Caring Causes: Plans For A Quiet Island Life Took A Sharp Turn For This Animal Crusader

Rose's lifelong dream was to move with her husband and her pottery studio to a Caribbean island, enjoying her morning coffee on the beach and taking her ocean-inspired ideas back to her studio. Her husband would make use of the skills he honed in restaurants in a more laid-back, ocean-side setting. Isla Mujeres, a little island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, seemed to fit the bill. But, oh, were they in for a surprise.

What they encountered after their move was an island overrun with starving, neglected and abused dogs and cats—unsterilized, unwanted animals that wander the streets and are considered a threat to the community's health. Their unchecked breeding brought more and more puppies into a world where they'd be destined for the same miserable life. Rose couldn't sit by and watch, and soon started helping in whatever way she could.

Rose's experiences reflect the real-life journey of author Alison Sawyer Current, who began rescuing in 2001. Her valiant efforts to help dogs and cats grew into the nonprofit Isla Animals, which offers low-to-no cost veterinary care, arranges adoptions, and runs owner education to help whittle the number of animals destined for the same existence. 

The problems Alison encountered were numerous. There are no veterinarians in the area so most of the animals are never vaccinated or treated for parasites. The average dog is thin, mangy, and tick and flea infested. Needless to say, they are not welcome inside the home so even dogs that have an owner are subject to the same conditions as street dogs. Since most of the people can't afford a car, and taxi drivers refuse to pick up passengers with dogs, they have no way to get to a veterinarian… and the cycle just goes on and on.

Readers of The Dog Lady experience a world very different than their own, and see and feel a part of Mexico they could never have imagined. They get to share the journey of Rose, whose life takes an uncharted course into unknown territory, and experience the passion that changed a life forever. 

Alison is a recipient of The Doris Day Animal Kindred Spirit Award, and in 2007 she was invited to Mexico City for the first Forum on Small Animal Overpopulation in Mexico. To date, Sawyer has spayed or neutered more than 12,000 animals and promoted adoptions in Mexico, the United States and Canada. 

I had a chance to do an interview to learn more.

Why did you decide to write this book?

That's an interesting question and there are two answers.  First, I've had my rescue, Isla Animals, for 19 years now and I have so many incredible stories.  Some are absurd, some are tragic and some are funny. Secondly, I have 37,000 followers on the Isla Animals face book page and people always write me to say, "I want to do what you do," or "When I retire I want to start an animal rescue."  What I'm thinking when I hear that is, "you don't have a clue, this has taken over my life and although incredibly rewarding it's also an overwhelming amount of work and heartbreak". The book is a novel based on the first 9 years that I had the rescue and I hope it conveys the life that comes with it.

Can you share a little bit about Isla Animals?

The rescue is on a small island off of Cancun in Mexico called, Isla Mujeres (island of woman). It was originally a fishing village and has now become a tourist attraction for people looking for a more laid back vacation.

Isla Animals grew slowly, from taking in a few puppies at my house to a big hard working rescue. At first it was myself and one Mexican man who was also our property manager.  We now spay and neuter over 2,000 cats and dogs a year.  

Four years ago we moved the rescue from my house to a small space the government gave us to work in.  This was very exciting because  I'm a foreigner and because the local attitude towards pets is different. 

We also take in, rehab, and home over 300 dogs a year.  I now have wonderful volunteers  and we hope to do more, it always depends on the funds we raise. 

How can people make a change in their own corners of the world?

This depends on how much time they have to offer.  If they don't have time, donate and if they do have time volunteer at their local shelter or foster animals for a local rescue. Most rescues in Canada and the US are foster based which allows them to take in as many animals as they have homes to care for them while they find forever families for the cat or dog.

If someone has no time and not enough money, spread the word.  I ended up with so many face book followers because people shared information about the work we do. 

To learn more about Isla Animals or to find out how to support their programs, please visit the website www.islaanimals.org or join the over 37,000 followers on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/IslaAnimals.