were complying with the city's wishes. In fact, since the announcement of our closure, we had accepted no new dogs, and had already found homes for 74 of our 95 dogs (a miracle, really). They would not listen. We pleaded to have at least a few more days to, in a sane and careful fashion, disperse our remaining 23 dogs among other Lakeside shelters. Again, officials just shook their heads. 

 

Desperate, we sent word out to the shelters. Like a last-minute cavalry, they too descended on us (one of the leaders, in her rage and haste, crashed her car on the way) and graciously took under their wings all of our remaining dogs. This, too, was a miracle. 

 

We SOS volunteers will not rest until we have enabled all these good-samaritan shelters to find new forever-homes for our dogs. And, we urge everyone else to support them as well: The Ranch, Bone Voyage, and Clicker Pets (PayPal: Jena Marie Olio, jena@clickerpets.com.mx).

 

It saddens us, to say the least, to have struggled together for so long in order to transform SOS Chapala DOG Rescue into (in the words of several dog experts) a world-class shelter, fostering incredibly healthy and well-socialized dogs, only to have to destroy what we'd so lovingly created. During our two years of existence, we sent more than 400 abused and abandoned dogs to loving families. We leave SOS crying and angry—but proud. 

 

Sue Hillis (who paid for and built much of SOS) with the assistance of Lakeside Friends of the Animals (which provided our dogs food and medical care) will open a new shelter in Jocotepec soon (a municipality that seems genuinely interested in supporting a dog shelter), making use of all the former SOS kennels that can be moved. 

 

We want to take this final opportunity to express how much we have appreciated all of your support and encouragement over the years, especially to the families that adopted our wonderful dogs; to our north of the border shelter partners; and to our staff, volunteers, and donors. And—of course—we are so grateful to those who showed up on Wednesday in our darkest hour to show support. You have our eternal gratitude.