Lacy’ s Corner: A week in the life of an animal rescuer!

April 1st

Sunday,  I repacked all clinic supplies and organized them in my bodega.  I delivered puppy food, newspapers, extra cages, and extra syringes to Celia.  Cleaned up at clinic house.

Monday   Alicia ( my worker and friend)  worked 4 hours at clinic house cleaning and spraying for ticks.  Jacqueline from Ursula Galvan called.  Her dog broke stitches and had parts hanging out.  I had her call Eladio immediately and he did a stick together and cleaned parts that were hanging out.  Three more families came by and dogs had pulled stitches.  All incisions looked OK and were very small holes.  I treated with violeta.  Two more people came by asking about sterilizing their dogs and I told them to take the animals to El Monteon.

Tuesday  Had several calls from people on adopted dogs and using comprabantes.  Went to talk with Eladio to make sure he understood.  Referred two people to Celia and since they live in Colonia she will inject vaccinations.  Hector from the Loncheria in La Penita and has five more animals for sterilization.  He will take them to El Monteon.  We have adopted out three cats from the clinic.  Finished cleaning clinic house and cleaning beds so vets can stay there this week. Eladio did follow up on the dog from Ursula Galvan. Owner says here dog is now fine.  I told her if there are any more problems the vets will be in El Monteon until Friday.

Wednesday  picked up vaccinations for three dogs from Eladio- Winkie, Patty's pup and the lady who ended up at Celia's after Eladio told her the dog had sarna.  Dog did not have sarna but dry skin. Celia bathed animal and applied a pomada. Celia will inject the vaccinations for her dog.

April 9th

     Yesterday took Abbott to the vet for his health certificate.  I dropped it off with Jim plus his vaccination book.  I paid for the certificate and there is a note in the folder. 

     Celia would like to know the plans for the Falcon.  He eats 10 pesos a day of carne molido.  I told her we would repay her for what she has spent.  She says he may never fly again but needs a bigger cage to spread his wings so we can find out.  She will keep him as long as we can pay for the food.  It is too much for her to pay this herself. But she asked if we can find an adoption home. 

     The two puppies Celia will keep until all the hair is back and she has homes for both of them.  They were sterilized in El Monteon.

     I delivered two cats to Celia's cousin that came from your bodega.  One is being adopted by a neighbor and the other one by the lady that delivers milk in the area.  Will pick up the cage next week.

   Your mother cat is still nursing the orphaned kittens and the kittens are doing well so I will not find a home for her yet.  We still have the black sterilized kitten for adoption. 

    On Monday I will make an appointment for Boxie in Puerto Vallarta and will take him in.  Celia would like me to help one more dog but I am not sure I will have the time.  It is the dog owned by a young boy in a family of ten. It has a tumor on its penis.  They live in a lamina house in La Colonia del Paraiso.  He is already working in the fields with his father.  He didn't know anything about genital cancer and now that he knows would like to get his dog sterilized.  His father will give him permission to accompany the dog for one day. I was thinking Sayulita Animales clinic.           

April 11

 Celia called last night and one of the puppies that were adopted out was hit by a drunk in La Colonia.  Children were crying and so was the mother.  She told Celia that she works full time because her husband has diabetes and has lost his sight and is dying.  One of the small girls opened the door and dog ran out and was hit by a man driving way too fast and was drunk. 

 I called Marcelino this morning and he was waiting for me when I got there.  He said that the dog will be OK and has no broken bones.  It lost a bunch of skin so he gave me injectable antibiotics and antibiotic spray.  Total cost $250 pesos and I have receipt.  Celia will care for animal until it is better.

April 15

Boxie had three tumors removed and  an analysis from Lab.   Dr. Arturo used a laser cutter and Incision is very straight.  He found something in the tumor that he said that looked like old stitches but I asked Hector and Nubia and he never has had any operation only sterilizing. So perhaps it was from a bite or  something else that may have caused the tumor.

 Celia said the people who adopted the Dalmatian pup came by.  They took it to a vet in Guadalajara.  He thinks he can fix the paw.  They want vaccinations.

April 17

A man came and adopted one of the once lice puppies but we still have one left.   I picked up more vaccinations for Celia for animals adopted by people in La Colonia and I used a comprabante.   I got lots of syringes and three vaccinations for a dog with mange on the hill. I have one more dog I am going to try to help with tumors in La Colonia.  I will fill you in more later.

