WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:09.800 It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeart Radio. Welcome 2 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.720 to Maria's MutS and Stuff. And with me, I'm very very excited. 3 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:19.160 I have Alison Sawyer and she is the founder of ISLA Animals. Now, 4 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.239 Alison, first, I know that you are in a crisis situation right now. 5 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:29.199 But first I want to hear all about about the organization. So tell 6 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:33.079 me. I know it's in Mexico, But where did you move from to 7 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:39.280 start it all? In Mexico? Way back when I moved to islam Jes 8 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:44.240 which is a small island right off of Cancoon, in nineteen ninety nine. 9 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.759 Okay, actually I moved in two thousand, but we were there in ninety 10 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:53.719 nine and saw a piece of property and bought it the day we thought it 11 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:58.079 was right on the ocean and lovely. And where where did you move from? 12 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.799 Where were you were in the state? From bolder Colorado? Oh? 13 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:03.120 From Colorado? Wow? Okay, what made you decide to do that? 14 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:10.719 Let's see, I don't know. I just needed to change. Okay, 15 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:14.680 that's fair. And I'm a potter, so I could. I was setting 16 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:18.640 up a studio down there. I could work anywhere. Wow. Nice okay, 17 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:23.040 So that you moved like in two thousand and then, what made you 18 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:34.000 decide to start the rescue? I never even volunteered at the Humane Society. 19 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:38.840 I was a adamant potter and I have three children, and I was busy 20 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:45.079 already. But I got down there and the animal situation was absolutely horrible. 21 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:49.359 There were wild dogs, which I'd never seen. Sure, these dogs wouldn't 22 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:56.400 let you near them. And then there were street dogs, who were dogs 23 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:01.560 that had been thrown out of somebody's home or grew up around there where they 24 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:05.719 were born, and you know there were people around, but they were afraid 25 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:08.680 of people. Sure they weren't anybody's pets, and they would just live in 26 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:13.319 the streets and go into the garbage. And then there were pets, but 27 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:21.240 there was no vet on the island, and people couldn't find they couldn't find 28 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:25.439 medicine to keep the dogs from having ticks and fleas and all sorts of things. 29 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:29.879 So rarely did they leave them in their house let them in their house. 30 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:34.759 So a pet was really just a dog that hung out around your house 31 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.479 and you decided it was an okay dog, and you would throw it some 32 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.879 furtillas every day, and that was a pet, and you'd hope that they 33 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:46.360 might, you know, protect your property in exchange. So yeah, and 34 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:53.599 so the dogs were in terrible shape, just like awful, Just like awful. 35 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:55.479 I mean they all had maine, they all had ticks and fleas, 36 00:02:55.560 --> 00:03:00.840 they were all covered with wounds from fighting. They were any um, they 37 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:05.280 just you know, if they were dogs that grow hair, they were matted, 38 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:08.479 and I mean awful. And I yeah, it was awful and I 39 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:14.199 just couldn't take it. I just uh, what really started it was that 40 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.319 people had no way to spay and neuter their dogs. That wasn't It was 41 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:23.120 not their fault, right, Um, there was no bet. They couldn't. 42 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:27.199 They couldn't. Um, So there was nowhere on the island for them 43 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:30.400 to spay and neuter their dog. They couldn't afford a large vet service to 44 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:34.639 for the operations. Sure, and they weren't allowed to take dogs on the 45 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:38.319 ferry. Oh my goodness, So what do you do? Your Their hands 46 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.800 were tied. They could do nothing, right, that's right. Either they 47 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.719 had their own boats and they could make it over, or they could get 48 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.639 on the car ferry, but you'd have to have a car that Oh my 49 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:52.120 goodness, right, right, right, So it was a nightmare. So 50 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.400 the dogs were breathing like crazy, of course. And yeah, and the 51 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:59.919 families would keep the keep the litter, let the mom have the litter, 52 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.800 and then they would keep the litter because that was kind of fun and cute 53 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.840 and the kids liked it, right, And then as soon as the mom 54 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:12.800 weaned them, they would um put them in a box and take them to 55 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.399 an empty lot or to the jungle boy. And meaning so the animal, 56 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:20.480 the pets, the dogs are on their own. Yeah, yeah, they 57 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.519 kept the mom, they would keep them, but the puppies were on their 58 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:28.120 own. Yeah, that's right. And they'd be like five weeks old. 59 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:35.040 And so there were puppies crawling out of the bushes everywhere. There