Spay/Neuter 700 homeless dogs in Tabio, Colombia

Dear donor and friend, two weeks ago we rescued a little abandoned stray. He was in a really bad shape, underweight, dehydrated, his poodle fur tangled and dirty, not neutered, with cataracts and papillomas all over his skin and a disastrous dental status. He came to a foster home, where he soon adapted nicely, but is still suffering separation anxiety. As soon as he entered the living room, he fell in love with the two female seniors, both spayed, but he doesn´t mind, and started to mark territory. At an estimated age of 15, considering sterilization is risky and though most of our shelter dogs are spayed/neutered, not realizing the surgery is also an option, as we explained in a former report. In little Bo´s case, neutering him is worth a try, to avoid an important stress factor not only in his life, but also in the life of his human fosters. So we are now preparing him for his next adventure, with blood samples and a cardiological examination. And we found a veterinarian, who offers gas anesthesia as an alternative to the common one. In fact, it is considered the gentlest and safest form of anesthesia, ideal for monitoring respiratory and cardiac function. Additionally, we take the opportunity to remove some of the papillomas and do a dental cleaning. Hopefully, after the procedure, we’ll receive a completely renewed senior pup!!!

Dear donor and friend, we´ve always explained, that the only option for our strays and shelter dogs is spaying/neutering. But obviously we had to recognize, that there are exceptions. So let’s briefly review the pros and cons. Spaying is a responsible decision to prevent diseases and reduce cancer risks, and it also addresses behavioral issues, like aggression. But though age is no illness, there is also a flip side, such as hormonal imbalance, a longer recovery period for senior dogs, potential urinary incontinence and increased weight gain/obesity. Either way, our top priority is the well-being of each individual. As we focus on the rescue of elderly dogs, at the moment we have three unspayed oldies, Uncle Tom, Jerito and the newbie Milo. Uncle Tom is a real Methuselah and surgery would be far too risky. He is always in love with every female that comes by, which doesn’t affect him negatively in any way, because our females are all neutered. He simply wants to attract their attention by showing off and letting them know, how handsome he still is. Jerito is our tripod, so we made the decision not to spay, in order to avoid weight gain, endangering spine and hips. Milo is our latest rescue, 10 to 12 years old, with a terrible ear infection. We have to study his health condition very well, before we make any decision. Because that´s the point: making a careful, individual decision to guarantee their quality of life.