Forever Homes 2013

Rico: Adopted! December 29, 2013

You’ve heard the story before. The dog has a family and then the dog doesn’t have a family. The what, why, how are the questions commonly asked by most people……then there are those that focus on a solution for the animals that have been left. Understanding humans is complicated, but understanding dogs is easy; they only want a person to love. They are loyal and will stick with their humans even when they don’t get much in return. Dogs deserve more. They deserve love, care, food, shelter and loyalty. Rico & Shauna had a family, then they didn’t and now Rico is a MexPup. This lovely guy is about 7 years old and weighs 8 kilos. Rico is a friendly guy that is leash trained, house trained and just wants a family that will love him. He likes other dogs, although he can take his time in warming up to some males. If you are looking for an older pup that is easy going and just wants a place to call home, this guy is for you!

Rico: Now Adopted!

Julie and Hector adopted Rico is the last days of 2013. While there were a few accidents in the beginning, a consistent structure for Rico has helped him adapt very quickly to his new home. They describe him as smart, quiet, affectionate and calm. Julie and Hector are amazed at Rico’s amazing sense of time. In the morning while they are getting ready to leave for work, Rico quietly whines and moans knowing that they will soon be leaving. Around 7 PM, Rico will remind Julie it is dinner time if she has forgotten! Hector usually leaves for his marital arts training after work and returns home around 9 PM. Rico has learned to anticipate Hector’s arrival and is very vigilant to any noise while he waits patiently. Rico mastered the “hand shaking” trick in less than three weeks. To reinforce this, Julie and Hector usually give Rico a treat for his performance. Now if he wants a treat, he will raise his left paw and keep it off the ground for several seconds until he gets noticed. They took Rico with them to a family dinner for Chinese New Year. He didn't want to eat his food and wanted to share their food. So, he sat beside Julie’s father in-law's chair throughout the entire dinner staring at my father in-law all the while moaning and raising his paw. I wonder if he was rewarded by Grampa? Rico likes to watch TV briefly whenever there's an animal on television. One day, Hector decided to play YouTube videos of dogs playing and barking on TV. To their surprise, Rico was able to focus on the video for over ten minutes. Not only was Rico attentive, he was also responding to how the dogs were behaving in the video. He was barking and jumping up and down! Rico is a very light on his feet and he likes to follow his Mom and Dad around from behind. So he surprises and scares us at times when we are not expecting him to be there. During the first 2 weeks, Rico slept in his own bed. But now he sleeps with us on our bed. Even if we try to reinforce Rico sleeping in his own bed, he usually sneaks onto our bed when we are deep asleep. So we don't reinforce this anymore. Rico, I think you have found the perfect home!! Thank you Julie and Hector for opening your hearts to this wonderful pup! Keep us updated on all his adventures… we love to hear from our MexPup Alumni!

Bella: Adopted! December 25, 2013

Rebecca is a young girl with a big heart. When her neighbors kicked their dog out on the street, she took notice and worried about the dog. She started talking to adults to try and figure out what she could do for the dog. Fortunately, one of her teachers is a big animal rescuer/advocate, so Rebecca made a plea to Ms. Michelle. Not only was the story heartbreaking, but Michelle also wanted to support this child. Children are the future, and those that choose compassion & care need to be celebrated. They visited the dog in order to gain her trust, a plan was made, and then the rescue day arrived. Bella was more than happy to be taken in by loving people. She is an older dog (likely 8-9 years), is larger (about 25 kilos), and has had a tough life (look at the horrible ear crop that she suffered). Bella is now at a vet clinic receiving the medical care and attention she needs. She is safe, she is getting healthy, and she will never again be discarded. We are hoping to find her a wonderful foster home in Puerto Vallarta where she can continue to heal. Despite her experience, she loves people, does well with other dogs and is a gentle girl. Please share her story so that we can find her a foster and eventually a forever family that will love and value her.

Bella Now Adopted!

Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Bella certainly does now! When her foster dad told her that she was being officially adopted, she almost didn't understand....who was going to adopt her? Then she got the details. Her loving foster family had come to the decision that she was truly a part of their family and they wanted to make what they already felt in their hearts official. Congratulations Bella, Michelle, Andres and the pack, we are so happy to share this wonderful news. Merry Christmas!!! We started our Christmas day with the news that Bella was adopted. Christmas is about believing, Christmas is about joy, Christmas is about celebrating.......we think that Bella and her story are exactly what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Chica (Formally Millie): Adopted! December 23, 2013

Luz is a regular animal rescuer. Imagine her surprise when she came home from work one day and found a small puppy in her yard! Someone else must have noticed her kindness to animals, and decided to drop her off another pup to help. Luz did what she always does...she helped. She kept the puppy, now named Milie in her home until she was stronger and healthier. After several months of caring for Milie, Luz asked Mexpup for support finding her a forever home. Milie is currently in an experienced Mexpup foster home, being pampered like a princess. Milie is approximately a year old, healthy and full of playful energy. She is a petite girl of only 6kg, but very much full of life. Milie's wonderful smile will be a great addition to any family. Please share her story so she can find her fo

Now Adopted:

Chica (formerly Millie) was adopted on Christmass’ Eve’s eve. Lee says that “my life has been filled so much love and laughter it's hard to imagine ever being without her!” Chica has adjusted wonderfully to their home! She knows how to sit and can dance on her hind legs for treats, and she excels at being the fastest puppy at the park! When people ask Lee what breed she is she answers "a Miniature Mexican Greyhound". Plans are already in motion for the summer, as Chica is going to test her skills at swimming! Lee says “Thanks so much to Mexpup for making it possible for us to meet. I couldn't have ever imagined how much I would love this little angel. We are best friends and I definitely won the Doggy a Lottery!”

Benny (aka BamBam): Adopted! December 22, 2013

Barbara started to deliver her puppies on February 10, 2012. There were 13 in the litter. One died almost immediately, 2 passed away in the first 2 days and then another 2 died around days 10-12. We are hopeful that the remaining 8 will survive (Maroma, Makoki, Diva, Frida, Nova, Camilla, BamBam and Mozart). They are a lucky group to have been born in a wonderful foster home where Jenny & Lili did such a great job supporting Barbara and helping the puppies. BamBam is the biggest pup in the litter. At one month, he weighed 2.2 kilos and he continues to GROW! His mom weighs about 22 kilos and we would expect him to be about the same size (or maybe a bit bigger). He is a shy pup and once he trusts you will protect him he will be your favorite and faithful boy forever. He will make a wonderful addition to some lucky people who can handle a big and playful pup who needs all your attention and lots of exercise to keep his mind active. A note from Bentin's foster mom: Benny has fit in wonderfully to my pack of 7, 4 pups and 3 kitties. He's scared of the cats and not sure what they are just yet lol. Bentin is learning and refining his obedience and he's such a smart boy and catches on to new commands very quickly. Positive praise training only for this shy boy. He has really come out of his shell and is becoming the pup he needs to be. His confidence will come with a strong leader and consistent routine and exercise. He's perfect!

Benny: Now Adopted!!

Benny arrived at his forever home on December 22nd, 2013. His roommates consist of his Mom Norma, his two legged brother Kevin and his four legged siblings Jake (12 years) and Holly (3 years). Benny also shares his love and affection with two cats, two mini horses and a mini mule! Wow, that’s one big happy family! Since arriving Benny has fit in very well in the family. He loves everyone and especially loves to play with Holly- the oldest cat. Benny sits in front of the cat and wags his tail waiting to play….. the first thing the cat does is play with Benny’s tail. This was a bit of a shock to Benny at first but they seem to be working it out together. Norma says the bed is a little more crowded since Benny arrived as Holly also shares the bed with Norma. Benny is very playful and loves to stand between Norma’s legs as if this is his secure happy place! He loves Kongs and balls and will happily put one in our lap as a way of showing his pride in his toys. Benny has been going to intermediate training classes which has been a very good bonding experience for both Norma and Benny. Norma reports that she is very proud of the progress Benny has made in such a short period of time in class and at home. She says he is a very funny, enthusiastic, sweet, happy boy. “We are lucky to have him as part of our family!” At MexPup we love to see this kind of devotion of time and training with our pups. Thank you Norma and all for making Benny feel right at home and helping him to become the best dog he can be!