April 21

     Celia and took five animals to Sayulita Animal today.  Three have owners and one is the sister to Winkie and will be adopted once it is sterilized.  We have one more that is very cute, chocolate color and poodle like with a mustache and once sterilized will be adopted right away I think.  So we have two dogs for adoption at Celia’s and one adult cat for adoption.

Danny would still like three adult cats.  So I am looking for two more adults that are sterilized.

      We will pick up the dogs this afternoon.  Then tomorrow I will take Lupita to her new owner and Celia wants to take Bala to the Sayulita Clinic because she has an abscess or tumor on her leg.  Lupita's new owner is in Sayulita.  I will try and get with you some time this week.  Lacy

Free Spay and Neuter Clinics nearby:

The Sayulita Animal Clinic is open from Tuesday to Saturday

From 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm.  They spay and

Neuter on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the morning.

Sterilization is free for street animals.  Phone:  329 291 3974

To view photos of our clinic and past clinics as well, please click on the following link or copy and paste into your browser:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=cibs3m6r.7lvpz3ob&x=0&y=-ytzw53&localeid=en_US

JBAR NEEDS:

Kennels especially large ones

Leashes and collars (all sizes)

Stethoscopes

Digital Thermometers

Muzzles

Dog and Cat Food

Sutures

Sterile Surgical gloves 7.5, 8.0, 8.5

MANY THANKS FOR THE FOLLOWING DONATIONS!

Gerti and Helmut Wasser                   $  650 pesos

Ceclia and Tom Carrillo                                  $  200 pesos ­­­­­­­­­­­­

Tanya Gylfe, Escondido, AC                         $25.00  USD

Lorlei Walker and Bridget Korman    $50.00 USD

Susan Schrandt                                               $300 pesos

Elaine Gordon & Kelly Glomlien                   $100 USD

ADOPTED!

 Ms. Twinky with her new owners. They're extremely happy with her!  She'll fly out this afternoon.

Just received an update about Ms. Twinky  from Ana in Lo de Marcos: 

“Here's the beginning of Twinky's happy ending at her new Oregon home with her new friends!!! Thank you Lin & Celia!

 Here's Twinky with (from left to right) Maria, Paco & Rodriguez. She was great on the flight. Thanks again for your help. Twinky's story is one with a happy ending!”

FOR ADOPTION:  

Chocolata is fixed, healthy and very friendly. She needs an enclosed area because her present owner says she tends to roam (Gloria has an store close to the highway and cannot watch Chocolata as well as she should because she is so busy).

Rocky is fixed and vaccinated, friendly and
healthy. He needs a home within the next two weeks as the

people who now look after him are leaving for China. 

Please contact Ana regarding these two dogs at

anadelodemarcos@gmail.com

Three kittens for adoption, one black, one multi-coloured and one white kitten with blue eyes.

All JBAR Animals for adoption are vaccinated and spayed or neutered and given on-going medical support for a year for those in need.

Additional Requests!

Donations of bags of dog or cat food are always needed as we continue to feed street animals (approximately 20% of our budget goes to feeding homeless animals).

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON THESE LINKS

 http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

http://hopeanimalnetwork.ning.com/

TO MAKE A DONATION:

Please contact linchimes@hotmail.com

Donations may be made through mail, direct deposit, email money transfer or in person.

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful support! 

REWARD/STILL MISSING: 
FEMALE AIREDALE, large, brown and black dog, probably very shaggy and
ungroomed but possibly shaved or trimmed, missing in this area since
January 1, 2009.  Has Avid microchip and tattoo on abdomen.

 Please contact owner:  reyesito@hotmail.com  or telephone (442) 148 88 16 or contact Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue: linchimes@hotmail.com.

                      By Tara Spears

Even if you never see an actual Olive Ridley sea turtle in the wild, you can know that the world is a better place because these mystical creatures continue their thousand year old rituals.

Email: tara.sprs@hotmail.com

Second in health series

Whether you’re a tourist or Riviera Nayarit resident, the recent hordes that enjoyed the local beautiful beaches brought lots of activity-and germs. When recently strolling the avenida, I stopped to chat with three acquaintances.  All three had been to the doctor and were diagnosed with intestinal amoebas. Humm, I thought I should check out this illness and pass along the information. Nothing is more disappointing or miserable than to arrive for a vacation to an exotic place only to have to spend days chained to the bathroom due to vomiting and diarrhea.  There are several illnesses that have similar symptoms yet different sources of infection: viral, bacteria, or amoebas; not all of them require medical care but it is wise to try to prevent catching one in the first place.

