How to be Humane for the Holidays!

Since 2003 animal advocates and animal lovers alike have been working hard to end roundups and euthanasia in San Felipe. I’m sure we can all agree that the fertility of indigent and stray dogs and cats is the heart of our problem.
Mexico, and other countries south of the US border have been working backwards for years to get a handle on this problem. If we had a government run low to no cost spay/neuter project, our population would diminish steadily and naturally over the coming years, and roundups and senseless euthanasia would become a thing of the past.
ZAPP is trying really hard to surgically alter 200 dogs and cats every month at our new location. Where “loud speakers” cars going thru the neighborhoods of our town announcing upcoming clinics used to be very effective, I have come to the conclusion that we are no longer getting the bang for our buck that we once did. This past week I went to the local San Felipe radio station and from now on, three days prior to our upcoming clinics, we will do 18 radio spots announcing FREE Spay/Neuter surgeries for all Mexican animals. BTW, next clinic is December 11th.
The biggest source of income for our project is our eBAY Shoe Store which accepts resell-able donated men’s and women’s shoes from anyone. Shoes are then turned into money on eBAY so we can fund our spay/neuter project.
On Thanksgiving night, I traditionally watch CNN Heroes. Year after year I am inspired by the work people are doing throughout the United States and around the world. But mostly I am moved by what is done everyday to serve people and animals in third world countries, because here is where the results are the hardest to achieve. The government and the culture lags behind our vision for the community, and because money is unavailable, funding comes from expats and tourists alike who support the programs that benefit the community.
This year (2011) I am committed to spaying and neutering 2400 dogs and cats and raising enough money on eBAY to get the job done. No surprise to you I’m sure, the economy is working against us to raise the money we need to support our various projects here in San Felipe. That is why I’m seeking out product that I can turn into money to underwrite our program. Dr Tony Solis, our highly skilled Mexican vet here in San Felipe charges ZAPP a mere $30 per surgery for any animal; large, small, male, female, cat, dog, kitten or puppy, plus $10 for a full course of antibiotics post surgery.
Our new spay/neuter surgery center on Mar de Cortez, located next door to Fandango and a few doors from the People’s Gallery is now cranking up it’s eBAY business and accepting all donations---be it shoes, bags, clothing or consignment items in order to raise the $6000 a month it will take to do the 200 surgeries we are committed to doing every month under the watchful eye of Dr Tony Solis.
Our “Spays for Strays Silent Auction and Casino Event” at the Pavilion raised over $3000 on November 13th, for the ZAPP Street Project, and on Monday December 6th, from 1-5pm at RUMORS Bar & Grill in Playa de Oro, we will have another “FUN” Raiser called “SHOES, BLUES & LOTS ‘o HOLIDAY TUNES” starring Denny Flannigan and Derek Wille on keyboards, featuring Jim Manning on Guitar and Juri Lynn on Vocals. Entry into the Show is a pair or more of resell-able shoes for the project. If you cannot round up a pair of shoes, then the ticket price is $10, but does not include the awesome Holiday lunch and seasonal cocktails that RUMORS has planned for you.
On January 17th, 2011, TOOTIE & the Girls will be back again at the Pavilion with a brand new show called “DANCING WITH THE STARS” and I might add, the fourth annual Drag Show they’ve performed here in San Felipe at EDR. If you’ve never attended this show, then this year is the year to do it. TOOTIE says, “this will be the best show ever.” Tickets will be available starting in December.
So, if you’re a Shoe Addict (don’t be ashamed) and have a closet full of shoes, or know someone who does, please make it a point to gather them up and donate them to ZAPP so we can continue to save our stray and indigent animals from terror and senseless euthanasia. This work is especially hard to do in Mexico, so we need all the support and help we can get! Remember, it’s all for the animals. You can ship shoe donations to: ZAPP SHOES FOR SPAYS / 95 EAST HIGHWAY 98 / CALEXICO CA 92232 Pooches Gracias!