were puppies 60 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:39.480 everywhere. And then children would be walking home from school, they'd see a 61 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.879 puppy, they'd pick it up, they'd take it home. Their parents would 62 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:46.160 say, no way, we're not keeping this dog, and so they throw 63 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.439 it in the streets. So they'd all get sort of relocated. Yeah, 64 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:56.800 just so awful. So there was a lovely pair of women who had to 65 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.600 use bookstore there at the time, and they were trying to do something about 66 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:06.240 it. So I started helping them, and eventually they couldn't do it anymore 67 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.639 because all these poor puppies, you know, they've been they'd all have the 68 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:15.079 runs and be dirty, and they'd be sick and everything else, and their 69 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:25.000 bookstore started to smell off, I know, right, right. So I 70 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.879 had we had built our house and we had a spare room above the garage, 71 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:30.680 and I said, look, I'll take them home and I'll bring you 72 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.959 back a couple of healthy puppies every day to have in the store, because 73 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.560 that's how they would get them adopted, hopefully by tourists, right right. 74 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:45.720 So that's where it started. I started off with this room full of puppies, 75 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.399 and then some of them would get home, some of them I would 76 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:55.720 send to friends in Canada or the United States, but inevitably I ended up 77 00:05:55.720 --> 00:06:00.240 with a lot of dogs. I'm sure. Wow, Wow, that's so 78 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:02.759 wonderful. Do you realize how wonderful it is that you did that. It's 79 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.600 amazing too, I know, But you know, not everyone would do that, 80 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:11.279 you know, well, you know it was funny because I always say 81 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.680 I got hit by a dog stick. I was obsessed, right, it 82 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:18.279 was easy to do. I couldn't not do it. Right, you know, 83 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:23.279 it wasn't some grand gesture for the world. I just couldn't not do 84 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.079 it. I understand that, right, you couldn't see that the suffering and 85 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.439 right, you just couldn't. Well, you have empathy. You just couldn't 86 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.040 stand by and just watch it all happen. But it's amazing that you did 87 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:39.319 all that. Well, it is amazing because I didn't know anything. Well, 88 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.639 what is that trial? Trial by error? You learned? I guess 89 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.720 right, baptism't by fire, That's what I'm thinking, the old saying, 90 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.079 Oh yeah, that's more like y. Yes. I mean, I knew 91 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:54.959 nothing. And these dogs are all sick, and they have worms, and 92 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.279 they have skin problems, and they have everything. And I had no idea 93 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.480 what I was doing. And so I started to read and ask people and 94 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:14.600 people that at some point somebody put in a travel brochure that for for people 95 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:17.680 who loved dogs, there was a dog rescue on Islam Harris they could go 96 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:23.240 visit. They had no idea, no idea, right, right, So 97 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:27.000 tourists started showing up at my house and I'd put them to work. I'd 98 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:30.959 get them to help me clean up, I'd have them help me bathe dogs. 99 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:35.519 Yeah, smart. It just got bigger and bigger. And then somebody 100 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:44.600 helped me make a website, and so I appealed to people for monthly donations, 101 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.000 you know, and really pushed the idea that enough people giving me twenty 102 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:54.959 dollars a month would make a huge difference. Right, So that's where it 103 00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:00.879 started. And that was twenty twenty two years ago. That was twenty two 104 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:05.000 years ago. So now twenty two years later, and I would say, 105 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:09.000 and this is you obviously have helped and adopted out dogs as well as cats 106 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:15.240 too, correct, Well I didn't. I just did dogs. I used 107 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:20.560 to give the cat lady cat food and she cats are more self sufficient than 108 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:22.639 dogs. Well that's true. Yeah, yeah, so she would I would 109 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.959 give her food, you know, with my donations, and she would put 110 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.120 food out for the cats. Okay, And that that was how I helped 111 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.480 the cats, because I didn't have enough space to have cats and dogs in 112 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:37.240 the same place. Right. Well, now that makes sense. So now 113 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:46.519 twenty two years later, I'm sure you've saved like tens of thousands of dogs. 114 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:50.879 Where are they now? Like what, you have a space, you 115 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:54.919 need a space. So what has progressed over the past, Like where were 116 00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:01.039 you now twenty two years later. Okay, so before what happened happened, 117 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:09.240 the government in nineteen fifteen could see the difference, and tourism was just going 118 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:15.720 crazy on the island. And tourists