Cozumel: Clinic and mobile services bring education and aid

IFAW formed a unique partnership with the Humane Society of Cozumel (HSC) in 2008 to raise the welfare of all dogs and cats on Cozumel.

Years ago, the only known way of controlling dog and cat overpopulation was by randomly poisoning animals in the streets. In 1993 the founders of the HSC came together and eventually brought a stop to the poisoning. Today, IFAW is partnering with the HSC to building the capacity and awareness of responsible animal care on the island, leaving the island better able to maintain high standards of care for its dogs and cats.

Through ongoing education, outreach, research and an intensive spay/neuter campaign, the Cozumel project has become a model in Mexico for successful, modern and humane companion animal population control.

On the Road to Recovery

IFAW has rescued sick and abandoned animals from the city dump, developed an education program for schoolchildren and lobbied for improved municipal regulations on animal control.

Many people are willing to have their animals sterilized, but do not have a vehicle to get themselves and their animals to the clinic. IFAW helped purchase a "spay wagon" to be used as an open bus to transport owners with their pets to the clinic and back.

The professional staff at the clinic work hard to find good homes for animals in their care. Unfortunately, they still do not have enough space to rescue all of the animals collected at the municipal animal control center or those abandoned at the clinic, dump and on the streets.

By expanding the Humane Society of Cozumel's education, outreach and spay/neuter program, we can relieve the suffering of more dogs and cats than ever before. Through continued re-homing and responsible pet care education, dogs and cats are much closer than ever to enjoying the status of valued community members, rather than that of an overwhelming nuisance.