Behind the Scenes of a Mexican Shelter with 400+ Dogs
My first international rescue trip
Summer is the time of year when we like to stay home and enjoy life in our little village but that didn’t stop me from making one very important trip last month. I’m freshly back from Cholula, Mexico and still processing everything I saw and heard — including the unforgettable sound of 400 dogs barking simultaneously.
I travelled there with Save Our Scruff, the Canadian dog rescue I’ve been volunteering with for the past year. Until now, my role has been very much behind a computer supporting fundraising efforts. This trip was an entirely different take on volunteering. It was my opportunity to get on the ground and as close as possible to the dogs whose lives were working to change.
The focus of the trip was Funkytown, a shelter that provides a sanctuary to over 400 dogs. These are animals who would otherwise be roaming the streets of the local communities hunting for scraps. Many of them are former street dogs; others were abandoned by owners at the shelter gates; and some — typically litters of puppies — were simply dumped in boxes or bags at the doorstep.
The scale of the operation was simply staggering. There were dogs absolutely everywhere I looked. The most social and trusted ones were allowed to roam freely in a central area; the rest were housed two or three to a kennel in a maze of open-air enclosures that stretched across the property.
The first day was completely overwhelming. I’d never been surrounded by this many dogs all at once, every single one of them wildly excited by the arrival of new people. I also found it difficult to see hundreds of dogs living in outdoor enclosures with just a basic shelter to protect them from the sun and rain.
However, I quickly understood that all the dogs at Funkytown were well cared for relative to local standards; each one was sheltered, fed, vaccinated, and given medical attention. What they were really lacking was the individual attention and love that comes with being in a forever home.
Our role as volunteers was to identify friendly, approachable dogs that might be suitable for adoption in Canada. Over two days, we spent time with as many dogs as possible—handing out treats, offering cautious pats, observing behaviour. Ten dogs made the trip back with us (the maximum number allowed on the plane) and many more were earmarked for future adoption. This may not sound like a significant number but each adoption makes space and resources available to another dog in need.
This trip was exhausting and intense, but also very meaningful. After years of travelling through countries where stray animals are just part of the landscape, I’ve often wished I could do something more than simply feel sad about it.
If you’re curious to see what 400 dogs sound like when they all start barking at once — or just want a peek behind the scenes of Funkytown — you’ll find a few clips on our Instagram Stories @ourfreedomyears.
See you on the road,
Stephanie & Gillian
Be careful of pitbulls and their mixes. They are unpredictable with high prey drive and have inflicted fatal attacks on humans (majority females and children) wildlife and pets worldwide.