Author: Maia

January Stats

• 54 total spay/neutered
  (39 cats / 15 dogs)
• 1 dental surgery
• Prevented 405 future homeless puppies and kittens

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

Who doesn’t love to snuggle on the sofa with their furry family member?! But sometimes their bad breath can make you want to cut this time short! Stinky!

Helpful tips for getting rid of the stink:

Teeth Exams, Cleaning and Polishing
Dog and cat dental cleanings are very similar to human dental cleanings. After the cleaning, your veterinarian will perform a thorough oral exam and check for signs of disease like gum loss, root exposure, or pockets around the root.

Teeth Brushing
Dr. Sheldon Rubin gives easy, step-by-step instructions on how to teach a dog or cat to accept a daily tooth brushing.

Dental Cleaning Products
Not all pet dental products are created equal. If you aren’t able to brush your pet’s teeth as often as you’d like, consider using other dental products designed to help maintain your pet’s oral hygiene.

One of our favorite dog products: Ark Naturals Breath-Less Chews

One of our favorite cat products: Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats

Dental Fact:
Studies show that 50% of all dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease. That number jumps to 80% in pets that are 3 years of age or older. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause infection, pain, and tooth loss over time. It can also lead to serious health problems like microscopic changes in the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Meet Tux!

Tux was trapped by a wonderful volunteer, Nicole, as part of a local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) project last month. While under anesthesia for his neuter surgery it was discovered that he had a broken canine tooth with pulp exposure – which means his tooth was painful! Tux needed to have the tooth removed as soon as possible.

We never want an animal in pain, and a damaged tooth can impair eating. It can also lead to an infection, which would be deadly for a community cat. We were able to get him into the vet and have the tooth removed, and Tux healed quickly and rejoined his community cat colony as a healthy and happier kitty!

Learn more about our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

We’re thrilled that in our first week of Paws Across Borders we have reached 36% of our goal and are on our way to the border of Mexico!

For just $5 you can get us 1 mile closer to Mexico and our goal of providing 725 dogs and cats with much needed free vet care!

While Mexico may seem far away, it’s actually only 2,900 miles from Minneapolis to Playa del Carmen, and we believe love and compassion transcends borders, language, and cultures. We are asking for your help to virtually bridge the distance and get us to Mexico, with each $5 donation representing 1 mile traveled. Our goal is to raise $14,500 to fund our Mexico clinics in 2021, allowing us to provide care for 725 animals.

Please give today and help us travel closer to Mexico and our goal of helping 725 animals. Whether you’re able to contribute $5 or $500, every mile helps and together we will prevent future generations of puppies and kittens from being born on the streets and entering shelters. Thank you for your support and shared dedication to end animal homelessness and suffering from MN to Mexico!

The Impact of Your Donation!

Today, in addition to our local programs, we work with partners in Mexico to provide free veterinary care for owned and street animals. Our Spay/Neuter clinics directly address and greatly improve the issues of overpopulation and animal homelessness. In 2020 PPR was able to provide care to 428 animals in Mexico, but the need is immense and we have an opportunity to do more – this is where we need your help.

While Mexico may seem far away, it’s actually only 2,900 miles from Minneapolis to Playa del Carmen, and we believe love and compassion transcends borders, language, and cultures. We are asking for your help to virtually bridge the distance and get us to Mexico, with each $5 donation representing 1 mile traveled. Our goal is to raise $14,500 to fund our Mexico clinics in 2021, allowing us to provide vet care for 725 animals.

Our virtual walk will start on April 28^th with a match for the first $1000 donated! By donating on April 28th, the first day of our virtual walk, you will double your impact and help twice as many dogs and cats! Visit our event page and learn more about our work in Mexico and our upcoming virtual walk.

Thank you for supporting PPR and animals in need. We couldn’t do this life-saving work without you and your support!

PPR’s longtime volunteer and supporter, Christine Garrison shared her experience volunteering with PPR at a Mexico spay and neuter clinic and why her experience cemented her support for spay/neuter programming!