don't want to see this. They don't 119 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:20.639 want to see sad animals. It ruins their vacation, you know, no, 120 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:22.440 it does, really, I mean, if they care about animals, 121 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:26.639 Well, this is how bad it was. This was how bad it was. 122 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:31.039 I mean, and that's why all inclusives are so popular because you don't 123 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.799 have to see the poverty and the sad animals and all of that. It 124 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:39.399 just didn't one place. So I because the government, the people in general 125 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:45.279 saw dogs and cats as rats. There were so many of them, and 126 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:50.799 they were always a problem that you know, they they had no compassion for 127 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:54.240 them, or most of them didn't, and most of them weren't taught that, 128 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:56.759 you know. All that was the culture. Well I was gonna say, 129 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.080 yeah, it probably was a little bit of ignorance too, because oh 130 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:01.559 yeah, right, because if they knew better, they would come up with 131 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.799 a spay and neuter program or something. Yeah, if they knew better. 132 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.320 But yeah, I'm sorry, so yeah, no, no, it's that's 133 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:13.000 right. And uh and a lot of the population. It was a fishing 134 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:20.799 village until it became a major tourist place. Okay. Um, So the 135 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:26.320 government could see a difference. We started, I started sponsoring span neuter clinics 136 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:31.320 on the island where they could get free span neuters. And the first one 137 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:35.320 there was uh. We were there for four to five days, I can't 138 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.720 remember. It was twenty two years ago, and we did two hundred animals. 139 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:43.559 Wow. And you know, we literally had to go door to door 140 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:48.879 and drag these animals out of people's homes, right because they the men didn't 141 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:54.840 want their their mails. Um, why is that that even? I mean 142 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.320 that happens. I feel like in every country, but especially here, Like, 143 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:00.960 seriously, guys, we're not going to neuter ye, get over it. 144 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.879 Oh, it's so ridicous. Oh my goodness, it is it is. 145 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:09.759 You know, even talked to some Yeah, he talked to some man 146 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:13.639 about neutering and he crosses his Oh. I know, it's true. It's 147 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:18.120 like it's it's even like involuntary. They just do it. I mean I 148 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:20.639 see it all the time. It's true. You're I'm always like, you're 149 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:24.440 not getting neutered. It's better for the dog, Like, what's wrong with 150 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:31.559 you? Oh my god, that's really funny, it is, But people, 151 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:35.639 I think they, you know people. One of the best things was 152 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:39.759 I mean, I mean I always made a big fuss about everybody's dogs, 153 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:43.000 because nobody made a fuss over door, right, and it was a novel 154 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:48.639 and and um um and sometimes or a lot of times, if I was 155 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.759 out giving out kicking flea mads or something in the poor neighborhoods and I saw 156 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.440 a really bad poodle mix that was just mats from head to toe, it 157 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:03.559 was my favorite to do to take that dog home and shave it, yeah 158 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:07.159 yeah, and clean it and put ticket flea meags on it and de worm 159 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:11.159 it, give it back to the owners. All of a sudden, they've 160 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:15.679 got the best looking dog on the blocks. Sure yeah, yeah yeah, 161 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.799 And that had a huge influence. They would let the dog in the house 162 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:24.200 because it didn't have ticks and fleas, right, and it didn't have the 163 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:28.399 runs because it didn't have worms, right, And everybody on the blocks going 164 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:33.080 wow, wow, look at your dog, right right, yeah, how 165 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:37.919 did you do that? H wow? So yeah, it was one of 166 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:43.399 my pride and joys that everybody knew me in all the poorer neighborhoods. I'd 167 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:46.639 go out there in my big, old broken down car and they'd all say, 168 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.720 hi, listen, Hi, listen, my dog's got you know this 169 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:58.120 or this, and it just it would make me feel like so wonderful. 