Kendra: Adopted! December 18, 2013

Erika works in a small town outside of Puerto Vallarta. Most of the people there have dogs that have good lives, are treated well, and are happy. One day, Erika saw a new dog that didn’t fit in as she seemed scared, was skinny and had an injured leg. Erika is a dog advocate and always finds a way to help, so she called to the dog. The dog was happy for the attention and came right over to her. Erika asked around to see if anyone knew the dog and no one did. She started caring for the dog by providing food, water and attention. Each morning the grateful pup was there waiting for Erika. She wasn’t able to use her rear leg and was in pain, but that didn’t keep this sweet girl from happily greeting her each day. Erika knew she couldn’t leave the dog, now named Kendra, on the streets alone and injured. Erika is a responsible rescuer so she made a plan, found a foster home, organized a fundraiser with some friends, got Kendra to the vet, and asked Mexpup for help. The tests for all the real scary stuff were negative, so that was very good news. The X-ray showed that her leg was damaged and she needed surgery. Kendra has thrived in her foster home gaining confidence and weight. After her surgery, she started doing rehab; going to the beach to swim and to walk on the sand. After only 3 weeks post-op, she was using her leg for support almost 100%. Kendra is a sweet, energetic and happy dog. She has even learned to shake a paw when you ask her to do it. She is quiet, but at the same time playful. Kendra loves rides in a car; she is so good you can barely tell she is there. This pup is almost one year old, weighs about 10 kilos, loves to play with the other dogs, and is ready to find a family of her own. Her recovery has been quick, and you can see how much she really wants another opportunity in life. Could you be the family to give her that chance?

Kendra: Now Adopted!

After a rough start on the street, Kendra continued to thrive in foster care in Puerto Vallarta after her leg surgery. On December 13, 2013, she arrived at her new home in Powell River, BC. Her Mom – Jaclyn and Dad – Clayton have fallen completely in love with this little girl. Kendra has fit right in to the household. She shares her life with the boys: Solo (a fifteen year old German Shepherd cross) and Ronin (a three year old Jack Russell/Mini Dachshund cross) and the girls: Kokanee, Roxy and Hurley – all four year old cats as well as Godzilla – a four year old Bearded Dragon. Kendra had a wee set back from her leg surgery soon after she arrived however, she is now back to perfect health thanks to the loving care of her Mom! Jaclyn says the neatest thing by far, has been introducing Kendra to winter in Canada and it was like Mother Nature agreed. We had much more snow and ice than normal this year and Kendra loved it! She was super excited about the snow on the ground and falling from the sky, catching snowballs and running free in the snow all over the yard. Another favourite was the amazing ice that froze over the pond in the back. Her first chance to run free and unleashed in the yard since her surgery was in the snow and Jaclyn thinks she'll love it most for the rest of her life. Mom says that she will never look at snow the same! Here is how Jaclyn describes a normal day for Kendra: A normal day begins with Kendra and Ronin having a dance party on my bed, they must consider it the morning “breakfast summons”. Up we get and out we go into the yard (if I'm lucky there's time to grab a coffee) a quick pee break and back inside for breakfast. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much Kendra loves her food, she cleans her bowl every time and flips it to the back of her kennel and then once out in the house again she quickly cleans up after anyone who dropped a crunchy. Back out into the yard again for a bathroom break and then we’re back inside getting ready for our walk. We usually walk around Cranberry Lake for about an hour or so and then head home following up with some couch cuddles and playtime. I head off to work in the late afternoon and the pups get to settle down for a stuffed bone in their kennels for an hour or two until dad (Clayton) comes home and then they do it all over again! Sounds like a wonderful dog’s life to me!! Jaclyn reports that she has never had a dog that literally hugs me! Kendra does, paws up on the shoulders as she leans in for a snuggle! Mom also says that through taking care of Kendra on her healing journey, she's taught me to be alive again and to play and that as hard as it can be - life is worth living and any challenges can be overcome! She's changed everything for the better! In Jaclyn’s own words “I highly recommend a MexPup to everyone!! “We know that Kendra was loved by her foster parents from the moment she came into care. She made a lot of friends along the way to where she is today. Her family describe her as a loving, gentle, playful angel of a dog and they wouldn't trade her for anything in the world! Could we wish for any more for any of our MexPup? Absolutely not! We are so happy for this family and the way Kendra has helped them through her own “joie de vivre”. Happiness and gratitude are infectious… here is living proof!

Korby: Adopted! December 16, 2013

Korby is small. Way too small to be on the streets alone. At 3.6kg, with a broken leg, Korby wouldn't have lasted long on the streets by himself. Luckily someone saw him and brought him into the vet clinic to save his life. Korby was matted, and covered in fleas and ticks. The really bad news was that his back leg had multiple fractures and his hip was also broken. With a broken hip, it was impossible to stabilize his leg to heal properly. The decision was made that the best thing for Korby would be to remove his back leg. Korby spent time at Mascota's Vet Clinic healing and getting well enough to go into a foster home. When Michelle saw him at the clinic one day, she knew that this living teddy bear needed to come and stay with her, Andres and their pack. Korby has fit in beautifully to being in a home. He is around 2 years old, and fully grown at 3.5kg. The fact that he has 3 legs doesn't stop him a bit. He is an active and playful dog. Korby is totally house trained, confident with other dogs (he doesn't know he is the smallest one!), and just wants to be around his people. Korby is a super sweet cuddle bug whose body may be small, but whose loving spirit can fill any home.

Korby after...

Michelle took Korby to visit her friends one day and they fell totally in love with him. He fit in with their family perfectly, and their dog thought it was very cool to have someone to play with. Korby came for a visit and never left! Kim, Wayne, their two children Ashleigh and James, and their dog Lola decided to welcome Korby into their family. Lola was already the princess of the family, and now Korby is the prince. It's a perfect match.

Reyna: Adopted! December 16, 2013

She was bought for breeding. She was kept in a small space, and was covered in ticks. When Claudia heard a dog crying all night in her neighborhood she went to investigate what was going on. What she found shocked and saddened her. She saw a beautiful boxer tied up in a small closet sized space, covered in ticks, lonely, and sad. Claudia is an animal activist and took action right away. Who leaves a dog tied up in a tiny space, with no clean water, no love, no compassion? Thankfully, Claudia and the Mexpup team brought this dog hope. The first step was to speak to the "owner" and get the dog out of this terrible situation. Upon arrival at the vet, it was discovered that the boxer, now named Reyna was very sick, very anemic and newly pregnant. Sadly, Reyna's body was too weak to give life to others, and she lost her babies. After that, Reyna's health began to improve, and she was soon ready to go into a foster home.

Reyna after....

Reyna moved in with her new foster family and settled in very well. There was lots of love, lots of playing, lots of food and lots more love. The foster family decided that Reyna was a great match for their home. They also thought she looked more like a Tasha. Azul, Roberto, Xihuitl and Diego welcomed Tasha into their home as a foster dog, but it didn't take long for them to welcome her into their hearts and their family as their forever pet. Tasha is a strong beautiful girl now, who will never again be mistreated. She is fully vaccinated, spayed, and healthy, living as part of a family and not as a commodity. She has also become a foster sister to other Mexpups, and shows them that life really can be this good. Congratulations on your wonderful new family, Tasha!

Gracie (formerly Mandy): Adopted! December 14, 2013

Claudia & Chuck saw a small pup wandering around their neighborhood. She looked completely lost, confused and afraid. They asked the security guards if they had ever seen her and they said no and were certain she didn't belong to anyone in their development, so they set about trying to catch her. At first, she was too frightened to go to them and too quick to be caught. After about an hour of coaxing, they finally gained her trust to the point where they were able to put a leash on her and bring her home. Mandy was full of tics and her long hair was completely knotted up. The first step was a trip to the vet for a check-up, bath and a haircut. They did an amazing job transforming her into this cute little white fluff of a puppy. Mandy is about 1 year old and weighs about 6 kgs. She is a playful pup that is full of energy and loves other dogs.

Now Adopted:

Gracie’s story as told by her Mom Diana:

Gracie lives with Jim and Diana and Blanquita, who was adopted through Mexpup in November of 2012 and who was found and fostered by Chuck and Claudia as well. Gracie also lives with Sweet Georgia Brown, our four year old Ragdoll kitty... Gracie has made a hobby out of chasing Georgia around the house and in general making George's life a living hell...we are working on that situation daily and things are improving. Gracie fit right into our home but Blanquita wasn't so sure about Gracie the night I brought her home...Quita actually had a panic attack which was a really weird thing to witness... Things have settled down now though and the two dogs spend countless hours playing and chasing each other around the house and yard! Other than driving the cat nuts Gracie doesn't have any bad habits. She loves chewing on chewies and toys but doesn't shred things or tear them apart. She loves dinner time and enjoys her daily walks. One habit that she did have when she got here wanted to sit on your lap while you are driving the car! I think we have Chuck to thank for that so...thanks Chuck!! I'm being sarcastic...it's really a pain in the butt! She likes chewing on the deer antlers that my son finds and sells...they are called "shed" and they hurt like heck when you step on them in e middle of the night on your way to the bathroom! She sleeps mostly on her bed which is beside our bed but sometimes sleeps on the bed and almost always jumps up when she knows you are awake and plants a big wet smooch "right in the kisser" to say good morning... She tends to pull on her leash but just because she is so enthusiastic and wants to meet every living thing that she sees. She's not aggressive or confrontational with other dogs. She loves going on our boat and does well camping and just generally enjoys life. She is a delightful, happy, social little creature who makes us laugh every day! Thank (again) Mexpup.