In 2012, I went to Playa del Carmen for a friend’s wedding. We stayed in a resort, enjoyed cocktails, and relaxed in the sun for four days. My trip then took an interesting turn as I then headed to Cancun with three other PPR volunteers to help staff a large, high-volume spay/neuter clinic that was taking place later that week.

Instead of a crowd of wedding guests and long-time friends, I was now surrounded by a bustling mass of volunteers, pet owners, and a seemingly endless line of cats and dogs in need stretching out the door. For five days, volunteer veterinarians performed surgery after surgery on dogs and cats. Some of the animals had families, some were feral and lived on the streets or in the jungle. But the reason for the clinic visit was the same – preventing the ongoing cycle of animal homelessness and suffering.

Instead of an air-conditioned resort room, I was now in an open gymnasium, standing beside a table of cats and kittens recovering from surgery. The cats were lined up, vaccinated, and monitored for any anesthesia complications. As the cats woke up, we called for their family or rescue group to take the cat home or back to its cat colony on the streets. One memorable kitten struggled after surgery, but the vets acted quickly with some medications and I spent a half hour rubbing her chest until she recovered, meowing and ready to go home.

Instead of a delicious cocktail by the beach, I ended my day with a cold beer and a sore back, thrilled with the accomplishments of the team. Over five days, the volunteer team spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and provided other assorted care for 1,574 animals. But it wasn’t just spay/neuter surgeries provided. A dog came in with a leg wound from being dragged behind a car, and that dog was helped with veterinary care. A cat came in for a spay surgery with a giant abscess on her face, and that abscess was also cared for. The generosity and patience of the volunteers was boundless.

And instead of tears of joy at a wedding, I cried tears of joy when a semi-feral cat was given an opportunity for a better life. A woman brought in semi-feral street cat she found in her neighborhood. The cat also had a zip tie wrapped tightly around her leg, which was one of several instances of animal cruelty I saw inflicted on the street animals. The zip tie was removed, the cat’s leg was saved, and she was spayed, but we were all concerned about how this cat would recover from surgery on the street. Of all of the things I saw during my time at this clinic, the only time I cried was when the woman who brought the cat into the clinic decided to take the cat in—even though she was semi-feral—and give her care and give her a home. Thinking about it now, almost ten years later, still makes me tear up.

It was one of the most impactful three days I’ve ever spent, and what I saw during that clinic makes me thrilled to continue my support of Pet Project Rescue’s ongoing efforts to help animals in need in Mexico. The efforts in Mexico provide so much needed care for animals in need, but these clinics also support the people in these communities and educate the younger generations about animal welfare. It’s critical work that I’m proud to support.

There’s 2 simple reasons we are thrilled to celebrate World Spay Day today!

Spaying & neutering dogs and cats is key to ending animal homelessness and suffering.
Love is free from borders and animal lovers like you and me know that every animal, no matter where they live, deserves a happy, safe, and healthy life. PPR is providing that through our free spay/neuter clinics!

Of the 6.5 million animals that enter US shelters every year, approximately 1.5 million animals are euthanized. When you consider stats outside of the US the numbers grow by the millions!

Numbers like that can be daunting, but with progressive spay/neuter programming we are seeing real improvements thanks in large part to animal advocates just like you!

A majority of these animals are healthy and adoptable but are killed due to lack of shelter space, adoptive homes, and financial resources to care for medical needs. As advocates for animals we believe this is unacceptable and that solutions are available to end the practice of euthanizing healthy animals.

By providing free spay/neuter resources for both pets and community animals in low-income communities who lack access to pet care, we can prevent dogs and cats from entering shelters – greatly reducing the rate of euthanasia and reducing both health and behavior issues long term. The end result is far more animals stay in their homes and out of shelters and off the streets!

Join us in providing spay/neuter resources to animals in need from MN to Mexico! Come along, starting on April 28th, for our Paws Across Borders – a virtual walk to end animal homelessness. More details to come soon!

