Making a Difference One Cat at a Time!

Every month, teams of HSTJ volunteers perform street clinics in various poor neighborhoods throughout Tijuana educating the people on humane treatment, proper nutrition and the importance of sterilization. At these clinics, flea and mange medicines are administered and volunteers check wounds, eyes and ear infections and also provide basic grooming services when necessary, such as clipping away matted fur or clipping long nails.

During an Itchy Scratchy Street Clinic this month, HSTJ volunteer Lisette and team were presented with by far the most extreme case of overgrown nails they had ever seen. Here is Lisette's story:

The most extreme case we saw today, was without a doubt a female cat brought by the Rodriguez family. The first thing Christela (the mom) asked was if we could clip the cat’s nails. I began to ask if there was a reason in particular, and was SHOCKED to see this cat’s nails. For some reason they could not retract and had grown so long that they curled over and around the pads on the bottom of her foot, cutting into the poor kitty's pads and in some places the pads were badly infected. The pads appeared to be very pink and swollen. There was also a foul odor that emanated from the infected nails.

I very slowly and carefully clipped the nails. Several pieces that came off left a gaping wound on the pad and the odor got worse. As I applied disinfectant spray, I was about to ask why on earth they hadn’t taken this animal to the Vet, and realized that they seemed to have very meager resources. The father explained that they’ve had her since she was a kitten and she WAS normal, but then they noticed that she started to stay off her feet and would bleed every time she walked around. When I asked if they could take her to a Vet, they looked at each other and replied no, that they wanted to, but could not afford it.

I took their name, address, and phone number and assured them I would find an HSTJ Vet able to provide no-cost treatment for this poor agonizing cat.

This family was overly grateful, including the two little girls who were in tears when they saw their cat suffering. We were so happy to have brought this cat some relief and to have educated the owners that it is important to keep their kitty's nails short to prevent this from happening in the future.

It is because of our wonderful supporters that we are able to aid in life saving treatments of animals throughout TJ, and this is just one case of many that we see each and everyday.

As you know, we rely solely on donations to continue to serve these animals and we urgently need your help to sustain our current monthly programs.
Our goal is simple, We need 400 people to pledge just $5 a month!
Currently, with the equivalent of 150 $5 sponsors, we are 35% of the way towards this goal!

If you are not already a part of our Rescue 400 club and would like to join us in supporting our life saving efforts, please join today:
Join the Rescue 400 Club

For 16 cents a day or for the cost of a coffee and pastry in the U.S., your small monthly pledge goes a much longer way in Mexico helping the animals in need.
$5 a month can:

• pay for the anesthesia injection for one animal at our sterilization clinic
• feed a large dog for one week
• pay for two vaccinations
• pay for the post-op medication people are given after their animal is sterilized consisiting of oral antibiotics and multi-vitamins
• pay for one injectable mange treatment- a dog infected with mange usually requires 2-3 treatments

Collectively, becoming one of the 400 allows us to continue with our comprehensive programs. Be one of the 400 and help save an animal from a life of pain, fear, and disease.

Please Join the Rescue 400 Club today - the animals of Tijuana are counting on you.

HSTJ is a purely Volunteer Organization and 100% of your donation goes to the animals. Our volunteers pound the pavement looking for donated postage, paper for flyers, and advertising space to ensure that all administrative costs are donated.

For more information, e-mail Michelle

On behalf of the animals, thank you so much, for your continued support - we truly could not do it without you.