Abby: Adopted! December 8, 2013

Click here Imagine seeing a pup on the street with huge patches of hair simply missing and red/raw skin exposed. What would you do? Would you simply continue on with a heavy heart wishing to help but thinking it was too hard, or thinking you weren’t an expert so couldn’t help, or that you were just too afraid as you didn’t know where to begin? All animal rescuers felt like that. Each one of us had our first rescue…..we picked up a dog and then said “what do I do now”. You start with compassion, you seek medical attention, you reach out to those around you and say “I want to make a difference, can you help guide me”. If we each make decisions to help, our collective effort will make a big difference. Luz found herself in this exact situation although it wasn’t her first rescue, she still had that moment where she had to choose…an obviously sick dog in her neighborhood needed help. She took her in and started the process of rescue by offering her a home where she could heal. Abby was in Luz’s care for some time as she had a long road to recovery, but once she was healthy, it was easy to see that this beautiful pup was ready for a home. She is about 1 year old and weighs about 10 kilos. Abby is a playful girl that loves other dogs, loves people and just loves to love. She has lots of energy and is still learning how to play with humans (she can be a bit mouthy so we think a home without small children would be best). Abby loves to go for walks, does well on a leash and will certainly bring lots of joy & smiles to whomever is lucky enough to add this pup to their family.

Now Adopted!

Abby has made her new home with Jill, Lane and Gadget (Abby’s fur big brother). Jill describes her as a little goof! She has a lot of energy and definitely keeps everyone in the household on their toes. Abby loves to be the centre of attention and is a bit of an attention hog. Some would call her a Diva – well she is a beautiful girl after all … so why not?! Abby, like most dogs, comes with an internal alarm clock. When the alarm goes there is no hitting the snooze button! First things first – a walk and then breakfast and then one more walk before Mom and Dad are out the door for work. Abby’s “other Mom” and her daughter come by around midday and take her for another walk to break up the day. Once Mom and Dad arrive home it is playtime, another walk and cuddles before bed. Abby takes up more of the bed than Gadget since she is twice the size and Jill is now wishing she had bought a king sized bed. Abby enjoys her time at the dog park and has also attended Pet Pampering for day care a few times. She loves being outside rain or shine and is doing so well on the leash that Mom and Dad have now started bike riding with her which she also loves. Abby makes Jill laugh almost every day. She describe her as a ‘gangly teenager’ who hasn’t quite grown into her body yet. Gadget is much calmer and easy going while Abby is the high maintenance pup. She loves to be loved and loves to please. Great report Abby… we look forward to hearing more about your adventures in the months and years ahead!

Chimi: Adopted! December 7, 2013

Carmen & Claudia were at their restaurant El Arrayan in downtown PV. It was a regular night as the dinner service had started and customers were entering & departing the building. In the midst of all this activity, a small dog walked right into the restaurant. He might have smelled Coco (their senior dog that has her bed back in the corner behind the hostess stand. He might have smelled food (he was underweight and what dog doesn’t like food). No matter why he walked in, he couldn’t have chosen a better place to seek refuge. Carmen & Claudia love animals and they are big animal rescuers. They always do what they can for those in need, so when this pup came to them there was no question they would help him. Chimi is about 9 months old, weighs about 10 kilos and has personality to spare. His is a playful pup that gets along with dogs and cats (although the cats in his foster home are not as impressed with him). Chimi is leash trained and knows a number of commands. This pup wants to please although he does still get into typical puppy trouble. If you are looking for a new buddy that will bring lots of smiles and joy to your life, he may just be the guy for you. Please share Chimi’s story so that we can find him the family he so deserves.

Chimi: Now adopted!

We’re happy to report that Chimi has a wonderful new life here in BC! His new family even includes Marilyn- a former Mexpup rescue. Chimi keeps his new family very active- something they feel has been missing from their lives since their previous dog passed. In addition to the frequent walks, they also have recently graduated from puppy school, and are now ready to embark on a full K9 obedience class- how exciting! Chimi loves to play with his Mexican counterpart, Marilyn. They always seem to be up to something when they are not sleeping, and to say they have become inseparable would be putting it lightly. Speaking of inseparable, Chimi has also developed a strong fondness for peanut butter- especially when said peanut butter is stuffed inside his kong toy- hours of entertainment. Chimi’s family say that he’s truly happy, and living life the way its meant to be.

Oscar: Adopted! December 1, 2013

Jenny is a great animal advocate. She isn’t one to leave it to others. She is the type of person that sees a problem and finds a solution. Jenny puts herself out there even when it is complicated or difficult, and she does it (I must admit she is a hero of mine). There were 3 puppies that were all in terrible condition. They were malnourished, covered in fleas, anemic and unlikely to survive. Their “owners” weren’t interested in them and had no willingness to help them. Jenny has her own 2 dogs plus she was fostering Nikki (another MexPup) when she heard about these puppies. She didn’t say “I am too busy”, she didn’t say “I have no room”, she didn’t say “I don’t have resources to cover their bills”, she didn’t say “someone else needs to save them”, she simply said “YES”. She and some friends rescued Oscar, Yara and Ringo. The 3 puppies were fostered together which is very positive for their development. Oscar´s siblings were adopted but Oscar is still looking for a forever family. He is now about 7-8 months old and seems to be a lab mix. Oscar loves the ocean. He loves to swim, he loves to play and he is very strong. He is great with other dogs, kids and is quite tolerant. This mini black lab who loves car rides just needs to find the right family so he can shower them with kisses (he is a very good kisser).

Oscar: Now Adopted!

Oscar is a patient boy. He waited until he and his siblings were rescued in Puerto Vallarta. He patiently grew up in his wonderful foster home while his two siblings went on to their fur-ever homes. He flew to Canada and waited patiently to be adopted in Victoria. He had a wonderful foster home in Victoria too with Marie and her family. Then on December 1st, 2013 – it happened! Oscar went home to his fur-ever home. Oscar lives with his Mom Shannon in Chemainus. So not only is he living in a town by the ocean (which he loves); he gets to go to work with his Mom who is a long haul truck driver. Remember how much he loved going for car rides while he was still in Puerto Vallarta…. Could this be any more perfect? We think not! Shannon had wanted a pup for quite a while but apparently her landlord in Ladysmith did not see things the same way. So she decided to “make it right” and bought a house for herself and her pup. Days after she took possession… along came Oscar and as they say… the rest is history. Well not quite… remember Oscar was a puppy when he arrived, so he had to learn some manners. But Shannon is also a mom and she worked with him and he has settled in nicely. He has a big back yard to play in and run off steam.Shannon calls him her “sidekick” when she drives back and forth to Alberta. How fun is that! Note to Shannon: We would love to see a picture of Oscar in the cab of your truck. It will make for a good before and after shot and attest to just how far this pup has come. See Oscar… good things DO come to those who wait! Good boy!!

Penny (formerly Shauna): Adopted! November 30, 2013

You’ve heard the story before. The dog has a family and then the dog doesn’t have a family. The what, why, how are the questions commonly asked by most people……then there are those that focus on a solution for the animals that have been left. Understanding humans is complicated, but understanding dogs is easy; they only want a person to love. They are loyal and will stick with their humans even when they don’t get much in return. Dogs deserve more. They deserve love, care, food, shelter and loyalty. Shauna & Rico had a family, then they didn’t and now Shauna is a MexPup. This sweet girl is about 2.5 years old and weighs about 7 kilos. Shauna is a friendly pup that is leash trained, house trained and just wants a family that will love her. She does great with other dogs and although she can play shy, she is well socialized. Shauna was ready for a loving home and we are so glad that she found it!

