August 15, 2013 – We have always had a soft spot in our hearts for the plight of Baja dogs, many abandoned and homeless. We often see them on the streets, congregating around PEMEX stations, wandering the beaches or anywhere where they might find humans and an opportunity for food, Taco stands are always popular.
To date we have adopted two (2) dogs, Jitterbug & Lulu, both from Mulege. Jitterbug came to us from our friends Tansy and Ken who are always saving dogs across Baja. They had found Jitterbug and 3 other dogs at the Mulege dump and over time earned their trust. Jitterbug was near death when they rescued her and the other male dogs. After getting their weight up, a couple of vet visits that included checkups, shots & fixing they were ready for adopting out. We met Tansy & Ken on Requeson in March of 2009 and after agreeing to adopt Jittering we had our first Baja dog; she loved us from the moment we were introduced. We only realized how energetic she was a couple of days later! Tansy refused taking any pesos at first but we finally talked her into it convincing her to use the funds to save other Baja dogs. Jitterbug was about 8 months old when we adopted her.
We first come across Lulu in February of 2011 in the Hotel Serenidad (Mulege) parking lot; at first we thought it was Jitterbug! How the heck did she get out of the Van? We soon figured out this was not Jitterbug, but another dog who at first blush was her twin. We talked about adopting Lulu (we did not know her name then) and decided that if she was still around on our March tour we would ask around and determine if that was possible. When we returned on the next tour and on closer examination, side by side, we could see they were very similar but certainly not the same, as those that have been around Lulu know well. We learned her name was Lulu, was being fed by residents and hotel staff, and to the best of their knowledge was not owned by anyone, she appeared in the morning and disappeared each evening towards those houses up by the highway. We took her for shots and a checkup at the local vet and she was ours, we had hoped she would have a calming effect on Jitterbug, that has not really worked out. We have found she is far more relaxed than Jitterbug, not nearly as vocal and not really built for speed. Now when we return each season to the Hotel Serenidad Lulu stands up and look out the window towards the houses by the highway as we drive alongside the runway. Interesting enough this is the only time she does this on our entire tour, when we arrive she always stays close, she certainly does remember.
On our 2010 45 day tour we came across a little pup frantically bouncing around on the highway just before we arrived at the San Ignacio intersection. A car had stopped coming towards us is a dip with Mom driving and kids inside, the pup kept going under the car and trying to get inside. I brought the Caravan to a halt as I knew the dog would not survive us driving by, yes this was a spontaneous decision for sure. I jumped out, eventually grabbed the pup and handed it to Lisa and said “Merry Xmas!” We called him Ignacio and crossed back into states and about 10 days. When we arrived at the Discover Baja Travel Club it turned out Monica and her husband Mike were looking for a dog for the family for Xmas, (yes timing is everything!). “Nacho” has been thoroughly loved by the Garcia family every day since then. Looking at Nacho now it is hard to believe he started out so small.
This past season saw Andy & Lorrie (January 2013) rescue Maxy from the propane plant just north of San Jose del Cabo and Mike & Susan (March 2013) adopt Amiga which we rescued from Mario’s RV park in Guerrero Negro. Our good friends Bruce & Marian Schweers (Nov/Dec 2010) also returned to Canada with Lady who they had fallen for big time on Playa Santispac. Funny enough Bruce dislikes dogs and had always said he would never have one, amazing how attitudes change as we age!
We look forward to our next season on Baja and can only wonder what Baja dogs will soon become Canadian and US citizens!
Did you know?
Baja Dog Rescue is an American run 501c(3) non-profit organization that is operated by a group of dedicated volunteers in the Baja California area. We are a 100% no-kill shelter that rescues and rehabilitates unwanted, abandoned, and neglected dogs from the streets and local pound and find them loving happy homes who literally give them a second chance at life. They do not euthanize dogs for behavioral or temperament issues as many “no kill” shelter do, and we go to whatever lengths and expense is required to make our dogs healthy, including chemotherapy and advanced surgeries.
Baja Dog Rescue primarily rescues dogs in the areas of Ensenada, Rosarito, and Tijuana. They currently have almost 200 rescued street dogs at our 50,000 sq. foot shelter where they receive the medical attention, food, and love needed to be ready for adoption here in San Diego and all over the U.S. On average, they find homes for almost 500 dogs per year.
