April is Dog Appreciation Month and all month long, pet owners, pet shops, and adoption/rescue centers are encouraging adoption! This includes some of the Latino owned pet shelters.
Compassion Without Borders
The Compassion Without Borders pet adoption center in Santa Rosa California, is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs along the Mexican border. Co-founder Christi Camblor, was asked why the organization helps animals get across the border to which she answered, “Hundreds and hundreds of homeless animals scrounging the streets and trying to survive. There were injured animals, limping and wounded, searching for food. There were packs of puppies roaming, emaciated mother dogs sniffing every inch of the ground for nourishment, to no avail. It was awful.” The work that this organization has done for the animals in their care shows that they value the health and safety of these animals, but they can’t do it alone. If you’re interested in volunteering or want to learn more about how you can help Christi Camblor and her team, visit their website. 
Watermelon Ranch
Watermelon Ranch, a non-profit no-kill shelter center, was founded by Lee and Sophia DiClemente in 1996. The love they had for animals prompted their desire to start this rescue group in New Mexico, to help abandoned animals find loving forever homes. Lee and Sophia continue to raise awareness for the shelter by hosting various events like the annual dog fashion show, which will be held on April 28, 2023. To learn more about how you can help raise awareness for this cause, the team is always looking for volunteers and donations.
Second Chance Rescue of Puerto Rico
Second Chance Rescue of Puerto Rico is another non-profit organization that was built by the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society in New York City.
The organization was started in February 2000 by Bonnie Lukas, and grew after the events of Hurricane Maria in 2017. “Residents forced to leave their devastated communities for the safety of the mainland were not able to bring their family pets. Many could not afford the hefty transport fees, others were prevented from bringing their pets with them if they could not fit in the cabin of the aircraft, while others were left behind because there was no space for them.” Since Hurricane Maria, the population of sheltered dogs has decreased, however, because there are still so many animals requiring care, food, and shelter, the team at Second Chance Rescue is encouraging donations that can be made through their website.
Why adopt or donate?
I encourage pet adoption because there are so many shelters overflowing with animals who have been abandoned either because their families could no longer keep them or because they were left on the street to fend for themselves. If you can’t adopt, donations are really important and help these shelters maintain the health and care of these animals, until they can be rehomed.
As a dog lover, I admire the individuals and the work they are doing to maintain these shelters to ensure these animals have a second chance at life in a good home. How these animals came to be in these shelters is just the beginning of their journey, and the hope is that by adopting or donating to these shelters, the end of their journey will be in the comfort of a new home with a loving family. Please consider adopting or donating to one of these shelters today and together, we can help to decrease the overpopulation in these animal shelters.
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