Penny: Now Adopted

Lee wanted another pup as a playmate for her current pup Tara. When Lee saw sweet Penny’s face she knew she had to have her. Penny is finally in her forever home. She’s settling as all Mexpups do and with only minor behavioral changes needed to curb any long lasting bad habits. I’m sure with patience, love and consistency Penny will be the loving, confident girl she can be. Penny is a busy body, always wanting to be on the go, exploring her new life with her mom and new sister. Penny is an outgoing gal full of personality and she’s great for Tara and just what Tara needs as she is a bit of an introverted pup that needs the playfulness and craziness of a new pup like Penny to bring her out of her shell. Penny has 4 canaries that she rather interested in, lol either to play or munch on…Mom thinks Penny entertained herself in the stairwell during her captivity with playing with birds. Mom describes Penny as an attention seeker; she paws at you, and wants all the love she was missing in her short life to be shared with her now. I couldn’t agree more sweet Penny, you deserve all the love you can get. Penny loves toys, which is great. She has her favorite, a fabric bone with a squeaker that she brings everywhere and loves to have thrown to her. Perhaps fly ball is in her future?? Penny has a very relaxed life, she gets walks twice a day, lots of snuggle time with mom and Tara and gets her crazy excited playtime, sometimes at inopportune times like when Tara is trying to sleep…lol When moms trying to clean up, what’s Penny doing? Dragging ALL her toys out of the toy box…lol too funny. Sweet Penny is also learning her basic obedience commands like sit before she’s allowed to eat. Penny is the house guard dog, protecting the yard from incoming varmints and patrols the yard looking for…squirrels! I wonder what she would do if she got a hold of one??? Probably run and hide. After a busy day like this, Penny, mom and Tara all snuggle up on the couch for some TV time before bed where again they all snuggle up for kisses, belly rubs and settle in for a nice, warm, quiet and safe sleep. Someone say a quiet sleep?? Heck no! Not with the loud snorer named Penny…lol Mom just adores her new pup, and is having fun seeing Penny’s personality come out. Lee loved the whole process of her journey to get Penny home and loved her experience with Susan, our foster and adoption co-coordinator. Lee, Tara and Penny are forever in the Mexpup family. Welcome, and thank you Lee for loving sweet Penny like we do. Happy pup, Happy life.

Two (formerly Bachito): Adopted! November 29, 2013

It was just another day in Puerto Vallarta and Licerine was out & about near her home when she came across a dog that was painfully skinny, dirty and clearly in need of help. She did what animal rescuers do….she befriended the dog, took him home, cleaned him up, got him care and put him on the path to a better future. Licerine doesn’t have extra time, extra resources, extra knowledge, extra money…….she just has a big heart and a desire to make a difference. She is a doer – yay! for all those that take action when they see the need! Bachito is a great pup that now weighs about 15 kilos. This happy guy loves to play, does great with dogs and even likes the cat in his foster home. Bachito has lots of energy and would make a great partner for someone that has an active lifestyle. Bachito’s journey to being ready for adoption is coming to an end. He has passed his final vet check and he would love a home to call his own. If you are looking for a new family member that will join you on all your adventures, this could be the guy for you!

Two Now Adopted!

Sara had wanted a dog for some time but thought she should wait. Then she met Bachito and everything changed! Sara lives in a pet friendly building and her friend Annemarie was fostering Bachito in the same apartment building. When Annemarie was working, Sara would babysit him if she was home. He's a sweet guy and Sara decided not to wait, she loved him. The decision was obvious! Bachito's new name is Two. Two has such expressive eyebrows. This is one of her most favourite things about him, aside from the fact that he is a great cuddler. He’s just a friendly dog. Two doesn't have a fur sibling, but he has a fur roommate. He shares his space with a cat. They aren’t the best of friends but they are doing fine with each other – about as well as most cats will share with a dog! Two has play dates at the park, enjoys fetch and when he relaxes at home he sits like a human where he's got his legs out and on his lower back/bum. How cute is that? Sara says that Two is pretty awesome. We are so happy with the way this has worked for everyone. You never know when you step up to be a foster parent like Annemarie did that the forever home for your fur baby is not too far away! Thanks to Sara and everyone who helped this sweet pup along the way. Happy pup, Happy life.

Orejas: Adopted! November 23, 2013

Claudia saw a pup wandering the streets of Las Juntas, limping, full of ticks and too afraid to allow her to get close. She left food on the corner for the little pup and watched as she ate every bite, but sadly that was all that could be done. The next morning she saw the pup again, and this time she was trying to steal food from a local grocery store where the workers were kicking at her to make her leave. Claudia stopped her car, opened the door and the pup immediately ran over to her. She clearly knew that Claudia was there to help and she decided she needed it. The little girl had injuries to her leg, chest and head, and Claudia was late for work so she got her to a vet to get care started while she went to her office. Thankfully, Orejas didn’t have any serious injuries, so Claudia took her home to foster her until she could get healthy and ready for a new home. This sweet girl has thrived in foster care and is now ready for her own family. She is about 1.5 years old, does well with the other dogs and just loves to have fun. She only weighs about 4.5 kilos, so she’s just a little thing with some lovely, large ears. When Claudia opened her heart and then her car door to rescue Orejas both of them knew that the little puppy’s life had been changed forever, so who’s going to be the next person to open their door to this wonderful pup? If it’s going to be you, make sure you open it wide so she can fit her ears in.

Orejas: Now Adopted

Mimi is the second MexPup addition to Yuka and Tom’s family. They also adopted Pete last year. Mimi has settled in very well to her new home and as reported by Mom she is a happy, playful pup. Although they changed her name from Orejas to Mimi, they are thinking about changing it again to “Me!Me!” in keeping with her personality. Apparently she always needs to be the centre of attention. She may be small but she is also very hard to ignore! So cute!

Mimi just loves her brother Pete and she does everything Pete does and follows him everywhere. Pete tolerates all the attention from Mimi but Mom and Dad think he sees her as his troublesome little sister.

This darling little girl loves all toys, especially the ones her brother also loves. She is always trying to steal things from him and gets lots of growls from her big brother. She also loves to chew Mom’s shoes (not Dad’s shoes... hmmmm?) and so Mom constantly needs new shoelaces. Those shiny, sharp little teeth can get through pretty much anything!

Mimi and Pete have their own couch to sleep on in the master bedroom but most nights Mimi prefers to sneak onto the bed with her mom and dad. She is so tiny and a good little sleeper so most times they don't even notice she is there!

How would Mom and Dad describe their new little pup? They would say that Mimi is a very lovable, sweet, playful munchkin but with a very mischievous side as well.

We think this has been a wonderful transition for Mimi or Me!Me! and wish this family all the best in the months and years ahead!

Casper: Adopted! November 23, 2013

Brian was just leaving the parking lot at WalMart near the Pitillal when he noticed a security guard riding a bike and carrying a small dog in his arms. The little dog was cuddling the guy thinking that he was safe, but the security guard proceeded outside the busy parking lot and put the dog down on the sidewalk along the busy street. The little dog was in a panic and tried to attach himself to anyone that walked by. He even tried to get onto a transit bus! In his panic, the pup was venturing out onto the street and then back onto the sidewalk. It was a disaster waiting to happen. Brian quickly drove home, dropped the groceries off, had a 30 second discussion with Mona and they went back to get the dog. They found him following a man down the street. When they asked the guy if the dog belonged to him, he said no. Mona jumped out of the car and tried to lure the dog with a treat, but the pup was still in a panic and kept following the man. Brian drove ahead, pulled over and called the dog who happily ran into his arms. Casper did not appear malnourished, but his fur was matted, he was covered in dried dog poop and mud, and had fleas. He also had patches of skin where his fur had been rubbed off. Brian and Mona thought that wherever he lived before, it must have been a very small space that was not regularly cleaned. Casper probably had to lie in his own dirt. Along with parasites, Casper had a gastrointestinal bacteria so was given a course of antibiotics. Bloodwork was done and Casper was a bit anaemic, but vet was confident this would resolve with proper nutrition and care. Casper is less than a year old – estimated to be about 10 or 11 months. He is tan/brown with blonde/white highlights and white paws. He now weighs 6.6 kg and is not expected to grow much more. Casper is a little “love bunny” and deserves a wonderful loving home. He is a “big dog” in in a little body and does not demand attention, but is just happy to belong.

Casper Now Adopted!

Casper sweet Casper. Who couldn't love a face like this? This little guy is so full of personality and love. Its amazing that all that energy can come from such a little thing! Casper is really coming out of his shell in his new home with mom Heike and brother Evan. He has just graduated from Basic Obedience classes and is so loving the attention from everyone. Mom loves how high Casper can jump, its amazing really. Evan loves teaching Casper new tricks, and Casper is eager to learn as he gets the attention he wants. Sweet Casper is living the life! Casper is very fond of squeaker toys of any style. Casper has a possible new home in his future with a huge backyard and close to the beach as mom is buying a new house and he knows its just for him...Casper is very friendly with absolutely all he meets, and everyone just loves this little guy. We don't blame them Casper. You are the cutest! We are so thrilled you have found your home and we wish you and your new family all the best. Keep being a big dog in a little dog body and never stop loving with your whole being. You are a special guy and we love you. Thank you Heike and Evan for loving him like we do. Happy pup, happy life.

