Save a Mexican Mutt
By Nancy Leichter and Sally Osbon

Make the world a better place, one mutt at a time!

One day you’re homeless—no friends, no food, nothing to live for—and then suddenly you’ve got a family, plenty of chow, a cozy place to sleep and, best of all, a real job where you can help other people.

You even get your own badge! Now that’s a success story, and it’s the true story of Tilly, a sweet, spunky terrier mix that in May 2008 was found abandoned and starving on Stirling Dickinson by two sisters who couldn’t let her starve but had too many dogs to keep her. They had heard about Save a Mexican Mutt and called Kelly Karger, founder of SAMM. Within a month she had found a home for Tilly, and within two months, thanks to all the great people working with SAMM, Tilly was brought back to health and driven to the US, where she found a new owner and a new life in New Hampshire. Tilly is now not only a cherished family pet but also works as a therapy dog at a hospital. 

Here’s what Tilly’s new owner, Diane, had to say about her: “Thanks again so much for Tilly. She’s already giving back. One unit at the hospital has specifically requested her to work with them. Some of the patients made a special request after seeing me with her in the hallway!”

Tilly is just one of the many success stories made possible by SAMM, an organization dedicated to matching homeless San Miguel dogs with loving families here or in the US. When Kelly and Jim Karger moved here in 2003, they saw dozens of hurt, abused and abandoned dogs.

They felt they simply couldn’t stand by and ignore the situation. That was the beginning of SAMM, which takes in strays and spays or neuters them, socializes them and tries to place them in good homes. Since US authorities allow Mexican animals with health certificates and vaccination records into the country after an inspection, it was an opportunity for the Kargers to place over 200 dogs in cities that, believe it or not, have a scarcity of dogs to adopt. Prospective owners fill out a detailed application and a personal interview is conducted before the adoption. If you want to donate to SAMM, if you want to adopt or foster a dog, or if you want to transport a dog to the US, please visit www.saveamexicanmutt.org. You can make a difference to 
San Miguel’s street dogs.

August Amigos Blitz
By Rosalie Gower

Amigos de Animales held a very successful spay/neuter Blitz August 23–24 at the fiesta hall on calle Independencia.

In all, 170 animals were sterilized, both dogs and cats, and loving, responsible pet owners brought their animals from areas extending from Independencia to Santa Julia, San Felipe, Olimpo and even San Luis Rey. 

This is the 12th Blitz held by Amigos since its inception in 2002 under the guidance of president Arno Naumann, and in that time 7,000 animals have been sterilized. There will be another Blitz the end of November, venue to be announced. Seven veterinarians donated their time and skills to the project and over 40 volunteers worked in registration, weigh-in, number calling, dog and cat recovery, surgery, education, checkout, collars and grooming. Karen Baird supplied wonderful food for the workers, free of charge.

Amigos also sends two vets weekly into the campo to spay animals at no charge to try to reduce the numbers of packs of dogs that threaten farmers’ livestock.

It is also involved in the city pound, assisting Ecología in caring for captured dogs from the colonias, humanely euthanizing dogs that are sick or vicious, attempting to contact owners and trying to find homes for unowned, adoptable ones. A free clinic to be used between Blitzes is also in the planning stage and will likely be set up in the present pound. 

On September 10, Amigos held a wonderful thank you party for all volunteers at the bed and breakfast Alba del Castillo at Campanario 32 in Los Frailes.

The party was arranged by Gerry Mushinski and hosted by Mario Ruiz Uribe, Wenshu Lee and Philip Wander of the B&B. The ambience was beautiful and the food outstanding. Amigos has exceptional volunteers, and this was an attempt to let them know how grateful we are for all their hard work and loyalty. 







.