Help Save Abandoned Animals at Isla Holbox Animal Refuge
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Clara Connolly and I'm going to be a senior in high school in Boulder, Colorado. I'm looking to raise money for a small organization in Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo. I visited and volunteered at the animal refuge which takes in dogs, cats, and other animals such as baby raccoons, flamingos, birds, and more. They are falling into a financial crisis and need as much help as they can get to support the animals.
I volunteered there for two weeks taking care of the animals by walking dogs, cleaning crates and pens, feeding and playing with them. I also helped in the veterinary clinic feeding baby birds and raccoons. All the workers were welcoming and patient with my Spanish. They are fantastic people and truly care about each animal. Each worker works unbelievably hard to create a safe and clean environment for all the animals. In the mornings they start working at 6:30 am and people are there til 8:00 pm. Each person has a special connection with each of the animals and one of the workers even said that when he first visited he wasn't planning on staying but after seeing all the animals that needed help he realized he had to stay.
Every day they receive new animals that are in desperate need of help. Each animal has a story and the refuge works hard to take care of as many animals as they can. Many of the dogs that they have been taken in require medical assistance but are unable to get it because the refuge doesn't have the funds.
STORIES
There are so many dogs and each one has its history, but I figured I would share a couple of them.
- Rompe: Rompe was in a car accident where he broke his hips and all of his legs. He was mistreated and because of this is very skittish and anxious around people he is not comfortable around. He has been at the refuge for a year and wears a red bandana to show tourists that he might bite them.
- Bimbo: Bimbo is from Isla Holbox but was given up by his owners because they no longer could take care of him. He broke a bone somewhere near his hind legs and needs surgery, but has yet to receive it because other dogs need medical attention more than he does.
- Belen: Belen was abandoned by her owners last year in the middle of the street where she was hit by a car. When she arrived at the refuge she was taken well care of a made a complete recovery. She was just recently adopted and flew to Frankfurt, Germany on June 30, 2024.
- Brinkitos: Brinkitos is the only dog at the shelter who has survived the distemper. This is a contagious virus that dogs get creating symptoms such as runny eyes, seizures, paralysis, etc. She has been at the shelter for a year and a half and because of the distemper has grown incredibly long nails that are hard to cut.
No animal is turned down and money is spent to ensure that the animal gets the correct treatment. There were 60 dogs and 20 cats there when I volunteered. That number has now skyrocketed and the refuge is finding it incredibly hard to stay afloat. At a certain point, the refuge will no longer be able to take in animals leaving them with nowhere to go. With the climate changes and environmental issues, the island where they are located is facing heavy rains and even hurricane warnings. Just recently Hurricane Beryl came incredibly close to the refuge forcing the workers to work long hours attempting to evacuate and protect the animals from the natural disaster. They were able to successfully evacuate some of the animals that needed to be evacuated, but many of the dogs were unable to be relocated and were forced to stay inside for the entirety of the effects of the hurricane.
If the refuge does close, many animals will lose their homes, and years of hard work taking care of animals and finding forever homes for them will be lost.
The locals who live on the island don't care about the work that the refuge does. The refuge relies on the support of visitors only making money from donations from visiting tourists who can walk and see the dogs. I quickly fell in love with the work these people do and the animals that live at the refuge. I know many people share a love for animals and a contribution would greatly help the hard work and dedication these people show for animals that need help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Clara Connolly
Organizer
Boulder, CO
Diane Connolly
Beneficiary