Gary Wietgrefe
La Penita and its sister-village Guayabitos are tucked along the Pacific Coast an hour or so north of the Puerto Vallarta international airport. After some beach time, you might be curious about the hubs of activity in these towns as you will surely witness many locals moving through the course of their day. Locals work long hours and seem to be able to do anything and everything. Guayabitos especially receives many tourists during the high season (Nov-March) of both nationals and foreigners. This is the time of year in both La Penita and Guayabitos that many locals are working extra-long hours (please tip your local service providers if possible as a little extra goes along way!).
You may also be curious about the many dogs roaming streets in town. Many of us visitors are still asleep in the early morning when fruit trucks are unloaded, breakfast tortilla vendor's fires are lit, workers load up for the pineapple fields, and family dogs are released to do their own activities for the day. Most dogs do indeed have a home. With some families living in a room or two, a dog may be stationed outside the door rather than inside.
On Saturday mornings 9:00-11:00 during part of the tourist season, I volunteer to give guided tours of the Hilltop Refugio. The Refugio is 100% funded by volunteer donations . . . except for when the cookie jar is empty, which is often. And often is when George and Loretta use their retirement to make sure every animal is fed, watered, and medically treated.
Many tourists find out about the amazing Hilltop Refugio from TripAdvisor. It is one the best activities for children and adults. As a tour guide at the Hilltop Refugio, it has also happened often that a well-meaning tourist drops a dog or cat at the Refugio gate. I have witnessed a local child crying when they come to the Refugio to retrieve their pet. So, during the tour, you will learn what the Refugio does . . . it is not a shelter, it is a refuge.
Every peso donated goes to the abused, crippled, starved animals, or the puppies rescued from a garage bag at the dump. Adoption of dogs or cats, and flight angels are desperately needed by those with caring hearts. Unfortunately, some animals are not adoptable and will spend the rest of their lives on the Hilltop. And very frequently, new animals arrive that so diseased and/or injured, their only hope is the Refugio. By definition, that’s a Refuge.
Though a small tourist coastal community of about 20,000, La Penita has a very low-income level in proportion to what you may be accustomed to. When winter foreigners return North in the spring, local families have less work and less income to feed themselves, which means less for their pets. When you see a dog or cat on the street that needs care, please consider finding and asking the owner if you can pay a veterinarian to have the animal wormed and treated for fleas and ticks.
And every month or two, if you can, hit the DONATION tab on this Refugio website to help the animals at the Refugio waiting for a home, or so broken they will live out their days being tenderly cared for by George and Loretta. Just like you take care of your summer home, please take care of your winter community by helping the Hilltop Refugio care for animals that really need your help.
And please come for a visit! It is an absolutely incredible experience.
Commenti