thank you, Minerva and Nataly for kitty kare.

Thank you, Jenny and Leslie for hours of up and down, checking and re-checking, keeping the dogs as the center of your attentions.

Thanks Randy, Jani and Ryan - you kept us from falling on our pompis, literally!

Thanks Trilby for funding lunch at Lucy's and  Wally for surprising us with pizza!

Thank you, Rosa for 4 new chairs so we could all take a seat and eat together like one, big family.

Now, get some rest!