For my 51st birthday, I am raising money to continue rescuing homeless dogs in Mexico.

This is a heartbreaking story, but it's an honest look at life for street dogs here.

Pictured above is Snow. He was a sweet homeless pup that we found on the street last month. He was hunched over and having trouble walking. His eyes darted back and forth to everyone who walked by him, as if begging for help. No one stopped. It was if he didn't exist. We immediately rushed him to the hospital.

It was so much worse than we feared. His old body was filled with tumors. They blocked his bladder. His colon. He could not pass urine, nor could he poop. An old hip fracture had made walking a painful chore. Everything about this sweet boy broke our souls into pieces. Yet, he smiled. His sweet smile haunts us.

Snow's prognosis was so poor that keeping him alive for treatment would have only caused more suffering. With broken hearts, we decided to let him rest. He deserved to finally be free of pain.

At the hospital, we made a soft bed out of blankets. We stroked his face, told him he was perfect, and promised to keep fighting for the dogs still out there.

Snow took his last breath surrounded by the love he always deserved but didn't get until it was too late. We spread his ashes on our farm. In death he finally found a home. I truly hope he knows how much we wished for a different outcome.

No dog deserves to live that way.

Every day we work to end this nightmare. This fundraiser will support:

- A spay/neuter campaign on May 6 in a very poor, rural village. We can prevent the endless cycle of birth, suffering and death.

- Emergency vet care for street dogs who are often: hit by cars, starving and/or sick with disease. The government does not help. We are often their only hope.

- Food and vet care for our sanctuary dogs. We offer street dogs a place to heal and learn to be happy dogs.

In memory of Snow. Turning loss into something that saves lives.

With love and hope,

Heather Johnson

Yucatan, Mexico