Fletcher (formerly Zander): Adopted! November 20, 2013

Zander is one of the Mismaloya pups, a littermate of Zooey. He was healthy enough to be left with the owners with food supplies and some medicines when she was rescued. When a couple of friends of MexPup went back to the house to check on the pups and take them along with the Momma Dog to get neutered/spayed, they noticed that Zander was unable to stand up or use his back legs. They found out from the owner that it had happened suddenly a couple days before. They loaded everyone up and headed into town. The momma dog & the other pup were taken to a PEACE clinic for their operations, and Zander was taken to the vet for an x-ray and evaluation. It was determined that his lower back was inflamed but thankfully, no bones were broken. He may have fallen awkwardly or someone may have kicked him his back leaving him too sore to stand or walk. He was given painkillers along with anti-inflammatory medication and his foster family worked to get him using his back legs again (thanks to Brischa & Ted for temporarily taking him in). A week later he was standing up and walking again, wagging his tail at anyone who enters the room. Zander is a relaxed boy who loves his treats, and is still very much a puppy at approximately 7 months old. He needs a little help learning how to be nice around other dogs when its food time (which is normal behaviour for a dog to be very when they’ve gone hungry before), but we are confident that this smart pup will learn his manners. If he got his way he’d spend the entire day getting belly rubs and being cuddled. We need a foster home for him in PV as his current situation can only be temporary. Zander needs someplace he can continue to learn, get healthy, and grow until we can find him a forever home. Please consider volunteering (either for MexPup or with any rescue group in your area). We (and all rescue groups) can only continue to help animals if we have people willing to help to make an effort to make a difference!

Fletcher: NOW ADOPTED!!

Fletcher (formerly known as Zander) received more than his share of publicity when he escaped at the Victoria Airport upon arrival in Canada. His story made the television news on several stations and was picked up by the wire service; which meant he had his picture and story in many Canadian papers. After an overnight jaunt that had so many dog lovers and FLED (Finding Lost and Escaped Dogs) volunteers searching for him – it seems that life has now really settled into a nice normalcy for Fletcher as he is now known. Kate and Ray had heard of Mexpup through her mom as she had seen this great group on Facebook. They were looking for a dog and Zander was a good size for them and he had a cool story. Kate liked that she could see his sister Joey (Zooey) and where he came from. Within a week he was in a loving home, with a new bed, new humans and a new name.. He loves both his humans but is leaning more towards being a momma’s boy. He is so soft and cuddly and just about everything he does put a smile on their faces. He likes to army crawl on the bed and couch. He also "sings" when he wants to go outside and if they're not as quick as he'd like them to be. Kate says he's pretty funny, and is happy there has been two weeks of no shoe laces being chewed! Good boy Fletcher! Fletcher likes to hike around Thetis Lake and enjoys walks around his neighborhood. He has a Samoyed "girlfriend" named Stella who he loves to play with. Fletcher had a stay-cation at Trysha's (Mexpups Dog trainer) house with all of her pack while Kate and Ray were on holidays. Since then he gets more excited when he sees other dogs. He surely had a great time and is now a team or should we say pack player. Fletcher has been going to puppy classes with them and is doing great. Keep up the good work Fletcher and we are so happy to hear that you haven’t gone “walk-about” since you found your forever home!!

Zira (formerly Dana): Adopted! November 14, 2013

Sandra doesn’t just love animals, she volunteers her time, energy & skills to help animal rescue groups here in Puerto Vallarta. It might surprise you to find out that her father is also an animal rescuer. He is a kind Mexican man living in Guadalajara that does what he can (which is often a lot) to get street animals rescued, healthy, spayed/neutered and placed into new homes….all in his extra time as he also works (sounds so familiar). Over a year ago he took in a pregnant dog and she had her 6 puppies in his care. Once the puppies were old enough, healthy, spayed/neutered and vaccinated, he began finding them homes. He was able to find homes for the mom and 5 of the puppies, but a home for the final pup proved elusive. Sandra asked MexPup if we could help find Dana a home and we said yes. Sadly, the summer months arrived and there were few flight spaces available, so she remained in foster care hoping for a flight. Her turn has finally arrived and Dana will be getting her chance at a wonderful life. This gentle girl is 1 year old and weighs about 13 kg. She has lived in a foster home with various dogs & three cats getting along well with all of them. Dana is a bit shy with new people, but she is friendly and loves being with her humans. She is house trained, leash trained and would thrive in a loving home. After Juan Antonio put in so much time and effort saving the mom and her pups, he deserves to see Dana find her forever home so he can celebrate a job well done! Way to go rescuers!

Zira Now Adopted...

Kathy and Mark have travelled a fair bit, and know the hardships homeless dogs face. So, when they had decided that they were prepared to get a dog, adopting a rescue was a no brainer for them. Plenty of research went into the pursuit of her pup, and no corners were cut. When she heard about Mexpup, she found and met Zira, and things just fell into place. Zira is a super smart, sweet, conscientious girl. Through the week, she goes for runs, goes to the park, and has started making friends with all the dogs she sees on a regular basis. Zira also goes to work with mom and dad on a regular basis as well, and loves this, Zira has a great personality, and gets along well with all the other dogs, and even cats. However, Zira is an old soul, and is very mature. Zira didn’t know much about play when she arrived, but she’s starting to play more and more. For the longest time, Kathy or Mark would give Zira a chew- and she would never eat it right away, and stow it in either the laundry, or stack of pillows, or under an area rug, etc. Once she figured out that they just couldn’t stay hidden, she decided to eat them. We’ve very happy that Zira has found where she belongs, in a very happy and healthy stetting that will provide her with all the love and support she deserves.

Marilyn: Adopted! November 14, 2013

Michelle was ready for a regular day at school. When she arrived, she quickly learned it would not be a regular day. All she heard was "Ms. Michelle, there are puppies in the garden!" Sure enough, hidden in the plants were 2 tiny puppies. Their mom is a stray that hangs around school, and we think she left them where she knew they would be safe. The school agreed to foster the puppies until other arrangements could be made, and that is where Marilyn started to learn to socialize. She had many foster moms and dads at IAB school, and we are very grateful for the love and attention the students gave these pups. When summer holidays started, Marilyn and her brother were moved to a MexPup foster home where they continued to receive the medical care they needed. There have been changes in the current foster home and so Marilyn & her brother Manson need to find a new place in PV to continue their journey to being healthy and ready for adoption. Weighing in at 10 kgs right now, Marilyn is a sweet, loving puppy who is growing into a beautiful young lady. Do you have room in your family for this wonderful girl?

Marilyn after....

John wanted a new pup, and since he lives with a current Mexpup named Chimi adopted only a few short weeks ago by his roommate, he also went searching on the Mexpup website. What he saw was love at first sight with sweet Marilyn’s face. This school yard pup won Johns heart the instant he saw her, and he knew she was for him. “I am in love with her heart and how truly big it is, she’s so loving and fun”. Marilyn now shares her home with three adult men, one being her dad and the other two are now dedicated uncles named Ronin and Danny and of course her newest best friend and I suppose cousin Chimi. Boy this girl is going to be spoiled with love! Marilyn loves her pack walks that consist of 13 dogs! Wow what great socialization for sweet Marilyn! Chimi was in the house first but Marilyn, being a classic female, has already put her foot down and claimed the top position. Atta girl! A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do in a house full of boys…lol Marilyn and Chimi are so funny together. Marilyn bosses Chimi around, good-naturedly of course – she lays down the law at home, but protects Chimi from bigger dogs when they go to the park. They love to rough house and play in their own back yard. Marilyn loves to wear the sweater she brought with her from Mexico. She will carry it to John “asking” him to put it on her – she steps easily into it – also the same with her harness. John is in shock with how natural her motion is to get dressed. So when asked about what Marilyn’s favorite toy was…CHIMI…and also anything he happens to be playing with. Oh oh, someone needs to learn her manners…lol Which is great as John has enrolled her in obedience classes, which it sounds like she needs a wee bit. Marilyn loves to doze on her dad’s bed with her daddy all safe, snuggly and warm. What’s a better place for a sweet girl? No where! She’s home and we are delighted that this match is a great one. Matching energies with her and Chimi and great male role models and this girl has the end to her school yard days, but not school. Thank you John for seeing sweet Marilyn and falling in love with her. We strive to make the best possible matches and we are so glad you loved every step of the adoption process for her. We have wonderful volunteers that work very hard and we are so glad you appreciated their hard work in all that they do. We want all our adoptive parents to feel special and a part of the process and love that you felt included in the decisions and about the process. Thank you again, from all of us at Mexpup. Enjoy your sweet girl and give her tons of belly ribs and kisses from all of us. Happy pup, happy life.

Crackle: Adopted! November 13, 2013

It happens way too often, a litter of puppies is dumped. They didn’t ask to be born, and the mom certainly didn’t ask to be let out or around male dogs when she was in heat. It could have all been prevented if the dog was spayed, but of course “that isn’t necessary” they say, “the dog wants to have puppies”, “the puppies will be cute”……until they grow too big, new homes can’t be found, and a decision is made to discard them (this is the step in the process that gets me every time). The good news is that they picked a building where some animal lovers live. These people heard the cries of the puppies and put out food & water. The next day they started asking everyone they could for help. We saw the plea and the photo of one pup really pulled at us. We knew he needed care immediately or his chances would start dropping rapidly. It just so happened that Karen and Stephanie (from MexPup in Canada) were in town and they could foster them in an empty apartment that could be used for a week. So off we went to get the pups. We were met by the wonderful people that networked to get them help, we loaded them up and off to the vets we went. All in all, the news was pretty good. The 4 pups all had lots of parasites and were anemic, but they tested negative for the really scary stuff. Crackle is the middle boy. He has coloring in between the others and weighed in at 1.6 kilos (the middle weight). He was about 8 weeks old when rescued. Crackle is always trying to keep up with his bigger sibling. He runs a bit harder, plays a bit longer and sleeps a bit deeper. He is also the one that loves toys the most – he hasn’t met a squeak he doesn’t like. They are showing their personalities more each day and are curious about everything. They are romping around as only puppies can do and they are on their way to a bright future.

