15 Years of Successful Work of the SPCA Puerto Vallarta Jorge Chávez - Vallarta Lifestyles
go to original September 24, 2022

The SPCA Puerto Vallarta (Protective and Compassionate Society for the Animals) was founded in 2007. This non-profit organization helps to rescue animals in the streets or abandonment situations and promotes sterilization campaigns, in addition to facilitating the adoption of pets within our bay and to other countries.

The first location of this shelter or Sanctuary (as it is also known) was in a small two-bedroom house in the Paso Ancho neighborhood, which was conditioned to receive, care for and rehabilitate the dogs and cats that were taken off the streets. It provided many rescued animals with a safe haven.

With the passage of time, and as different needs arose, the SPCA Puerto Vallarta began to look for a larger space which would afford them the opportunity to assist more animals and provide better care to the animals they rescued. In this way, in 2012, they moved to their current location, which is located next to the banks of the Pitillal River.

A main objective of this hardworking group is to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in our destination. This goal has led to the organization working closely with foreign associations such as PVCA Animal Rescue (Canada) and PreVent Cruelty to Animals (United States). Its purpose is to facilitate the adoption of local animals and the transfer of them to those countries. To accomplish this, they must have the animals examined and have complete health documents (so they are medically authorized to travel).

“When an adopter shows interest in a certain dog or cat, they are provided with an application to fill out. If the application is sufficient, a representative from one of the associations with which we collaborate abroad visits the house where the animal will live and reviews it in detail to ensure that it meets the necessary conditions. In this way they know who the owners will be and, if everything is in order, they proceed with the adoption of the pet,” she adds.

“At this point, what we call Flight Angels enter the scene. That is, our network of collaborators and friends in person and on social media begins to ask among their acquaintances if anyone is going to travel soon to the United States or Canada who could take the pet and deliver it directly to the adopter. We carry out the procedure and we bear all the expenses, which are mostly covered by the cooperation fee,” she says.

Adoptions also take place locally and the process for application is much the same: “Family members who have decision-making power are asked to fill out an application where they express their mutual agreement to integrate a pet into the home. After the application is reviewed, we do a visit to the house to make sure that the spaces are adequate to include the animal. If they meet these requirements, the cooperation fee that includes the sterilization surgery, some vaccines and other related expenses are covered.”

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  Learn about SPCA Puerto Vallarta

  Check out PVCA Animal Rescue Society