From the SPA
By Beverly Russell

A Great Dane is a great comfort

Betty Davis-Drewery with her horse Amigo and Brindle Great Dane, Selma.

At the age of 60, Betty Davis-Drewery suddenly found herself accidentally the owner of a Brindle Great Dane. “I didn’t know anything about dogs, never had a dog, never took care of dogs. I always had a cat and a horse,” she told me at her casita in El Mirador. “But Selma chose me, it was not the other way around. Now I couldn’t live without her.”

Selma, age 7, weighs in at 100 pounds, just 35 pounds less than Betty herself, a diminutive horse rider, well known in San Miguel’s equestrian community. Selma arrived at the Canales Equestrian Center as the runt of a litter from Querétaro in 2002. “The breeder said no one would want this dog because it was being picked on by the rest of the litter,” Betty said.

Betty came to the stables for riding lessons with her horse Amigo and Selma developed a liking for her. She followed her home and frequently slept under her casita window nearby. Betty would bring her back to the stables in the morning to be fed with the rest of the guard dogs. But after a while, Eugenio Canales, the riding maestro said to Betty: “I think Selma would be much happier living with you.” Betty replied: “How can I feed such a large dog on my small budget.” But now she’s discovered this breed does very well on raw chicken wings and feet that she buys at Mega, given half and half with dried dog food.

Betty likes this particular breed of dog because it is an animal communicator. “I am her person. She doesn’t belong to me, I belong to her. She is totally devoted to my safety and welfare. I have never had anything care for me like that.”

Selma sleeps in Betty’s bedroom on a Costco bed, never disturbing her owner. Up at 7:30 every morning, she plays around outside with her blanket or pillow. Then she comes to the kitchen for her breakfast of raw chicken and dried food.

When Betty takes Amigo out for an hour’s trail ride, Selma goes with them. Betty remarked, “I have never felt so safe. People never come near. They think she might bite, but actually she only barks.”

At the SPA, located at Los Pinos 7, off Calzada de la Estación, plenty of friendly, loving watchdogs like Selma are waiting for seniors to take them home. The shelter is open daily, 11am–2pm. A donation of 300 pesos is requested for dogs, 250 for cats.


Beverly Russell is author of several books and numerous articles for publications such as The New York Times. She is the owner of Felipe, an orange and white cat that found her at SPA.