Crackle Now adopted!

Crackle was adopted to a great family but due to unforeseen circumstances, Crackle had to go back into foster care. He didn't stay in foster care too long- as this sweet boy caught the eye of many people. Jess found Crackle while perusing Pet Finder, and couldn't resist Crackles adorable, yet handsome face. Shortly after, Crackle went to his new home. Jess also has two kitties, but a peace treaty was drafted, and now Crackle and the kitties get along (but the kitties are not to sure what to make of Crackles attempt to get them to play). Crackle also enjoys running and romping around with Jess's dad's pack of pups- and is especially connected with Walker- the youngest of the pack. Crackle gets plenty of exercise, and is happy. Crackle's start in life wasn't promising, but since his rescue, and from all the love and nurturing he's received, he's been given a chance, a chance at life. Thanks to all who contributed to help this pup- for without his rescue or the love and compassion from the families that helped him along the way, Crackle wouldn't be what he is today. Alive and well, and thriving.

Rocky (formerly Flaco): Adopted! November 9, 2013

Hello my name is Flaco and I am a little black 2.5 year old dog with white markings and I stand 16 inches tall and am 25 inches long. I am glad to say I weigh 17 pounds now, although when my foster mum found me in I only weighed 8 pounds. I never ate much growing up outside of the bus station and when I was hit by a bus I was left to wobble around on my own. I didn't have many friends other than the ticks and fleas who were plentiful but unwelcomed. Big dogs would hurt and bite me so I am very scared of them now even after a year. Catherine found me in bad condition and the nice doctor said I had only a few days to live. He was very nice and gave me lots of medication and love. She carried me in a blanket for walks over 10 meters. The doctor said my back will always be a little twisted and one leg a little shorter than the other, but in time I will be just fine. He was right! Now I am the fastest little runner in town and don't mind that I kind of go sideways, because my foster mum always gets a chuckle out of it. I certainly love to chase balls and play with other dogs who won't hurt me. When I am on the leash and a big dog comes towards foster mum and I, I will bark at him though, because maybe he will hurt us. My favorite thing to do is to play with kids and even though they sometimes are rough I just can't get angry, foster mum says it's because I am so gentle and passive. Although I do like to chase balls, I really like to just chill out all day on my blanket and sleep with my baby elephant. I have quite the collection of stuffed toys that I like to sleep with. I am very proud to say I am fixed and have all my vaccines. I even have official papers that go with it. She is very fussy and gives me a bath every Wednesday and has me treated with Frontline (no more ticks or flees for me). The vet says that because we live in Mexico it's best that I get treated for worms, so every three months she gives me pills and hides them in a ham sandwich. I have kind of become a little chubby, but still people call me Flaco (Spanish for skinny). I am very obedient and know several commands in Spanish and English. My foster mum and I don't care much for noise so we are a perfect match, because I don't bark unless a dog is coming after me. My foster mum is also very proud to say that not once since she got me off the street have I pooped or piddled in the house, even when she goes to work all day. My foster mum and I are very much in love and she spoils me something crazy, but she only intended on getting me better and has kept me longer than she is allowed to. She works here in Mexico and her apartment is part of her salary which isn't much. Her boss has reminded her that she is not permitted to have me and since I am now healthy, he has asked that I start searching for a new home for me. I know my foster mum though and she will not give up easy and wants me to have the best home possible where I am not a family pet, but rather a member of the family. It's a little embarrassing to say, but I have been really spoiled with love, good health care, treats and time. She says I deserve that after all I have been through. If you would like a loyal, clean, healthy, obedient, cuddly, funny friend who is loyal, kind and overly friendly can you please let us know as I would really like to meet you and become a member of your family. Thank you so much Flaco

Rocky after...

It’s easy to commit to the idea of getting a dog, but to commit taking care of one is an entirely different ball of wax. Now, committing to adopting a rescue is a whole new sector of dog owning, and deserves special recognition. A rescue isn’t like getting a fresh, naïve, never suffered soul. A rescue usually has a story behind them that words don’t even scratch the surface to discribe. A rescue is a chance for one to make a difference, and for the other to be saved. Glen wanted to make a difference, and helped give Rocky, a once homeless dog, a place to call home. Rocky has moved into his new home, and is very relaxed, content, and is well adjusted; him and Glen became fast friends. Rocky’s story and loving personality captured the hearts of Glens’ neighbours and others in his building. Despite Rocky’s permanent injuries, and inability to walk straight (due to being struck by a bus), Glen was able to look past what many don’t, and see Rocky for what he really was- a winner, a survivor. Thanks Glen for seeing Rocky for the prize that he is. In the famous words of Rocky Balboa, “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done."

Henry (formerly Highway): Adopted! November 9, 2013

One night Claudia, Laura and Chuck were driving home when they came to an intersection in the town of Bucerias. As they approached, they saw a medium sized dog laying inches off the side of the highway. They thought he was dead, but as they slowly drove by, Claudia said she saw his body move. They drove to the next intersection, turned around, and came down the lateral on the opposite side of the highway. They got back to the intersection and saw many cars, buses and large trucks go whizzing by without any movement from the dog. Thus, Chuck came to the decision that he was dead and that all they could do was move the body off the highway. As they approached they were all SHOCKED to see him lift his head. Because many cars were quickly approaching, Chuck bent over and picked him up to move him out of the way. Lucky for all, he was OK with this. Now the second shock set in. Not only was he not dead, but he was not injured and actually was in pretty good physical shape. Why he was laying just inches from the highway resting, is still hard to comprehend. Why he didn't flinch when big trucks and buses went flying by is really amazing. The following day he went to the vet for a check-up and a bath …all was good. They brought him home and his time in foster care began. Highway is about 3-4 years old, but he is a kid at heart, often acting like he is 1-2. He loves to walk and gets along well with other dogs. He isn’t so sure about cats…chasing them is his goal at this point. This 23 kg pup has a beautiful coat and a lovely personality. Highway loves people and is going to make a wonderful companion for some lucky family.

Henry after...

Henry was adopted by John, Mollie and their two sons on November 9th, 2013. He also lives with another MexPup by the name of Mudge and two cats. The cats and Henry do not get along. Henry thinks they might make a delicious dessert after his dinner. So John and Mollie have been working on teaching Henry his place and some manners. He is enrolled in obedience classes. John has noticed a difference, and Mudge is also doing her obedience classes with Henry and she is coming along wonderfully. Henry is very smart and is excelling in his obedience classes. Henry loves to go on walks with his sister Mudge. He walks very well with a Halti as he was a bit of a tugger without it. He also has a fully fenced back yard to romp and run around. There are three dog beds in the house. Mudge has two and she lets Henry have one. Henry has also learned that the couch is Mudge’s territory. Well he had to learn… Mudge made sure of that! John tells me that it has been interesting watching the contrast in both dogs while they were adjusting to their new home. Mudge was very timid at first, sticking close to her bed and in time gradually came out of her shell. Henry on the other hand - came home feeling like the king of the castle and has had to be taught his place in the pack. He loves his squeaky penguin and a good bone. Those things will keep him busy for hours on end. Dad reports that Henry is a real sweetheart and loves to put his head on your lap and look up at you with those adorable eyes saying: “I could really use a little scratch behind the ears right now!” Molly and John both say that since Henry has become part of the family, Mudge has learned to play more. A dog can never have too much fun so we say good boy Henry! How would John describe his boy Henry? “He is a happy, young boy” John says. This is a family that is committed to giving Henry the life he deserves. We are grateful to them for their love and understanding. Have a great life Henry!

Manson: Adopted! November 9, 2013

Manson was born on the street. His mom is a street dog, and a very smart one. Once her babies were old enough to eat alone she found a safe place to leave them. That place happened to be the school where Michelle works, and her students were very excited to find 2 puppies in the garden. IAB school became the first foster home for these babies, and the students did an excellent job loving and taking care of these puppies. When summer holidays started, Manson and his sister Marilyn were moved to a MexPup foster home. He continued to grow and get healthy. There have been changes in the current foster home and so Marilyn & her brother Manson need to find a new place in PV to continue their journey to being healthy and ready for adoption. Manson is a 10 kg playing machine. He is full of energy and is always on the go. He will be a wonderful addition to an active family who is looking to have lots of fun. Are you looking for a bundle of joyful energy? Then Manson is the dog for you!