170 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:01.799 Of course, it made all the the difference. Yes, sad things, 171 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.960 uh just disappear from it. But it was awesome. It made it worth 172 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:09.679 your while. You saw like the fruits of your labor. But when that 173 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:16.320 happened, well you know that that that's not exactly it, because I didn't. 174 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.720 It was already worth while to me, right, you know, it 175 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.399 was just making it stop, right. I don't know why I did it. 176 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.039 I don't, but but I'm glad I did, of course. And 177 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:31.519 it had to make you feel good that you did it. And when people 178 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:33.120 were grateful for it. I mean, not that you expected it, but 179 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:37.879 it's also nice. You know, you're right, it's nice. I just 180 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:41.279 deserve you know. Yeah, I think I'm always you know, people are 181 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:45.519 always talking about the fame and glorious. No, of course not, and 182 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:48.039 that's not why you're doing it. And everybody who knows you or knows of 183 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.559 you knows that you're doing it because of your love of animals and dogs, 184 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.559 right, Yeah, And the joke is there is no fame and glory of 185 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.799 under Now that's really fine. How every shirt you have had a ripping. 186 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:09.240 I was going to yes, of course, No, your husband's mad at 187 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.720 you, right because you're paying more attention to the dogs than him. Right, 188 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:16.759 that's right. And he just stepped in his poop in his yard. 189 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.559 You're right. So I think I'm very sensitive about that. There is no 190 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.879 People always say to me, I want to do what you do, and 191 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.399 I'm always thinking, no, you don't, right, No, I no, 192 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:31.279 you're right because people people don't realize how how difficult and how much hard 193 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:37.519 work and hours and hours of it go into it. H you know what 194 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:43.879 I mean. I remember, yeah, I remember confessing to my husband that 195 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.559 because we as people came to the house, we kind of lost our privacy, 196 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:52.879 you know. Sure, And um, I confess to him once that 197 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:56.200 when people knock on the door and we're having dinner, and he'll go, 198 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.440 just leave it, He'll just leave it, and and I'll go, no, 199 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:03.080 no, it be an emergency. And literally, in the back of 200 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:05.320 my mind, I'm hoping somebody's brought me a puppy that needs help. I 201 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:09.279 knew. I knew you were gonna say that that's so funny. I knew 202 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:16.559 you were. I don't knew that's not true. And you're like, yes, 203 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:22.639 it is, that's funny. I understand think I would feel the same 204 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:31.000 way. I don't puppy, I can help and save any Yeah. But 205 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.960 I started to learn some medicine myself. I did my own IVS in my 206 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:39.960 laundry row. Wow, stuff like that, and uh it it just grew. 207 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:46.879 Sure, and you have volunteers to help you. I have volunteers mainly 208 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:52.080 mainly tourists or ex packs that are living there who want to help out. 209 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:56.159 Um, not a lot, not a lot of foster homes because every home 210 00:15:56.200 --> 00:16:02.559 already has five dogs. Wow, sure, you know so. So it 211 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:08.120 was a long time, right but anyway, so so then the government gave 212 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:14.120 us a spot in two thousand and fifteen, which was unbelievable. I thought 213 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:17.720 I had a really good volunteer at the moment, and we were so excited. 214 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.399 We went in and we painted everything and we oh, it was so 215 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:26.840 great, And we started doing weekly spay day to Tuesdays and Thursdays two spay 216 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:33.279 days a week free. Yeah wow. And and we do maybe twelve animals 217 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:38.799 hats or dogs, right, And by then we had a vat that I 218 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:45.480 absolutely loved. Who was the best bet I'd ever come across, and still 219 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:52.360 is. I mean that is a game changer, of course, because um, 220 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:56.759 there are you know, there are bad vats, like there's bad painters, 221 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:00.799 like of course, bad house cleaners anything. Yes, there are bad 222 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:06.640 apples in every profession. And sometimes people become vets but they don't love animals, 223 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.799 which doesn't make sense to me, but they do. Um so yeah, 224 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:11.799 no, you're right, I get that. Or they're just not good 225 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:17.440 at it. And the street animals they're they need help, sure, right, 226 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:19.720 And I think you also, as a vet, you probably need to 227 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:25.759 have a little bit extra I don't know if it's patience or uh, you 228 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:30.519 know, it's not somebody coming in who pampers their pet like a child. 