Help Marissa Bring Maya Home

Hello! My name is Marissa and I am a 27-year-old anthropology student. I’m currently in Belize doing an archaeology field school. I’ve been out here since the beginning of June and I spent my entire savings to come out here to do this 6-week-long field school. At first, I noticed the town I am in has many stray animals. I have always been a huge animal lover and activist, so it was something very different to see. I understand that this is just how it is out here and that the animals aren’t sick or wild and it’s just a cultural norm here for the strays to walk around town. Growing up with animals my whole life, I of course would acknowledge them and say hi and talk sweetly to the dogs and cats I would see; however, this one particular stray is one that I have fallen in love with. She immediately became attached to me within the first week of me being here and she actively follows me around everywhere I go here in town when I am outside of my hotel room/not out excavating. When I return to my hotel room where I’m currently staying, she is there. When I wake up in the morning and leave my room to start the day, she is outside waiting for me. She is stuck to either my left or right side and I cannot help myself but love this sweet girl back.

And I want her. I want to give her the best life that I know for a fact that I can give her. But I need help. Considering that I have also had to pay rent for my apartment back in the states while being out here in Belize doing this field school, I do not have enough money to cover the cost of her getting all her immunizations, certificates/papers, and airplane expenses for her to come back with me to my place in California. So, I am reaching out, asking for donations to help me rescue this sweet girl who definitely would have an amazing life with me back home where she would never have to sleep outside again. I would not be asking for help if I didn’t truly need it and it wouldn’t be just helping me, it would be helping this sweet girl as well too. As I am nearing the end of the field school, with 16 days left until my plane ride back home (July 21st), I need as much support as possible to give her the life she deserves. And as I’ve been excavating and studying ancient Mayan ruins while here in Belize at this field school, I would of course name her “Maya”. Please, I want to have a dog again, and I want it to be her.

UPDATE: I talked to a veterinarian in town today and he told me that the process of getting a permit from the CDC after getting her bloodwork done would take 8-12 weeks. I leave Belize and come back home to California on July 21st and so she would be staying either at a shelter or with someone/fostered until I am cleared by the CDC and am able to fly her to the USA. I have reached out to the local animal welfare society here in San Ignacio and will update as soon as I have more information.

I plan on taking her to the vet tomorrow (July 6th) to get her rabies and other vaccinations.