Often called the stomach bug or stomach flu, viral gastroenteritis is a short-lived, lower abdominal infection that is impossible to prevent or cure. The malady works its grotesque way through our bodies at its own spasm speed. If you're not already washing and gelling your hands several times a day to fight germs, it's a good habit to start. The microbe spreads through the feces and vomit of infected people. You can catch this virus from a handshake, and once infected, you're likely to spend a day or two in digestive-tract misery. Experts say it's possible to infect someone else even after the symptoms disappear. Some infected people never develop symptoms, which drives home the wisdom of hand-washing to ward off the colonies of unseen germs that inhabit shared surfaces.

Treatment of stomach flu:

 Viral gastroenteritis, (germ pictured left) is the most common cause of acute, rapid onset diarrhea worldwide. The symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea –without fever- typically last only 48-72 hours. The above table suggests typical treatment that should be accompanied by lots of bottled water intake. The severity of the illness can be impacted by the amount of viral exposure, age (the very young or elderly are more susceptible), the individual’s overall health when infected, and any pre-existing immune weakening disorders (for example, diabetes, AIDS or cancer.)  Health care professionals can identify the type of stomach ailment through lab tests, as the microscopic germs have distinctive appearances.

Next in the misery spectrum are the bacterium infections.  Food poisoning is a brief illness that is caused by bacterial toxins contained in tainted or improperly handled food.  This is a big issue in all tropical countries: food kept just a couple of hours at room temperature spawns bacteria growth. The toxins cause abdominal pain (cramps), vomiting, and for the small intestine to secrete large amounts of water that leads to diarrhea.  Mercifully, the symptoms of food poisoning usually last less than 24 hours. A professional cook explained to me that food poisoning symptoms can appear within 20 minutes of eating, although symptoms may not occur for 7-12 hours.

           The bacterium that produces toxins in food before it is eaten typically is Staphyloccus aureus. This bacteria can infect salad, meat, or mayonnaise, including salad dressings.

The leading healthcare watchdogs, such as the American Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, recognize that there are many types of bacteria naturally present in food while other bacterium find their way into food from contaminated water, soil, air, animals, equipment, and people. By understanding bacterial ecology, in combination with recognizing many of our bad hygiene practices, it can give us the tools for the prevention of food borne disease.

Montezuma’s Revenge a.k.a. Traveler’s Diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea describes the digestive tract illness that frequently attacks those visiting third-world or developing countries. Bacterial toxins cause the sudden onset of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes vomiting.  These symptoms usually occur 3-7 days after arrival in the foreign country, and generally subside within three days.

This illness is rarely life-threatening for adults.  It is more serious in children as it can frequently lead to dehydration. The bacteria and the toxins that cause traveler’s diarrhea occur in areas with contaminated water supplies, poor sewage systems, or improper food handling. Be cautious when selecting possibly contaminated foods such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, raw meat, or ice cubes. Some experts contend that the people living in these areas often don’t get sick because their bodies have developed some degree of immunity.  As a foreigner to these types of conditions, you can decrease your risk of developing this illness by avoiding water and food that may be contaminated. If you can’t see into the kitchen, ask if the food is prepared with bottled water; if in doubt, don’t eat or drink it!

 The diagram, left, illustrates all the possible ways that food may get contaminated.  The industrialized nations have government regulations that oversee all phases, including enforcing safe procedures and inspections of harvesting and processing food products.  Where the problems occur in the developing countries is that the small subsistence farmers are direct suppliers to the local markets (tiendas) which is not inspected:  they frequently sell any condition animal, fruit, or vegetable in order to survive. 

 The Bacteria Bad Boys: E. coli and Salmonella       

Most adults are familiar with the digestive-tract illnesses, E. coli and Salmonella, either from having suffered through a bout of infection or from the media reports. Escherichia coli  is just one of the hundreds of strains of the bacterium with the same name.  Most types of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy animals and humans.  E. coli, however, produces a powerful toxin that can cause a severe infection of the small intestine and colon.  These bacterium cause all the symptoms of the above viral infections plus occur with fever and signs of digestive tract inflammation (blood or pus in the frequent stools.) Another indicator of one of this type of infections is the duration of the miserable symptoms. One can acquire this bacteria by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated foods such as vegetables, poultry and dairy products.