229 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:33.920 It's not. It's not like that when they're coming in that they're stray or 230 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.319 they're ferrel. It's it's a different kind of a pet, if that makes 231 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:44.480 sense. It's a whole different ball game because when people in the US and 232 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:48.200 and and there's bad dog, dog owners in the US and camp Oh my 233 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:55.480 goodness, absolutely. Yeah. But when people say their animals, they take 234 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:59.759 them to a vet and the vet um spaces them and then sends them home 235 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:03.559 to a warm, dry house with a collar on. Right right, the 236 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:11.200 color is yes, of course, yeah, and uh so, and then 237 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:15.119 somebody's watching that dog's incision, watching everything about it. Well, you can't 238 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:19.680 do that down there. It's moist and it's hot, and these dogs are 239 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:25.000 always in the dirt and in the rain, and and you have to make 240 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:30.559 the smallest incision possible. Sure, and because if it's bigger and it comes 241 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:37.240 out, they die right right. So our vet makes a half inch incision 242 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:45.799 half inch wow and um, and then you know it's three stitches and if 243 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:51.799 they come open, they're not going to die right right. And he's so 244 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.119 good that people have started coming to our big clinics where we'll do fifteen hundred 245 00:18:56.119 --> 00:19:02.000 animals and to learn from him. Sure, wow, that is pretty incredible. 246 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:06.640 Yeah, And I mean I've never and he loves animals. He's a 247 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:10.279 good teacher at Arturo de zool is his name. Oh, it's just gonna 248 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.519 ask you. His name was, like, let's give him some props that's 249 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:17.039 nice. Yeah, yeah, awesome. So where are you today? Because 250 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.119 okay, I became aware of you, and I'm sorry that I wasn't aware 251 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:26.400 of you sooner because now you have a situation that you need people's help. 252 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:30.160 Yeah, and we have gone. I wrote I wrote a book about my 253 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:36.319 first ten years. It's called The Dog Lady of Mexico. Okay, And 254 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:44.279 so I've done articles and interviews before, trying to get my book out there 255 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:47.759 so people could know what was going on. Right, And I'm not a 256 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:51.400 writer, but it's not a bad book, The Dog Lady of Mexico. 257 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.920 That's the book that you wrote. I worked on it hard, no spelling 258 00:19:53.960 --> 00:20:00.519 mistakes. In two thousand and fifteen, they get the government gave us a 259 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:06.319 space. He used that to full advantage. Okay. It was wonderful. 260 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:11.759 We had it for eight years and people would come, tourists there, More 261 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.880 and more tourists come to the island. They'd all heard of us on the 262 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:18.799 island. We kept everything so crystal clean, you can't imagine. And the 263 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:23.079 dogs, if they weren't healthy, they were usually in isolation. So the 264 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:29.000 dogs were wonderful. We people would come and they'd walk them, or we'd 265 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.559 have two litters of puppies. We adopted out so many animals that way, 266 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:37.279 it was unbelievable, and people would leave donations or they'd bring us supplies. 267 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:42.160 It really did. It was so great. We were we were spaying and 268 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:48.680 neutering over over four thousand animals a year. Wow. That's incredible. Yeah, 269 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:52.799 yeah, it's hot. Yeah, I mean, and we didn't actually 270 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:56.680 do them all. We sponsored a lot of them, sure, backyard rescuers 271 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:03.359 and things like that. And we also were homing between three and four hundred 272 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:08.240 cats and dogs a year wow. And they would all be healthy. I 273 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:11.119 mean, you know, one out of four hundred might have gone up with 274 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:19.440 something, but we vetted them so well with wonderful arturo and um they were 275 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:25.279 and we got really good at sending them out to homes and making it work 276 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:30.920 for people, and everything was just flowing, you know, of course that 277 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:37.240 all the time. Yes, And in two thousand and eighteen, somebody who 278 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:41.039 used to come to all of my spay and neuter clinics, a lot of 279 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:48.240 them were on the mainland, moved to the island and wanted to help and 280 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:56.160 soon became my right hand person. Her name's Trina Noakes nak Es and she 281 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:06.079 has now because I'm seventy years old, she now seriously, but she's now 282 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:15.680 taken over the on site running of the rescue. Okay, and um, 283 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.799 she's fantastic. She's fantastic, and we think a lot alike. Oh that's 284 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:23.240 good, you know. Yeah, we can be absolutely full of animals and 285 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:26.920 will always take one more. And you know some people are no, we 286 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:30.640 can't do it. Nope, nope, not right. You know, you 287 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:36.440 never say no. I never said no no. So we were just cooking 288 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:40.599 with gas. It was great, and she's more organized than me. She 289 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:44.640 was going to make everything better and better and better. Well. Last, 290 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:48.519 let's see, I don't know how many months ago it was the government told 291 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:52.079 us that we had to vacate the premises and we had three weeks to get 292 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:57.400 out. Oh my god, why. I think it's because we get our 293 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.720 job so well. Right, But they should be happy that you did your 294 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:07.039 job so well and probably brought more tourists and everything else. They didn't see 295 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:11.839 