Baja California Mag. - Baja Loves Dogs

BAJA GOOD LIFE CLUB MEMBERS GUIDE No. 45 - www.bajagoodlifeclub.com

February / febrero 2011

BAJA CALIFORNIA

BAJA LOVES DOGS A look into Baja’s dog problem and the people and organizations trying to solve it.

When Do You Need an FM-3 or FM-2?

The International Band Lineup at 2011 Blues & Arts Baja Love Ride is Now From Bull Ring to Arches New Baja Tours for Members

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Tecate

El Descanso (1767)

s ile

La Mision

Bahia Todos Santos La Bufadora

Yuma

2D

Rosarito Beach m 53

Los Algodones

Mexicali

CONSTITUTION OF 1857 NATIONAL PARK

San Miguel (1797)

Guadalupe (1834)

Valle de Guadalupe

Ensenada Ojes Negros Maneadero 29 M

1791

Santo Tomas 1780

San Vicente

8

wy

Puerto Penasco

SAN PEDRO MARTIR NATIONAL PARK

National Astronomic Observatory

Santo Domingo (1775)

18 M

PACIFIC OCEAN

Co ast

al H

Valle la Trinidad

Colonet

Bahia Colonet

Ne w

Tucson, AZ

Lukeville, AZ Sonoyta

Gulfo de Santa Clara

Heroes de la Independencia

M 23

(Rocky Point)

San Felipe

Colonia Vicente Guerrero

Punta Estrella Valle de los Gigantes

San Quintin

Nogales

Laguna Percebu Puertecitos

35 M

Carborca

!

get gas if southbound

El Rosario

Isla Miramar Isla Lobos Isla Encantada Isla San Luis

San Fernando (1772)

1774

77

Bahia Rosario

Santa Ana

M

Cataviña

Calamajue 64 M Santa Maria (1767)

Isla Angel de la Guarda

Bahia de Los Angeles

San Borja (1762)

33 M

Punta Prieta

Bahia LA turnoff

40 M

ia

rn

Bahia Maria

ora

lifo Ca

Chapala

Bahia Blanco

Son

Bahia San Luis Gonzaga

ja

Ba

Hermosillo

Isla Tiburon

Santa Rosalillita

Bahia Santa Rosalillita

Rosarito

Isla San Lorenzo Isla San Esteban

Puerto de Santo Domingo

Bahia de Sebastian Vizcaino PUNTA FALSA PUNTA EUGENIA Laguna BAHIA Ojo TORTUGAS Bahia Tortugas de Liebre

get gas if northbound

Bahia San Rafael

Villa Jesus Maria

Guerrero Negro

LF GU

Lighthouse

Santa Gertrudis (1752)

Vizcaino

San Carlos

CA

Isla Tortuga

46 M

Santa Rosalia

1705 1728

46 M

Baj

Isla San Marcos

Guadalupe (1720)

Mulegé

El Coyote

Bahia de Concepcion Bahia San Nicolas

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86 M

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Bahia San Basilio

San Juanico

ia S

Bahia de Ballenas

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PACIFIC OCEAN

Bahia Santa Ines

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Bahia de Ballenas

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San Ignacio

PUNTA ABREOJOS

Guaymas

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BAHIA ASUNCION Bahia Asuncion PUNTA PRIETA Bahia San Hipolito LA BOCANA

91 M 1720

La Purisma

ur

1699

1697

San Javier

Loreto Isla del Carmen

San Juan Malibat (1705)

LEGEND:

Ciudad Insurgentes

- Pemex Gas and/or Diesel - Highway Sign - Marina

Isla Santa Cruz San Luis Gonzaga (1737)

CIUDAD CONSTITUCION

Puerto San Carlos

Bahia Santa Maria Bahia Magdalena

Isla San Jose Delores (1721)

Isla San Francisco Santa Rita

Bahia Almejas

Bahia de la Paz Isla Espiritu Santo

Isla Santa Margarita

133 M

- Mission Site - Jesuit (17)

Isla Monserrat Isla Santa Catalina

- Page of city map & directory - Airport

Isla Danzante

80 M

12 M

La Paz Isla Cerralvo

(1683–1767) 1720

- Mission Site - Franciscan (9)

Bahia la Ventana

(1768–1773)

Bahia Muertos

- Mission Site - Dominican (1)

70 M

(1774–1834)

Todos Santos

SIERRA DE LA LAGUNA NATIONAL PARK Santa Rosa (1730)

Pescadero

48 M

BAJA CALIFORNIA

Tijuana

Santiago (1721)

49

Bahia las Palmas

Los Barriles

M

1730

Cabo San Lucas

M 19

San Jose del Cabo

GUIDE TO THE BAJA GOOD LIFE -

BAJA GOOD LIFE CLUB

GUIDE TO DISCOUNTS & THE BAJA GOOD LIFE

ON THE COVER

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NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS February is for love; love yourself, your spouse, your family and friends, your pets (page 4), or anyone that means anything to you. I know Valentine’s Day is only the 14th, but imagine if it were the whole month, how great would that be?