Manson after...

Several years ago, Christy rescued a beautiful dog from Mexico named Santos. He was a wonderful family dog but unfortunately he passed away a few months ago. Christy then started to scour the Mexican rescue site in the hopes of finding another awesome pup to share their life with. She first saw Barney Rubble and when she sent in her application, she discovered he was already spoken for and was soon headed for his new home. She then came across Marilyn and Manson. She loved them both but seemed to keep going back to Manson. His rescue and first foster situation was perfect for Christy and her five year old daughter Riley. Manny (he is still Manson – but only when he is in trouble) and Riley love to chase each other and rip around the house. They are a wonderful pair. Manson has found a great home and a great family to call his own. On his second night in his new home, Manson thought he would try out his new Mom’s $600 night guard – yes, that’s right he chewed it up. He is still a puppy after all! He was so excited for Christmas and while Christy was at work one day Manson decided he just couldn’t wait any longer for Santa and just had to peek and unwrap a few presents. He also had an ornament with him on the bed of wrapping paper when Christy came home. Well, it was his first Christmas and he was just too excited to wait! Uh oh...lol Christy and Riley love Manny to bits. He's super sweet, super cute and a great advocate for Mexpup. So many people comment on him that Christy is often talking about him and who rescued this awesome guy. Good job Manson!! Christy and Riley, thank you for opening your home and hearts to Manson. Keep sending us pictures as we want to see more of this great pup!

Paco (formerly Ari): Adopted! November 3, 2013

Some security personnel in Nuevo Vallarta had seen a little grey pup running around for a few days. He didn’t seem to have a home and no one in the area was looking for him. They befriended him, giving him food, water and a safe place to spend his time. They wanted to make sure he was ok, but they weren’t able to take him home with them and knew that staying at the guard shack getting scraps of food wasn’t much of a life. Angeles works at this same business and they knew she was an animal rescuer, so they went to her for help. She agreed to take him into care, called us to see if we could help and that is how Ari became a MexPup. This sweet guy is approximately 2-3 years old, weighs about 7 kilos and seems to be a schnauzer/terrier mix (and maybe a few other things). He has an old fracture in his front right foot/leg, but it has healed and doesn’t seem to cause him any problems. Ari is leash trained and loves car rides. He can be a bit grouchy if other dogs want to play when he wants to rest – picture a grumpy old man. Generally, he gets along well with others although he does like to chase cats when they prefer to be lounging (funny that he does to cats exactly what he doesn’t like from other dogs). He is a funny pup that has lots of personality and loves to meet people. Ari has a lot of people rooting for him, the security guards, Angeles, his vets and now he has the entire MexPup family rooting for him too! Clearly Ari is going places! Maybe he could go to your place?

Paco after...

In November, Paco came to live with his new Mom and Dad and their daughter Kim, who has just moved back home. Lindsay, another daughter - drops by often with her dog Charlie. It was at Kim’s urging that Deb adopted Paco. Kim loved Charlie so much and thought that they should have a dog at their house since they had been without a pup for a year when their previous dog had passed away.In the adoption process, Deb asked for a spunky little terrier with a perfect disposition and they are happy to report that that is exactly what they got with Paco! He loves all his girls and each girl would argue that she is Paco’s favourite! Paco is taking obedience classes and things are going well. On his first lesson, he had the dubious honor of being named worst in class! At his last class- he was called the Star! Yay Paco! Paco likes to sleep in a bed by the door and waits for Kim to come home. When she does, he follows her everywhere – and likes to follow her up to her room and rest on another bed on top of a laundry hamper by Kim’s bed. Kim put the bed there so that Paco is at eye level and can be patted while they both fall asleep! AWWW how sweet is that! Paco’s favorite toy is a little stuffed hedgehog. He can hear it squeak and comes running. It is a bit of an issue between him and Charlie when they are together as they both want it and get a little too rough with it. Paco gets taken for lots of walks and runs. He can run around Elk Lake off leash with Kim and stays with her the entire time. He also enjoys walks around Cedar Hill Golf Course. He has a lighted collar for night time romps in the local park – they enjoy watching the light dance as he bounces around and plays. If you asked Deb and Kim to describe Paco in ten words or less they would say: Alert, VERY affectionate, friendly, and the perfect addition to their family. (That’s 10 if you don’t count the word *and*)! Both Deb & Kim were blown away by the concern and attentiveness shown to their needs in selecting a dog for them. They were so very grateful to Susan, our Foster Home and Adoption Co-coordinator. In their eyes – she couldn’t have done more to make this adoption happen. Just one thing Susan did was to set up at meet and greet/walk for Kim and Paco while Deb and her husband were away. Kim immediately felt bonded to Paco as a result. When Paco introduced himself to a dog trainer during the walk – the dog trainer told Kim that if *she* (Kim) didn’t end up adopting Paco - *she* (the dog trainer) wanted to – she thought Paco was that amazing. All in all – one big, happy and appreciative family – and a very happy dog!!

Barney Rubble: Adopted! November 1, 2013

Mike was staying in a condo up the hill from Playa Los Muertos where he noticed a dog living on the street in the neighborhood. It was a very friendly pup that was regularly fed by the locals, but the poor pup had a severe skin condition and his health seemed to be deteriorating. Calls were placed, a plan was made, and Mona & Brian followed the directions to find the pup. He was right where described lying on the street in front of a taco stand. After asking a few people if they knew if the dog was owned by anyone, and confirming that he wasn’t, Brian and Mona packed “Barney Rubble” into the truck (yea Mona & Brian!), gave him a drink of water and headed off to Mascota’s for a check-up. On examination, it was confirmed that Barney had non-contagious mange and that the condition caused inflammation of his feet and thus the limping. No bones were injured or broken and that was the good news. Unfortunately, there was bad news. Barney tested positive for Mochillo (distemper) which is a very serious illness, so a home with vaccinated dogs, or preferably no dogs at all, needed to be found. The MexPup team rallied and after some shuffling, a temporary home was provided by Diana Simmons (yea Diana!). The next day, a longer term foster home was found with the help of the SPCA (yea SPCA de PV!). Barney continued in a special foster location that provided isolation for a few dogs that all tested positive for the disease. He showed no signs of the illness (GREAT news), and continued on in special care until he was no longer shedding the virus. When he was able to transition into regular care, MexPup didn’t have any foster homes available, but we were very fortunate that the SPCA offered to take him into their sanctuary (once again, yea SPCA!). He remained there for a few months being treated for his mange and getting socialized with more people and animals. Finally a foster home became available and Barney Rubble moved in with Poncho & Michel (yea Poncho & Michel!). Barney is about 1.5 to 2 years old and now weighs approximately 20 kgs. He is just a wonderful guy that does well with many dogs (he isn’t a fan of yappy dogs that don’t know their manners) and cats (the cat rules the roost in his foster home). He loves to play, loves to run and loves being loved. Barney will likely have some permanent scars from his mange, but we think he is handsome just the same….they just add a bit of character. Barney Rubble is thriving in his foster home, but after 8 months in care, we are thrilled that he is finally healthy and ready for a permanent home of his own. Could he be the faithful pet you’ve been looking for?

Barney Rubble after...

Barney’s new family consists of Mom Laura, Dad Eric and their cat Mouse. Barney likes Mouse as long as this cat isn’t hogging all the attention from Mom and Dad. He hasn’t quite figured out why mouse gets to sit in their laps and he has to stay off the couch. According to Laura, Barney makes a very funny noise when he is jealous… almost like he is mumbling to himself and a wee bit of a whining tone mixed in for good measure. Laura and Eric try hard not to laugh (that makes him more frustrated) as the noise gets louder and louder and Mouse continues to ignore Barney. Usually the stare off ends with Barney giving a big huff but there have been times when he takes a flying leap to try and hump into their laps.

While Barney is feeling very much at home in Victoria, one thing he could not take at first was the muddy grass and he would do just about anything to get his feet back on hard pavement. Now though his favourite place is in the woods by a river where he loves to run through the mud –sniffing and looking for anything to chase!

This pup loves his whole pack to be home with him. When the first person gets home from work, he is happy; but still waits looking at the door until the second person gets home. Then he is truly happy. He is very curious when Mom and Dad leave the house and has been caught on the top of the couch (where he isn’t allowed remember) looking like an gymnast balancing on the back of the couch. Speaking of the couch – Barney has a big fluffy bed to sleep on but Mom is sure that as soon as they go to bed he will sneak onto the couch. Barney loves his stuffed pig and tosses it around and chases it. Laura says it has been sewn up so many times it looks like Franken-pig!

