Casa Sheila - Animal Rescue (in honour of Bella)

Hello fellow animal lovers,

 

My fiancée and I spent some time in the suburbs of Los Cabos, Mexico, where we became acquainted with many of the local wildlife (AKA street dogs), feeding them meals as so many were bone-thin and in poor health... In our efforts to take in a few, we contacted over 15 different rescues in the area, hoping for help with the process. We had nearly given up before we found Casa Sheila. The volunteers and staff at Casa Sheila were AMAZING! The night after we got in touch, a volunteer met us, grabbed an emaciated, flea and tick-ridden dog, and drove to the vet. We offered to care for her while we stayed at our Airbnb, as we had a few days until our flight home. During that time, we fell in love with our sweet girl Bella and decided to adopt her. It was heartwarming to see her come out of her shell. Despite her life on the streets, she was calm and trusting, letting us bathe her on the first night. After taking care of the flea and ticks (there were literally hundreds that came off her), she regained her energy. She yelped with joy and ran when we took her to the beach two days later!

 

When we flew back to Canada, it was a sad departure... We could not take her with us, as Bella needed to put on more weight and finish vaccinations to come to Canada. Again, Casa Sheila to the rescue! A fantastic volunteer took Bella in for over a month, caring for her and taking her to the vet until she was ready to fly. Unfortunately, soon after arriving in Canada, she started experiencing difficulty breathing.

 

After several vet visits (and thousands in vet bills...), we were given a prognosis of cancer - a Mast cell tumor growing on her trachea and salivary glands. The veterinarian told us it would likely be only days before she would be suffering and need to be put down. Fortunately, and with the help of Prednisone, Bella blew past that timeline. She gave us two more wonderful months! This morning, she finally "told us" it was time; you could see it in her eyes, she stopped eating, and her breathing became shallow and labored. We took her to the vet and held her while she was put to rest, ending her suffering...

 

The whole story was a difficult experience, but one that we would choose all over again, even knowing the ending. The love we gave her was paid back ten-fold. It may come as a surprise, but this is often the case - these neglected animals are known to be so grateful and affectionate!

 

After the heartbreaking morning of saying goodbye to Bella, we want to raise funds for Casa Sheila to help other dogs and cats in Los Cabos.

 

Sadly, Bella isn't even close to the worst cases they deal with... They routinely take in unfortunate cases of abused and neglected dogs and cats who would otherwise die in the streets. So many of these animals are able to receive care they so desperately need, and coordination efforts to find and travel to their forever homes locally, or in Canada and the US. Other times, they are left with no other options than to euthanize some animals due to injuries and diseases left untreated. In these cases, the folks at Casa Sheila take on the extreme emotional burden and accompany the animals at the end… Another vital service they perform is regular free sterilization clinics to help address the issue of overpopulation. This small organization does so much good with so little for the animals and the community! From the dedicated volunteers to the veterinary professionals, what they are able to achieve with very little funding is incredible. As a result of a lean structure and dedicated team, the money raised will go further and do more than other large organizations with high overhead costs.

 

Anything you can afford to give would be greatly appreciated by us, the caring team at Casa Sheila, and most importantly, the many dogs and cats in Los Cabos!

 

Special thanks to Lauren, Lisette, Mercedes, and Dr. Sol - four of the most selfless and dedicated animal advocates we have had the pleasure to meet! Lauren helped get in touch with Courtney and facilitate the operation, Lisette is a fearless dog whisperer who scooped Bella up, Mercedes and her family open their home and hearts up to so many dogs in need of homes while they wait for their forever homes, and Dr. Sol is an amazing veterinarian who takes such great care in her work. We have kept in touch with all of these wonderful people, and they have helped us through this tough time. Bella’s gentle soul left an impression on us all I think.

Rest In Peace, sweet Bella.

P.S.

In addition to helping raise funds, check out their Facebook page! They are always posting available adoptions, and commonly have flight companions heading to major airports across North America. Even with airfare, the cost to adopt is still a hell of a lot less than a breeder, and the dogs are amazing! To be clear - the case with our Bella is a rarity, and not the norm. We will also be looking for another member to add to our family, but are waiting until our after wedding in August…

 

Casa Sheila - Facebook