it when it was bad. Its not like that anymore. They didn't see 296 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:15.920 it. They they were probably ten when I started the rescue, right, 297 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.119 right, I get it. No, of course, you're right, you're 298 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:22.200 right. And so they don't see a problem. And we did all of 299 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:26.480 their work for them. They used to bring dogs to us to be spay 300 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:30.200 and neutered on our free spay day. Wow. Um you know and they 301 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.920 they oh, anyway, don't get me started on them. Okay, I 302 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:38.440 won't know, Okay, anyway through their ignorance, that's all I'm going to 303 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:41.880 say. That's right, that's the way to put it. Yeah, So 304 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:45.279 they took they wanted the space back. You had three weeks to move out, 305 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:49.400 right, So what did you do? Well, we had uh the 306 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:56.240 year before rented a small house to be our office. Okay, Um, 307 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.720 so we moved, We got out as many dogs as we had, and 308 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:07.359 we moved the rest of them into the house that we had. And then 309 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:11.039 we had uh that and since then we just didn't know what we were going 310 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:21.000 to do, right, And then um our that UH donated a piece of 311 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:25.400 land to us. He's honored board of directors, and he had a piece 312 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:32.400 of land on the outskirts of Cancun in the jungle. Okay. Uh. 313 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:36.720 The sad thing is, I mean it's jungle. It's like jungle, jungle 314 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:40.720 jungle, and it has no water, no electricity, no sewage, no 315 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:47.039 nothing, okay and um it uh. So we had a place to go, 316 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:51.519 sure, and so that became our new focus. But in the meantime 317 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:56.039 we're doing fifteen percent of the amount of work. But we that you were 318 00:24:56.079 --> 00:25:00.519 doing. And I can't tell you how awful it is, of course, 319 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:04.839 it's just awful. One day we had three different people come to us with 320 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:10.759 asking us to take in litters that they'd found. One of them they found 321 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:17.200 in a box in the pouring rain, and we had to take the first 322 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:22.440 two and we could not. Every foster we had, every volunteers house was 323 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:27.359 full, and you have to isolate these puppies for two weeks before you can 324 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:30.559 put them with any dogs. Sure, of course, have to get vaccines 325 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:36.720 into them right and check their health. So we had to. Trina and 326 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:41.759 I were both beside ourselves. We had to say no to this litter of 327 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:45.519 puppies from the rain, right, and it just broke our hearts. We 328 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:48.160 just, I mean, this is what we do this for. Like I 329 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:55.079 mean, we don't have any administration fees, We don't have every penny. 330 00:25:55.200 --> 00:26:00.160 We hired three ladies to be at the rescue that the building that the government 331 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:06.480 had given us for seven days a week, and they would clean and care 332 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:10.759 for the animals, and then we would be out rescuing and doing different things. 333 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:14.400 And that was a turning point, that was extraordinary. These were three 334 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:18.240 local ladies who were afraid of dogs when they started. Now they've been with 335 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:22.559 us for eight years and they're just as invested as we are. Wow. 336 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:27.319 And I mean that's how great. Everything was going right and then and then 337 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:33.559 nothing and nothing right, nothing and nobody, nobody on the island helped us. 338 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:38.319 Nothing. And the problem is it's a small island and all the land 339 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:47.559 and housing is incredibly expensive, right right, So I mean you can't buy 340 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:52.359 a little tiny square of land for less than two hundred thousand dollars, right 341 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:57.000 right. And that's probably in thanks to you as well, because you helped 342 00:26:57.240 --> 00:27:02.279 clean up the island with the wild dogs and the strays and everything else. 343 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:07.079 So it became more of a tourist attraction. I would say, yeah, 344 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:11.759 well, I don't know I made that difference. You probably did. I 345 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:15.079 mean it sounds like you did, right, Well, I'll tell you it 346 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:19.319 was a different place. The islanders were walking their dogs, picking up their 347 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:22.599 poop with poop bags, not all of them, of course, but still 348 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:26.400 I mean that's anyway it was right, but yeah, but still much better 349 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:33.000 than what it was. Much better. So now you are, you're still 350 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:37.640 using the space that the vet donated his his piece of land. Um, 351 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:42.400 do you are you looking for another space? Are you going to make the 352 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:45.519 best of this space? I know there's a go fund meate that you have. 353 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:49.559 I'm like, what, how can my listeners help you, even though 354 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:55.839 