We can’t thank you enough for your support throughout one heck of a year!

Here’s what you helped us achieve in 2020!

• 511 total animals received free vet care at our free vet care clinics
• 393 owned dogs and cats were vetted
• 118 community cats were vetted
• 463 total dogs and cats spayed and neutered
• 70 Minneapolis cats spayed/neutered through our Trap-Neuter-Return program (with a 3-month Covid closure from March 1 – June 1)
• 97 Mexican cats spayed and neutered
• 296 Mexican dogs spayed and neutered
• 35 dogs and cats received additional vet care through our Hero Fund, including chemo for TVT cancer, de-parasite medication, dental surgery, mange treatment, and additional vaccines
• 13 community cats were rescued and adopted through our partnership with area animal rescues

Your donation prevented

• 525 kittens from being born on the streets of Minneapolis
• 728 Mexican kittens
• 2,220 Mexican puppies
• 3,473 fewer puppies and kittens living on the streets and entering shelters in 2020 from MN to Mexico!

We could not accomplish the work we do without each and everyone of our donors, volunteers, and advocates for TNR and spay/neuter programs. Thank you!

This year has been challenging for most of us. Here at Pet Project Rescue, when the pandemic hit, we knew our services were going to be needed now more than ever. With the cost of housing, food, and amenities weighing heavy on many of our minds during a time when jobs are scarce, we didn’t want the care of one’s pet, or a community animal, to be an additional burden. Our small team of volunteers worked around the clock this year to make the following happen:

• Helped over 400 dogs and cats receive free spay and neuter surgeries

• Prevented 3,000 puppies and kittens from being born on the streets without hope for a forever home

• Provided life-saving treatment for skin conditions, parasites, wound care, cancer treatment, and medication for dogs and cats that came through our free clinic

• Held weekly spay/neuter clinics in Mexico

• Ran daily Trap-Neuter-Return in Minnesota

While we have achieved so much, we hope you will help us complete a lofty but necessary goal before 2020 ends. Pet Project Rescue still needs to provide 100 spay and neuter surgeries by year’s end. This will prevent 1,000 additional puppies and kittens from being born without a safe place to call home.

Why do we need to complete 100 more surgeries? Because according to the ASPCA, 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year. By joining us as a donor on Give to the Max Day on November 19th, you help lower this number by ensuring that dogs and cats receive the life-changing surgery of being spayed and neutered.

Schedule your Give to the Max Day donation now – you don’t have to wait until the 19^th to take part!

 Please help us create better lives for dogs and cats in Minnesota and across the border!

P.S. You can help turn 2020 into a positive year! You can schedule your GTTMD donation before 11.19 and you’ll be entered in a raffle for pet gift baskets, restaurant gift cards, PPR apparel and more!

Thousands of Minnesota nonprofits are supporting our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting today, GiveMN is doing a #GiveAtHomeMN from May 1st-8th in celebration of generosity during tough times – a call to give back as we’re able to help the organizations that make a difference in our lives.

With everything going on around us, Pet Project Rescue is busier than ever but we couldn’t do it without you, our donors, volunteers, and supporters!

How far will your donation go?

$25: End the spread of deadly disease by vaccinating 2 animals and preventing the suffering and pain caused by distemper, parvo and rabies.

$50: Spay/Neuter 2 dogs or cats in Mexico or 1 community cat in Minneapolis.

$100: Spay/Neuter 2 Twin Cities Community Cats or 4 dogs/cats in Mexico.

$250: Make it possible for PPR to rescue a terminally ill dog/cat from a local high-kill shelter.

$500: Spay/neuter an entire community cat colony in MN and prevent 70 cats from being born to the streets or entering our shelters or sponsor an entire clinic day in Mexico for 22 animals!

