From the SPA
By Graham Culliford
What does SPA do?

Visitors and new San Miguel residents often ask, “What does SPA actually do?” Since many people mistake La Sociedad Protectora de Animales for the pound, that’s a fair question deserving of an answer.

SPA’s mission statement says, “La Sociedad Protectora de Animales is an organization existing for the well-being of abandoned and homeless dogs and cats in San Miguel de Allende and environs. SPA runs an on-premises clinic to offer low-cost health care for pets owned by people of modest means and enthusiastically seeks permanent, loving homes for all of its resident animals.”

The principal task of SPA is to operate a shelter giving sanctuary to unwanted cats and dogs ultimately capable of adoption. Animals that are brought into the facility are often debilitated, sometimes injured and always infested by internal and external parasites. They are immediately isolated to prevent any of their conditions spreading to resident cats and dogs and to have their immediate health needs taken care of. They are fed according to their age and needs to bring their nutrition to a beneficial level. They receive the appropriate treatment for parasites, they are vaccinated against the common diseases of cats and dogs, and if they are of an appropriate age they are sterilized.

In addition, all the animals undergo a program of socialization. Abandoned puppies and kittens frequently have had little or no contact with humans—volunteers spend lengthy periods of time acclimating newly arrived animals to the presence of humans and, in the case of dogs, training them to obey simple commands.

The aim of this care and attention is to develop animals capable of being adopted back into the community and an active adoption program seeks suitable new owners for shelter residents. By the end of June, SPA had found adoptive homes for 65 dogs and 66 cats. As part of a revolving door policy, every adoption makes way for another unwanted animal to find a place in the shelter.


To complement the shelter, a veterinary clinic staffed by two vets is responsible for the treatment of all new arrivals and the continued good health of all the residents. The clinic is open to the public for basic services—vaccinations, elimination of parasites, minor surgery and sterilizations—but it is not a full-service operation. It is low-cost veterinary care, subsidized by SPA, for people of modest means. The clinic provides basic health care for families who would not otherwise seek preventative and palliative care for their pets.

SPA receives no government funding and is supported entirely by its membership through dues and donations. Every membership and donation helps to continue the work to prevent neglect of pets and the abuse of unwanted animals.

If you would like to become a member or to make a donation, call 152-6124 and ask to speak to Claudia.