we're not basically there, they can tell other people about it and go to 355 00:27:55.880 --> 00:28:00.559 the go fund meate Because where we are now is we say money up every 356 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:07.039 year for our one big clinic where we do fifteen to seventeen hundred animals in 357 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:12.680 five days. Okay, we have twenty five tape surgery tables and I mean 358 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:18.920 it's it's a production and it's magnificent and people. Now we do this at 359 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:25.920 a poor area on the mainland, which is actually part of the hum under 360 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:30.000 the government of Islamhads. Okay, um, so we were still working on 361 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:37.279 Islam Mohads anyway, So um, we save up money every year to to 362 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:41.880 do that. So we have had to take that money out and use it 363 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:48.920 to start developing the land right of that, and every spare penny that we 364 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.480 have were we have done that and we're leaving the island. Nobody stepped up 365 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:59.559 and helped us with a piece of land with anything. Nobody nothing. I 366 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:03.720 mean, we put a we did a thing where we put a message out 367 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:10.880 on our Facebook page which has like forty seven thousand followers on it, and 368 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:14.799 we put a letter in it, an email for them to send it to 369 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:18.359 the government, you know, to say what's going on, please help this 370 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:22.960 rescue. After four hours, they called us and told us to take it 371 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:29.960 down, and so we took it down. We took it down, you 372 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:32.559 know, they said they'd help, they'd do something. So we were like, 373 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.640 yeah, we've done it. We took it down, but they didn't 374 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:38.440 and they they didn't. They we went to Trina, went to a meeting 375 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:45.559 the next day and they offered us an eight by ten square building. It 376 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:49.400 was just like slapping us in the face of it was of course so bad 377 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:55.400 anyway, So yeah, would you put what if you put that message up 378 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.079 on Facebook again? Or do you think you'd be asked to take it down? 379 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:03.880 U out on how we leave the island? Right. We don't want 380 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:07.880 to mess with the government. No, no, of course we're not natives. 381 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:11.400 They can I've been threatened twice to be um, what do they call 382 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:17.880 it, deported? Yeah? Deported? Yeah yeah, so um uh. 383 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:22.279 Trina and I are landed immigrants, but they were foreigners. They can deport 384 00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:26.559 us or they can make life miserable. So okay, no, I get 385 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:30.319 that. That makes sense. And they yeah, and they pretty much illustrated 386 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:34.279 that they don't want to do anything for us. So we with the money 387 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:40.200 we had and the SPAN Neuter Clinic money which we've now had to cancel our 388 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:45.839 November Span Neuter clinic. Um, we have cleared the land. Okay, 389 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:52.119 dug a well, put in a septic and built a wall around the outside 390 00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:56.119 of the property. Oh wow, that's pretty good. Yeah, okay, 391 00:30:56.119 --> 00:31:03.400 so we still need about a hundred and forty thousand dollars to put in the 392 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:07.880 buildings. Okay, and that's people can donate on your go fund me page, 393 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:12.599 which I'm gonna I'm gonna include with this interview, so my listeners can 394 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:18.440 just click on that. Great wonderful because and I swear and I always say 395 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:23.640 this because I know people are wary. This is the real thing. They 396 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:29.240 can go back and research me. They can research the rescue We've been around 397 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:32.880 for twenty three years and this is the real thing. And every penny they 398 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:37.839 give us will go towards the dogs correct or building or building the space right 399 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:42.160 right, Every penny will go to helping you and which ultimately helps the dogs 400 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:45.559 because it'll help you with that space since the government keeps you out of your 401 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:49.880 good space and right and not a curiosity, what did the government do anything 402 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:53.839 with that space that you had, or did they sell it or put some 403 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:57.319 sway hotel or they haven't done anything, of course not. Yeah, no, 404 00:31:57.559 --> 00:32:00.799 yeah. It's at the front of this park and they're having an election 405 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:06.920 and part of one of their um this is a historical park on the island, 406 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:10.240 and part of one of the people running for office is to redo the 407 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:14.880 entrance. And we're at the entrance. Oh so you think they probably just 408 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:19.480 going to take it down. No, I think they'll probably put gift shops 409 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:23.480 in there. Oh okay, I know, Sorry, sorry to talk at 410 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:28.599 that, but yeah, so no, that's what we said. Yeah, 411 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:31.400 yeah, because to have your place there would be more appropriate, more welcoming 412 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:36.039 to a park than a gift shop. But what do I know? But 413 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:38.000 but they don't see it though, No of course they don't. They don't 414 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:43.960 know. Yeah, and so anyway, so you know, it's history. 