This is also the time of the year Rachel and I will do some explorative trips around Baja. This year we’ve decided to start personally sharing our love for Baja and have created Baja Select Tours, which are custom tours designed with you in mind and hosted by Rachel and myself.

We will personally take you to the places we enjoy most and explore places less traveled. We can design a tour just for you or your group. We have day trips to the

beach, and to the movies and overnight trips of sightseeing and shopping; just to name a few. The tours are all groups of 10 or less, so it’s just for you. We hope to find more ways for ours members to enjoy Baja. More info on page 9.

February also meant the Baja Love Ride, but that date has changed to March 2225. Go to page 7 for the update. Next year the ride will start on Valentine’s Day. This is always a fun time of the year for the two of us. We love the perfect weather, warmer waters, and making plans with old friends, new friends and family that will come to see us next month during the Blues and Arts.

Spring time in Baja is for the truly blessed. Check out this years Blues and Arts band lineup on page 14 & 15.

Lovingly, John & Rachel Pack

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USE YOUR CARD AND SAVE BIG ON BAJA!

The “Baja Good Life Club” is your Guide to the Baja Good Life. The travel and discount club for visitors and residents of the Baja Peninsula. Membership includes discounts on Mexican auto insurance, emergency evacuation services, an annual subscription to this printed guide, discounts on products and services throughout Baja. www.bajagoodlifeclub.com | US: 877-LUVMEX1 | bajagoodlifeclub@gmail.com

Steven Forman, aka “DOGMAN” Steven Forman has gone through many phases over his years of dedication to the dogs and recently has taken some hard losses, but it has not deterred or derailed him, to the contrary, it appears he’s come full circle; back to the basics of spay and neutering.

Now with a new surgery center and weekly clinics Steven is getting back into his grove and is once again working hard to achieve his zero-pupulation goal.

Steven is on our cover this month, because of his tireless commitment to the dogs of Baja.

Thank you.

The photo was taken by Derek Wille.

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BAJA LOVES DOGS

For an orphaned, abandoned or stray dog or cat in Baja, life is not an easy journey. Nor is it a particularly long journey.

With so many limited resources and a culture that once embraced indifference rather than compassion, homeless animals in Baja have long been subjected to abuse, neglect, disease and even group elimination referred to as “round ups”.

These street animals can often pose a risk to humans also. They are likely to be infested with ticks, fleas, mange and can even pose a risk of rabies.

Past options to deal with a staggering increase in street animals were cruel and senseless until compassionate and motivated individuals from Baja and across the border decided to do something. Together and with a lot of financial backing, several incredible and ambitious groups have cropped up along the peninsula over the past few decades; all with the goal of making life better for animals that deserve love and care. Battling against the ingrained ZAPP Spay and Neuter Street Project is making a real difference in the streets of San Felipe. ZAPP (Zero Additional Population Street Project) was founded in 2006 by Steve Forman and other local animal lovers.

As the name indicates, ZAPP sees population growth and a lack of a government program to encourage spay or neuter practices as the primary reason for the animal control problem.

They are also a no-kill organization. Because there has been such a huge problem with stray animals in San Felipe and nearby communities, animal control officials conduct monthly “round ups”. According to Forman, these “round ups” entail animals, namely dogs, being herded into pickup trucks and taken to Mexicali where they are senselessly euthanized. Recently, one round up confiscated and destroyed 80 to 100 dogs whose only crime was not having a home. While ZAPP volunteers and others who care wish they could intervene and physically stop the round ups, they have no where safe to house the animals. A major benefactor has recently pulled the funding for the project; therefore

cultural differences, these fearless and passionate volunteers take it upon themselves to find the resources to fund spay and neutering projects, clean and care for mange and ill animals, find homes for the homeless, and give any animal in need the love and care they deserve. Against great odds, especially when it comes to financing and being overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals, these groups continue to persevere and make a real difference where it is desperately needed.

ZAPP has lost its actual facility which was 7.5 acres. This loss of the facility has made ZAPPs job that much more difficult.

The animals that roam around are called “throw away dogs”.

ZAPP operates under the philosophy that sterilization will prevent a need for these “round ups”.

ZAPP holds bi-weekly spay and neuter clinics in a rented store front. They sterilize roughly 50 animals per clinic.

Because they depend entirely on private funding, the need is never satisfied. Currently, when they spay or neuter, the vet who performs the procedure receives $30. This covers the surgery and all medications and after care needed. When ZAPP sterilizes 50 animals during one session, $1500 of the foundations funding is needed. For those who wish to help the plight of ZAPP, volunteering your time is always one way to make a difference.

However, financial support is gravely needed.

ZAPP has a monthly subscription club for those who want to give an ongoing preset contribution. ZAPP also holds many fun and

unique fundraisers around San Felipe. One of ZAPPs most successful and innovative ways to raise funds is through the online shoe store they run through eBay. The shoe store takes donated new and gently used shoes and auctions them for funds. You can send your shoe donations to ZAPP “Shoes for Spays”, 95 East Highway 98, Calexico, CA 92232. Information about upcoming events can be found at www. sfzapp.com .

