Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The Cuale Clinic, a Puerto Vallarta community effort run by a group of volunteers who have been organizing FREE monthly spay and neuter clinics for both cats and dogs on the first Sunday of each month since the beginning of 2016, needs your support. Volunteer Glenda Bland explains:

After a couple of days of uncertainty following the latest government mandate, we were told that we could go ahead with our monthly clinic on the first of November.

We had to cancel April and May clinics due to the pandemic and, when we could open again in June, we knew we had to make a lot of changes. The first was to find a temporary location as the Cuale Cultural Center was closed. Up until the virus, we accepted people on a first come, first serve basis and we'd regularly get around 150 people show up with their pets. We only had the resources to do 100 to 120 sterilizations each month so at least 30 people had to be turned away.

Starting in June, we went to an appointment only system - something that is totally new and different to the Mexican culture. An appointment app is posted on our Spanish Facebook page and appointments fill within an hour or two. We felt that it was vital to the safety of everyone - our vets, volunteers and the pet owners to be able to control large numbers of pet owners lining up and make sure they are following our safety standards. We temperature test everyone who arrives, masks are required at all times, we social distance as much as possible and we know exactly who has been to a clinic, so if it becomes necessary, we can contact trace.

The Clinic was established nearly 5 years ago with a goal of sterilizing 30 animals a month, because we thought this would help to reduce the overpopulation. Since we had to cancel April and May clinics this spring, we held two in June and July and then went back to a monthly clinic on the first Sunday of each month in August.

As of the November clinic, this year, we've sterilized a total of 5,057 animals. We've far exceeded the original goal and we continue to grow each year but, as the clinics get bigger and bigger, the expenses continue to grow too.

Though looking after the animals during post-op recovery and all other services are provided by our dedicated volunteers, our professional veterinarians charge for their services and we have to cover the costs of medical supplies other expenses, so we are continually looking for donations.

The Cuale Clinic is independent and not a part of any charitable organization. It receives no government funding, but relies solely on donations given by people who see that these clinics are making a huge difference in our community.

If you would like to support the clinics, you can send a donation through PayPal to gbland101@gmail.com. Every peso helps to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in Puerto Vallarta, and makes sure animals are cared for.

If you would like more information about the free spay and neuter clinics, please visit the Cuale Clinic Facebook page, or send an email to cualeclinics(at)gmail.com.