415 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:47.759 Now we we we we're leaving the island, which is just I can't believe 416 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:52.920 that they are throwing out this free service for a space for a space. 417 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.359 You're right, well, you know they're not smart about it, not being 418 00:32:57.480 --> 00:33:04.720 very smart. No, And so then we will be in can Koon, 419 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:07.799 and to tell you the truth, we'll still do outreach to the island. 420 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:13.480 You know, we're not going to abandon the eye, right, but there 421 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:20.680 is much more need now in Cancoon, and they're around Cancoon for us and 422 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:23.200 with appropriate space, because we made the best of the space we were but 423 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:28.240 it was we're in, but it wasn't really an appropriate place to do a 424 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:32.839 real dog rescue, right, and so with an appropriate place over there, 425 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:37.720 we can oh, well it's gonna be great. It's gonna be great. 426 00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:43.000 But in the meantime, we're not doing anything for the animals, which just 427 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:46.720 breaks my heart. And we need to raise money to finish what we're doing, 428 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.599 right, Okay, Well, I'm hoping my listeners can help you out 429 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:53.920 a little bit, and just you talking to me about all this will help 430 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:58.359 as well, because you know, knowledge is power, I always feel and 431 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:02.440 the more people know about stuff, right, um, absolutely so, Alison, 432 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:07.519 Um, I want to I'll definitely post the go fund me page and 433 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:10.599 also for the listeners to learn more, they can go to ISLA Animals dot 434 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:15.239 org, which is I s l A Animals dot org. And they can 435 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:19.519 also go to your Facebook page. You're all I see you're all over social 436 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.159 media. Facebook, you have Instagram, um, and it's ISLA I s 437 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:28.639 l A Animals, right right, Alison Sawyer, thank you, thank you 438 00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:31.079 for talking to me and telling me all this, and I definitely want to 439 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:36.639 talk to you again. Oh please, I still like four years ago, 440 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:42.719 that's right, like four years ago. Oh my goodness. But I'm not 441 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.760 gonna wait four years. I want to talk to you again so you can 442 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:51.039 tell me the progress read to well. Good luck with everything, and I 443 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:54.519 really do hope that, um, that everyone comes through and and you continue 444 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:59.880 to clear the space and you know, get back to where you wanted to. 445 00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:01.400 Oh. I know, and that's why you'll get it done. I'm 446 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:05.119 sure you will, because you're determined. We are you are, we are. 447 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:07.760 We need more people like you, Alison, So thank you for doing 448 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:10.480 all that you do. I don't know. Some people think I'm insane. 449 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:15.840 You're not insane. You have a big giant heart, is what you're insane 450 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:21.280 about. That's all it is. Dear um. Anyway, well, thank 451 00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:23.800 you for your interest and thank you for doing this interview. I mean, 452 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:29.280 I just know that people would care if they could see what we see. 453 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:32.679 Of course I get that, I know, I agree, But I think 454 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:36.960 also hearing you talk all about it and the whole history of it, I 455 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:40.119 think you know the fact that we're not there with you, but we can 456 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:45.480 sort of see it through your eyes and your explanation. So I think it's 457 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:49.400 it's almost as good. Yeah. And you know, people have often asked 458 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:54.599 me how you know why animals in Mexico there's animals in the US and Canada 459 00:35:54.639 --> 00:36:00.639 that need help. And my answer is caring as global. Correct, that's 460 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:05.000 on our on our thing, and the world gets smaller every year, and 461 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:07.960 caring is global, and that just happened to be where I was. Absolutely, 462 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:10.679 and you know what, that that really sums it up because I hear 463 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:14.920 that too from people and it's like, caring is global. I will credit 464 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:21.760 you, but I'm going to use that from now going forward. I'm gonna 465 00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:24.039 say no, no, no, I can't. I can't take credit. 466 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:29.119 I say Alison Sawyer said, caring is global. That's what that means, 467 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:34.280 and that will shut anybody up. So I love yeah, I love it. 468 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:37.360 Alison. Thank you so much, thank you for all your effort and 469 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:40.360 all your work, and thank you, thank you, thank you, yes 470 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:45.199 you too, and thanks for this interview and helping us out. I really 471 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:46.280 appreciate it. You're very welcome.