In the days before DAWG, our beaches and streets were covered with homeless, neglected and abused dogs and cats. Before DAWG there were individuals that tried to help, primarily by spaying and neutering strays, but it is the community support and donations that have helped us really make progress. We are now in our rainy season and fewer tourists mean fewer donations. However, our rescue population is not down; it is still raining cats and dogs.
We need our local community to support us even more during this time of year. Since we are asking for more help from you, you deserve to know how your donations help us help the animals. Since its inception, DAWG has rescued over 1,350 animals. We rehabilitate them through medical care and socialization and then place them in good homes. DAWG has also spayed/ neutered more than 2,500 animals by encouraging and providing no-cost/low-cost surgeries during clinics and on an as-needed basis. You may wonder why, if our area has developed so greatly in its treatment of these animals, do we still have such a demand for rescue and spay and neuter.
There are two important changes in the attitude of the people of our community that account for this phenomenon. One is the willingness to spay and neuter their animals. In the beginning almost all of the animals brought to these clinics were female dogs.
Male dogs were not viewed to be a problem because they did not become pregnant; cats were not even considered to be pets. Theses numbers have changed dramatically over the years.
The second change is that people bring unwanted or homeless animals to us for help. In the early years many of our rescues were found in dumpsters or bags thrown out on the beaches and roads. Please help us continue to develop our community greatness and make moral progress. Donate today.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged
by the way in which its animals are treated.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
By Shawnell Parker
INFO: Facebook - DAWG Domestic Animal Welfare Group - www.dawgcostarica.org