Because one organization in San Felipe cannot possibly feed, house and love all strays in Baja, others have naturally cropped up in communities where there is need. Marla Daily, volunteer vet Denise Jones and Lucy Gonzales have spearheaded Animalandia out of Loreto. Lucy and Denise together used to rescue animals in need and perform necessary surgeries in Lucy’s home. They also independently found homes for the street animals. Marla Daily joined the women and put her expert fundraising skills to use. She and her husband, Kirk Connally have helped to secure on-going funding and have raised enough money to construct a building. The land was donated by locals. Local architect Jesus Cor-

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GUIDE TO THE BAJA GOOD LIFE - tes designed and built the facility. Cathy King, former director of World Vets agreed in 2005 to run spay and neuter clinics. Now because of the efforts of a few, more and more veterinary professionals are traveling to Loreto to lend a hand and help save those others have ignored. Volunteer vets from more than a dozen states travel to Loreto to help the animals that are found wandering and in need of help. Recently, California vet Dr. Liz Bracken came on board to expand services to include her specialty—equine care. Animalandia has proven that a few people with a wide array of talents and professional backgrounds can come together for one cause and make a real tangible difference in the lives of animals.

Baja Dogs of La Paz is an organization founded in 2006 with the purpose of reaching out a loving hand to homeless, sick or abused dogs. Before Baja Dogs of La Paz started to make a difference, there were approximately 10,000 strays in southern Baja. These animals were starving, abused and commonly injured.

The group began by providing the basics of food and shelter. Then they began to perform spay and neuter clinics.

The basic philosophy of Baja Dogs of La Paz is to actually change the cultural views that have led to such an enormous stray animal problem. They believe that stopping the circle of neglect is the first step to permanently changing the future of strays in Baja.

The organization spends a lot of time and energy trying to teach the next generation of Baja residents to view dogs and cats as pets to be loved and cherished, not just street nuisances. They run educational programs that first teach the basics—how to feed, water and respect an animal. Then, they teach the older children the basic facts of animal care such as flea and tick prevention, along with warnings about parasites. The importance of spaying and neutering is also stressed. Veterinarians from Canada also work with the organization to teach local vets how to perform spay and neuter clinics. To learn more about how you can help Baja Dogs of La Paz, visit www.bajadogslapaz.org .

ALMA (Animal Lovers of Mexico Association) in Los Barriles is a non-profit animal protection group which is funded by volunteers in 2003. They do not have an actual facility, bit use vet clinics in town to do their good work.

Their volunteers work several days a month in vet clinics in the area. ALMA is credited with

making huge strides in lowering the disease rate and lowering the overall number of strays in Los Barriles. Over the course of a typical month, the group’s efforts help spay and neuter 25 to 50 dogs and cats. For information visit www.almacares.com .

and dogs. Due to traffic and lack of concern, many injured animals missing legs often roam around hungry, scared and in pain. The San Felipe Animal Rescue personnel could use any donated food or supplies to continue making the lives of these animals better and to treat their various needs. You can visit www.sfanimalrescue.org to learn more about what they may need most.

The Los Cabos Humane Society is the only shelter and advocacy group in Los Cabos. They aim to save every homeless cat and dog they can. Volunteers work tirelessly to provide the basics for these forgotten creatures and simultaneously try to find homes for all of them. Volunteers host regular program to educate residents and teach children about the proper care of pets. The shelter always needs extra hands to help care the many animals in their care. They encourage volunteers to come in and help walk the dogs and play with all of the animals. Very few paid members are part of the Los Cabos Humane Society. They rely mostly on donations and local support. To learn how to help, visit www.humanesociety.cabo .

With the generosity and compassion these groups and others provide, looking for nothing in return, the homeless, injured and hungry animals that were once discarded and forgotten are now being helped. While it may be impossible to give every animal a home, these groups work diligently to help one innocent creature at a time. Other groups throughout Baja have also helped pave the way for better treatment of stray or homeless animals. Each and every one of these organizations is in constant need of funds and volunteers. Visit your local shelter, bring food, money, give your time, foster an animal or adopt if you can.

In the Punta Band area, south of Ensenada, Cantu Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) is a shelter that is run solely on donations. They are a relatively small shelter and depend greatly on foster homes to provide care until adoptive families can be found. Animals given to the shelter are medically screened and cared for before being placed in foster care or available for adoption.

The shelter also vaccinates and sterilizes animals. They take in many injured abandoned cats, dogs and even horses. In order to help every animal that is brought to them, they hold many fundraising events throughout the year. Visit www.carebaja.org to find out more about their fundraising events and other ways you can help.

The San Felipe Animal Rescue shelter also works to treat many abandoned dogs. They work to spay and neuter animals in their care. Since they opened in 2002, they have performed 5400 surgeries.

Mange and tick infestation is a huge problem for the strays of San Felipe.

Pregnancy is a major problem also.

The streets of San Felipe are often the site of abandoned liters of cats

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