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Ninety-Eight Spays & Neuters Conducted in a Day
By Anne Hines

On August 8th, Give Some Life veterinarians, Joaquin Villasenor, MVZ and Rebeca Serrano, MVZ, together with Rosarito veterinarian Jose Palafox, MVZ, and Marco Tapia, MVZ, from Tijuana, spent the day at the Give Some Life Foundation (GSL) clinic in Rosarito in an effort to lower the local canine and feline population.

Also on hand were the ever-faithful group of at least 15-20 volunteers who show up regularly at these monthly campaigns.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Angel Robles Vela. Angel is a dedicated young man who, under Dr. Joaquin's tutelage, now serves as the anesthesiologist for Give Some Life. Angel's abilities are many, and highly respected by the veterinarians he works with. GSL hopes to be able to find scholarship funding that will provide Angel with the formal education he needs to follow in the footsteps of his mentors.

In addition, Give Some Life's founding partner and namesake, Glen S. Larson, spent most of the day visiting with old friends, meeting new volunteers, and providing a bit of the inspiration and stamina that has come to define who GSL is.

It was an amazing sight, doggies everywhere! Some waiting patiently with their humans for their turn, others on the four operating tables in service, and the remainder in the "recovery tent" being carefully watched by volunteers.

This clinic was sponsored financially by a group of benefactors from Club Marena in Rosarito.

"It is this kind of generosity that keeps our clinic going" says Bill Clark, an early GSL volunteer, now Board Member Emeritus and Community Liaison for Give Some Life.

Wade Lorentzon's Baja Dream Team, a group of students from Calgary, Canada, supplied hotdogs for all. It was quite an experience for these young Canadians to see how things work in Mexico. "Amazing", "awesome", "incredible" were words included in the comments heard.

Give Some Life is a nonprofit organization funded solely through donations from the community. City of Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres has been one of the staunchest supporters of the work they do for the city.

The foundation was formed in 1999 by a small group of dedicated people who wanted to do something to help and protect the wildlife of Baja. The GSL team soon realized that there was an even larger problem, virtually ignored throughout Mexico-pet over-population.

In the early years the GSL team had to go to the hills and beg people to allow their animals to be neutered and spayed. On Sunday local residents were lined up with their animals at 7:00 a.m.

"Cultural and educational exchange have brought about these changes", says Bill Clark.

"I remember what it was like in the early days in the trenches" he continued. "The dog packs running through the streets were unmanageable, and euthanasia was done by the horrific electrocution method. GSL have been pioneers in using and teaching the humane way of euthanizing so that electrocution is now a thing of the past."

Thanks to volunteers and donors on both sides of the border, GSL is able to conduct monthly campaigns in Rosarito, Tecate, Tijuana and Ensenada. During the past year, campaigns have also been held in Mexicali, Los Cabos, Nogales, San Luis Rio Colorado, Colonet, Vicente Guerrero, and La Mision.

Dr. Villasenor, or "Dr.Joaquin," as he is more frequently called, advised that he will be spending GSL's 11th anniversary, September 3rd at Punta Colonet, at what has become an annual campaign. On August 10, GSL travels to Tecate, on Sunday, April 15 they are in Ensenada at a campaign sponsored by United Hope for Animals, Animal Advocates of the U.S., and 4 Patos, of Ensenada.

Joaquin Villasenor, MVZ and Rebeca Serrano, MVZ and their volunteer leadership team continue to work to educate the poor in remote communities of Mexico. Their efficient spay/neuter methodology has been tested, perfected and proven. In spite of obstacles, the GSL veterinarians have sterilized over 15,000 animals in past 10 years. Read further by visiting GSL website www.givesomelife.org

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