Salmonella is the medical name for over 2,500 types of bacteria. This ubiquitous microscopic bacteria is known to cause disease in humans, animals, and birds (especially poultry) worldwide. According to Melissa Conrad Stoppler, M.D., virtually any food can become contaminated with one of the many species of Salmonella. This bacterial infection is passed to humans from animals: eating undercooked poultry and drinking unpasteurized milk are among the ways humans can acquire the infection.

 But increasing media coverage has focused on vegetable products as the source of many Salmonella outbreaks. When vegetables or fruits are the source of an outbreak, it means that these products have been handled unsafely, such as processing or preparation on surfaces that have become contaminated with animal feces or raw poultry. Another way for vegetables to become contaminated is by an infected food handler.  Several professional cooks said that they use a separate cutting board for only poultry, and wash it with bleach and hot water to eliminate the potential bacteria.  The symptoms of Salmonella include fever (over 101), nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, all usually lasting several days.

It’s best to contact your health-care professional if you suspect you have acquired Salmonella food poisoning. Even though most cases of Salmonella resolve on their own without the need for antibiotics, treatment may be required if the infection spreads outside of the gastrointestinal tract or if you become severely dehydrated.

What’s the deal with dehydration?

Dehydration is common among adults suffering with acute diarrhea that have passed large amounts of watery stool, especially if the replacement of fluids is limited by lethargy or nausea and vomiting. The extreme loss of fluids leads to a deficiency in minerals (electrolytes) and sodium, besides abnormal levels of chloride and bicarbonate.

The last of the troublesome micro-organisms that cause significant pain and digestive-tract illness is the intestinal amoebae. I had not heard of this parasite until moving to Mexico, but because it is transmitted to humans via contaminated water and food, this infection is fairly prevalent. The medical term is amebiasis or intestinal entamoeba histolyticac, which is in the dysentery family of germs.  What makes it so painful is the inflammation of the intestines and possible ulceration of other organs. The severe diarrhea frequently has blood and mucus.  The common treatment includes lots of liquids, a course of strong antibiotics that contain quine components and antiprotozal drugs.  Some permanent Mexican residents take Vermox mebendazol tabletas (available in most farmecias) once a year as a preventative measure.

Using common sense and following good hygiene practices are the easiest way to enjoy your stay in a beautiful, exotic country. The table that follows provides excellent advice to take the worry from preventing food borne illnesses.

Here are five major tips recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent contaminating food.

Use caution when buying food.

When at the grocery store, pick up perishable food such as meat, eggs, and milk at the very end of your shopping, so they will stay cool.

Take food home right away so that it does not spoil in a hot car.

Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk.

Because eggs, meat, seafood, and poultry are most likely to contain bacteria, do not allow their juices to drip on other food.

Store food properly.

Store eggs, raw meat, poultry, and seafood in the refrigerator.

A refrigerator should be set at 40° F.

A freezer should be set at 0° F.

Regularly clean and disinfect the refrigerator and freezer.

Use containers to prevent contaminating other foods or kitchen surfaces. Do not store food uncovered in the refrigerator or freezer.

Use special precautions when preparing and cooking food.

Wash your hands and clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces before, during, and after handling, cooking, and serving food.

Defrost frozen food on a plate either in the refrigerator or in a microwave, but not on the counter.

Cook food immediately after defrosting.

Use different dishes and utensils for raw foods than you use for cooked foods.

Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Cool and promptly store leftovers after food has been served.

Because harmful bacteria grow at room temperature, keep hot food hot at 140° F or higher, and keep cold food cold at 40° F or cooler. This is especially important during picnics and buffets.

Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.

Promptly refrigerate or freeze leftovers in shallow containers or wrapped tightly in bags.

Since foods of animal origin pose the greatest threat of Salmonella an E.coli contamination, do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meats. Remember that some sauces and desserts use raw eggs in their preparation, so be cautious of these, particularly in foreign countries.

Make sure poultry and meat, including hamburgers, are well-cooked, not pink in the middle.

Do not consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products.

Thoroughly wash produce before eating it.

Avoid cross-contamination of foods. Uncooked meats should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods.

All utensils, including cutting boards, knives, counters, etc., should be thoroughly washed after handling uncooked foods.

Thoroughly wash hands before handling foods and between handling different food items.

Thoroughly wash hands after contact with feces.

Thoroughly wash hands after handling any reptiles, since reptiles are particularly likely to have Salmonella.

Email Tara:  tara.sprs@yahoo.com