SPCA-PV News & Tips: You Know It's Hot When Even Your Dog Starts to Melt Janice Gonzalez - SPCA-PV
July 18, 2017

The heat is on, that’s for sure. We’ve included a link so you can read more about Heatstroke in Dogs and Cats.

There has been a lot of debate on whether to shave your dog or not. The diagram above shows why you should not as long as you keep your pet brushed properly.

Here is a wonderful article written by our friend Clare Leach who is spearheading our Community Sponsors program. Thank you to those sponsors dedicated to making a difference.

Scientific Evidence that Animals Feel and have Emotions

By Clare Leach

The debate has raged on in the scientific community for years about whether animals especially dogs and cats have real emotion. There are still scientists who would like to believe animals do not have emotions because it is easier to use them in research. In the past, most studies were done post death to see if they could test brains of dogs particularly to see if they feel. That yielded little usable results.

Gregory Burns, a professor of neuroeconomics at Emory University in Atlanta Georgia, says that dogs use the same area of the brain as humans do to feel and that dogs have emotions just like people including, joy, love, excitement, fear, loneliness, sadness etc.

Burns’ research is the result of 2 years of MRI scans on dogs who are not sedated but trained to sit perfectly still in the machine. The results show that dogs use the cuadate necleus part of the brain to respond to humans they know. Burns says this shows that dogs have a level of sentience of feeling and understanding comparable to that of a human child. This does not come as a surprise to dog and cat owners who observe feelings in their own pets.

Dogs and cats communicate with their owners and most owners close to their pets will tell you exactly that. We as humans have historically assumed that lack of speech is proof that animals are “dumb and incapable of true feelings” That notion is luckily becoming as outmoded as the world is flat. Current research through observation and MRI’s and other tests prove that animals have emotions.

Now science knows that Evolutionary biology, cognitive Ethology (study of animal minds) and social neuroscience support the view that numerous and diverse animals have rich and deep emotional lives.

WHY is this important to our community of Puerto Vallarta? Because we have a large population of homeless and abandoned dogs and cats that cannot take care of themselves and we as compassionate people have a duty to help the suffering. Our ability to help is what makes us human. Would you walk past a small injured or abandoned child?

The situation here in Puerto Vallarta has improved over the last 20 years but still so much needs to be done. Homeless animals are everybody’s business. We as a community are only as strong as we treat and take care of our most vulnerable members, the poor, the children, elderly and animals, yes and animals. I see so many more Mexican families with pets on leashes being loved and cherished but I also see dogs being kicked, rocks thrown at them and left to die by car or illness with little thought to the immense suffering and fear and loneliness. Awareness is increasing but the suffering continues. Recently I was on a visit to the SPCA de PV sanctuary with a friend. A beautiful young shiny coated dog named Shiloh was on the lap of a volunteer stroking her gently and talking to her in soothing tones. Shiloh barely conscious had been brought to the sanctuary in a wheel barrow. She had been left on a roof top to bake in the sun until it literally fried her brain. Despite all efforts to save her Shiloh had to be put to sleep. At least she died in someone’s arms wrapped around her instead of alone. It still makes me tear up to remember that sweet dog and needless death.

Please next time you see a homeless animal, stop and look at their pleading eyes and eager expression and HELP. The SPCA de PV and many other organizations work tirelessly to find homes for our abandoned and abused animals with success but it takes money, time, vet care and spay and neuter clinics and above all LOVE.

HERE is info to keep in your phone:

Instituto de Proteccion Animal (322)  293-3690 (This is a new police unit in Puerto Vallarta).

Dial 066 if you have a ‘pet attack’ emergency

You can email these groups as well and they respond quickly:

spcapv@gmail.com  friendsofpvanimals.com   info@purrproject.com

clare23leach@gmail.com for the business community to support the SPCA de PV.

HAVE A HEART, SAVE A LIFE, TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

We have certainly been busy this summer!

Just a reminder to spread the word that free spay/neuter clinics occur monthly at the Cuale Cultural Center on Isla Cuale. Clinics are the first Sunday of each month and are sponsored by various individuals and organizations here in town. The next clinic is August 6 and is sponsored by our good friends and volunteers Pat Parr and David Thompson.

For more information and current happenings, visit SPCA-PV or on Facebook.

This content was submitted by a member of the community. We'd like to hear from you, too! To share stories, photos, video or events, please send them here.

  Learn about SPCA Puerto Vallarta

  Learn about Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals

  Learn about PuRR Project No Kill Feline Shelter/Adoption

  Learn about PEACEAnimals Free Mobile Clinics

  Learn about Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic

  Learn about Centro de Control, Asistencia Animal Pound