The Covid19 pandemic has hit us all hard and the need for our services has exploded in Mexico. In a country where the poverty level is normally 40%, this pandemic has rocked the already suffering communities we support. Unemployment skyrocketed in Playa del Carmen, due to a total shutdown of the tourist industry. People are going without food, which means providing basic needs like pet food and vet care is simply out of reach. That’s were we come in, with our free clinics and also food support through partnerships in Playa. Every Thursday we provide free clinics to family pets and community animals. Not only are the dogs and cats we are serving healthier after our clinics, we are also able to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens from being born and ending up on the streets.

Last week, we spayed this sweet girl during one of our free clinics, which means no unwanted puppies!

She was recently rescued from the streets, and shortly after her new mom lost her job. She needed help with vet care and PPR was able to provide that help thanks to donors like you!

We’ve gone from clinics twice a month to 4-5 times a month. The need is MASSIVE. We expect to spend an additional $10,000 between now and the end of the year to help families and pets most in need. If you are in a place to give we would greatly appreciate your support for our #GiveFromHomeMN fundraiser from May 1 thru May 8th. Every dollar counts! Stay safe and healthy and #GiveFromHomeMN !

Women Who Inspire Series Part 2: Lisa Edwards of Lost Dog Foundation and Help Tulum Dogs

Your mission/goal with your organization:

The mission of LDF is to aid the neediest animals in areas where little care is available and to assist other rescuers in a grass-roots way to rescue and rehabilitate animals in need. LDF is based on the East Coast of the US and works centrally in Virginia, to rescue and find homes for dogs and cats in need and to promote animal welfare.  TNR of neighborhood feral cats is a side program that LDF has undertaken in the past few years as well.  LDF is also highly involved in international rescue in the Yucatan of Mexico, in the Mayan Riviera areas. A primary goal of LDF is to promote spay and neuter and to work actively to organize and sponsor s/n campaigns on the ground in Mexico.  We formed a specialized rescue organization in 2014 in Tulum, Mexico, known as Help Tulum Dogs to focus on one area in dire need. LDF works closely with several other Mexican rescues and helps to transport many dogs to new lives in the US and Canada.

When did you start?

LDF was formed in 2011, official 501c3 designation in 2012.

What motivated you to start your organization?     

A lifelong interest and passion in veterinary medicine and helping animals…. I began volunteering with an international spay/neuter organization called ViDAS (based in Colorado) in Mexico in 2010, and then helped to found Tierra de Animales sanctuary outside of Cancun, Mexico in 2011.  LDF was formed to provide a base and platform for international rescue work, such as TDA and other efforts.

Biggest accomplishment/proudest moment:     

Personally, rescuing my sweet dog Silo in 2003. He was chained up alone in the side yard of a drug house in a shady neighborhood.

He was basically a wild dog at first, with no idea of how to be a regular pet dog, but he had a heart of gold.  He had a lot of health problems, escaped and was hit by a car and severely injured… but lived another 12 years with me and was my ‘golden dog.’

Biggest hurdle/challenge with what you do:  

Without a doubt, the biggest hurdle is financial funding.  With a significant amount more of funding, so much could be accomplished, both in the US and in Mexico by setting up permanent wellness and spay and neuter clinics and by being able to assist more rescue groups on the ground.

Advise you would give yourself when you started, knowing what you know now:    

Learn to say no when needed, and learn to 10000% trust your gut when sizing up a situation.  So much in the rescue world is dependent on the teamwork of humans and you have to really work with people who have your back and that you can trust wholeheartedly.

Any other info you want to share:        

LDF hopes to expand its’ reach in the future to conduct more spay/neuter clinics in Mexico and to work to promote ‘mindful travel’ so that travelers can assist animals in need while traveling in areas that need help. Win-win.

Site and Social Media Info:

Lost Dog Foundation     http://lostdogfoundation.org/

Facebook and Instagram: Lost Dog Foundation

Help Tulum Dogs: (no separate website as it’s ‘included’ as part of LDF)

Facebook and Instagram:  Help Tulum Dogs