Message from the new director 
By Janielle Penner

Greetings to all in San Miguel, residents and visitors alike. As you may have read in Atención a few issues ago, the SPA has a new Board of Directors and all new officers. As the new General Director, I would like to share some thoughts with the public and begin to expand on the different facets of the SPA’s operation.

Our mission at the SPA is to provide shelter, food and medical care to abandoned dogs and cats and place them for adoption. We aim to make low-cost veterinary care available to people of modest means through our on-site clinic and to educate the public about the proper care of these animals and the importance of sterilization. The two programs that I’d like to expand upon are the Sponsorship Training Program and the Red Collar Program, which touch on the veterinary care, adoption and educational components of our mission.

The Sponsorship Training Program, coordinated by the fantastic and hard working Kathi Hamblet, has been a significant addition to the SPA. Mexican teens and pre-teens come to the SPA twice a week and are assigned to work with specific SPA dogs. Trainer Tomas Bustamante works with the group on handling of dogs, proper walking techniques and employing other commands. The results have been outstanding—we have happy students that have gained a new skill and calmer, more adoptable dogs. We will be hosting another Training showcase in the near future.

The Red Collar Program proactively seeks homes for all dogs and cats that have lived at the SPA for over a year. These animals range in age and personality; some are high energy while others are more docile. At this point, we have 2 cats and 14 dogs that fit this description. We are working with other organizations in Mexico, the US and Canada to find good homes for these deserving creatures. Since the program began last month, we had our first successful Red Collar adoption—a dog that had come to the SPA as a puppy and stayed for over three years. We hope to find great homes for all of these animals and to greatly reduce the amount of time an animal lives at the shelter, while also opening up space for other abandoned dogs and cats.

I am truly energized by the enthusiasm and commitment of our new board. Through the efforts of both new members and last year’s continuing board members, we have gotten off to a great start. They have jumped into all three facets of the SPA: Shelter and Clinic Operations, Administration and Outreach. We will soon launch a new membership program that will offer benefits to all SPA members. If you already renewed this year, you will be receiving information on the program. If you would like to join or renew, please visit the shelter or our website.

On this working Board of Directors, each member plays a part in the success of the shelter. If you have questions about a certain function of the SPA—about adoptions, Thursdays in the Jardín, or fundraising visit www.spasanmiguel.org for a list of Committee Chairs and how to contact them.

As the General Director, I am open to hearing your thoughts and concerns as well. Feel free to send questions my way, to janielle@spasanmiguel.org.