Laura calls Barney “my little monster” (with pure love of course she admits). He is very smart and likes to get into trouble – lots of puppy/teenager spunk left in him. While he may be fearless on his walks and run full steam ahead over and down the mountain sides; he loves his cuddle time with Mommy and Daddy. Laura reports he is a true character who makes them laugh everyday. They say they are so happy to have found each other and formed this new pack. Of course it doesn’t bother them at all when people stop them daily to say what a handsome boy he is… and they do!

Good boy Barney – we are all so proud of you!

Linda: Adopted! October 20, 2013

When you see a small pup on the street that is dirty, skinny, and in need of help, what do you do? If you are Ted & Brischa, you stop and help. It isn’t that Ted and Brischa (or any animal rescuer) always knows what to do or how to do it. They simply know that help is needed and decide to take action. Once you’ve done it a few times it is certainly easier as you have experience, but all of us started with that first rescue. The one that started it, the one when there with a dog in need, and we simply couldn’t continue on without doing something. May be we were scared, maybe we knew what to do, maybe we didn’t. We just went in with the instinct to help and found our way to start the pup on a new path. Each of you can be an animal rescuer. Thankfully, Ted and Brischa have done this a few times, so they supported Margarita to get Linda off the street, in a car, and on the way to a better life. This sweet girl is about 1 year old and weighs about 4 kilos. She has been in a foster home with both cats and dogs and does well with both. We are working on her manners as she can be a bit food aggressive (after living on the streets it’s not hard to understand where this comes from), but with time and training we are confident that this will not be an issue in her future. Linda is just a little girl that needs a home. We are hopeful that they will find her soon as she certainly deserves a family of her very own.

Linda after...

Sandra and Joe were looking for a smaller dog for their family. They happen to know a few Mexpupers, and heard about this wonderful little girl named Linda. After a quick meet and greet, they decided that they would foster Linda. After a short while, they called to say that Linda had already found her forever home. Sandra and Joe just fell in love with her, and couldn't imagine having to give her up. At Mexpup, we now have a terminology for this type of situation called foster failures. Linda is a princess with such a personality and spunk. She is an all around great dog. Playful (she loves to chase her tail), fun loving and an excellent companion for everyone in the home. Linda is a hit at the school their son Morgan goes to, Linda gets to walk him to school and she loves the attention. Joe is the favorite cuddler, Sandra is the favorite for walks and dinnertime, and Morgan is the favorite for treats. Linda is fitting in beautifully in her new home and could not have chosen a better place.

Joey (formerly Zooey): Adopted! October 19, 2013

Jennifer,
I got your reply to my email today and I couldn’t stop thinking about the puppies, so my husband and I made the trip out to Mismaloya. We walked the zoo parking lot, spoke to some of the workers, and then we started walking the streets. We came upon 2 puppies – one much larger than the other. The small female looked like she needed help and the larger male was in ok condition. We realized they moved in and out of a front patio, so we called out to see if anyone was home. A nice woman was there and was happy to speak with us. They are a very nice, kind family, but have little in the way of material goods. Their female dog had a litter of 5 puppies about 5-6 months ago. 3 of the puppies were there with the mom. We spoke to the woman about getting the mom spayed and helping with the puppies. As we have no foster homes available, we decided to leave the 2 larger pups there. We will take back medicine and food over the weekend for all 3 dogs (anti-parasite treatment and an antibiotic for a very common illness that many street dogs have). We will also arrange to have someone pick up all three to take them to the free spay/neuter clinic. We will work to find a foster home for the two puppies and to get them into a better life (the family loves the female adult, she is in good condition & loves her family). That was the family's plan all along (to find new homes for the puppies). We will simply help to make their current situation a bit better until that happens.
As for Zooey, the family agreed that we could take her today - we simply knew she needed more. She has been checked by the vets and although she is severely anemic and has Ehrlicia, she should have a full recovery. She will begin receiving treatment today and will be boarded with the vet until a foster home can be found. I was very disappointed when the mother told me she hadn’t seen the other 2 puppies for two days. I assumed the worst, but we had to move forward with helping those that still needed our help. After returning from the vets, I was talking to a friend and mentioned today’s rescue in Mismaloya. Her reply shocked me……she said wow, another rescue there after 2 puppies were saved there 2 days ago. Seems someone was at the zoo and found 2 sick puppies hiding under a car in the parking lot. They scooped them up, took them to the vet and are fostering them. I got a picture of them, and it clearly seems to be the littermates to Zooey and the boys. I was thrilled with the news and I was certain you would be too. I have attached pictures of all. Hopefully, these are the puppies that you saw and you can rest easy knowing that they are in care with the hope of a bright future…..and that their mom is in a loving home that although poor, cares greatly for her. She will be spayed to prevent another unwanted litter. Today is a good day!!!
Please know that we are in a constant battle here. We greatly appreciate your contribution. We would appreciate your continued support and please share your story with others that visit Mexico and love animals. There are always more dogs to help and bills to be paid.
Thank you for caring,
Patty

Joey after...

Cori and Mike wanted a pup, they knew of another couple who had a great and neat looking pup and asked where they got him from. They mentioned Mexpup and Cori and Mike started looking. They had looked at numerous rescue groups, the SPCA, and breeders, but none fit them, none was the “right” dog. That was until sweet Joey’s face looked at them with her loving eyes, and at that moment Cori and Mike’s hearts were stolen and they knew she was the one for them. In went the application and Cori was amazed at how fast and seamless the process was. Cori and Mike just love and adore their sweet Joey, who went from the streets of Mexico, abandoned and injured to the loving arms of her new family in Vancouver. Joey’s original Mexpup name was Zooey, and she’s the littermate of Zander. Cori and Mike tossed a few names around but wanted to stick to something close to what Zooey already knew, so Mike said Joey?? And the name has stuck ever since. Mom describes this sweet girl as a couch potato! When asked, mom could not pick just one favourite thing about her new baby girl, but numerous things, like the way Joey sleeps; stretched out full length on the couch with her head under a pillow. When mom gets home from work, Joey wakes and stretches full length, with a huge sleepy smile on her face, saying “Its about time you got home, I need a belly rub”. When sweet Joey is not being a couch potato, she’s either at doggy daycare, doing boot camp with mom, or hiking all over North Vancouver. Joey absolutely loves exploring all the new places, there may be some hound in her as she LOVES digging her nose into the dirt, or grass and taking BIG sniffs of everything, then snorts it all out, lol making mom giggle. When Joey meets new pups, she’s ecstatic, and can’t wait to play. After all that play, she gets to have a nice treat of peanut butter and bounce around the house. Oh sweet Joey, we are so glad you have found your people. Keep running, bouncing and exploring your new world of love and happiness. Thank you Cori and Mike for opening up your hearts to this special girl. Happy pup, Happy life.

Tommy: Adopted! October 12, 2013

This is Tommy. We don't know his story, his tale of suffering, or how he came to be in such horrific conditions. All we know is that two wonderful people, Brischa and Ted stopped to pick up this poor boy, and make a difference in his life. Thanks to them, Tommy's life is forever changed. He was taken to the vet immediately, and is undergoing treatment for his non-contageious mange. He is in very much pain, but despite his level of suffering, Tommy was happy to be rescued, happy to be at the vets, happy to meet everyone, and he was even wagging his tail. How is it possible to be in so much pain and yet still put your best paw forward? Luckily, He tested negative for the scariest stuff, but he still needs to combat severe mange, and malnutrition- the main culprit was neglect. Care has been started: food, clean water, and love has already made a huge impact on this boy. He's approximately 10 months old, and has endured more suffering in his 10 months of life than many of us have had in our own lifetimes. Now we're waiting, waiting for time to pass, and the healing to begin. This is one special pup who will need on special family when he's healthy. Please share his story or consider donating to help with his treatments.

Tommy after...

Anyone who has followed the dogs of MexPup remembers when Tommy came into care. With a lot of love and care he has now become a welcomed and loved member of Maxime and Tracey’s family. This couple flew to Puerto Vallarta on a holiday and thought they might like to adopt a dog while they were there. Through a contact with another MexPup volunteer - Laura Ghilardi Miller, they were able to meet Todd and Tommy. Maxime was sitting in the sand when Tommy first approached. He walked right up and lay right on top of her. Todd said he had never seen Tommy do anything like that. The following week they met with Tommy, Todd and Patty. Seeing Tommy with Tracey and Maxime sealed the deal for Patty and Todd. They saw an instant connection and knew this was an ideal match. In October, Tommy flew to Calgary where Maxime met him. From there they drove to Edmonton to meet Paige – Maxime’s daughter. Of course she immediately fell madly in love with Tommy! Finally they headed for home in Hinton, Alberta. Tommy does not approve of the snow, so it has been a bit of an effort to get him outside. Maxime has used balls to entice Tommy outside. The only downside is that in the process of trying to coax Tommy outside, she has lost several balls in the snow. Can you imagine what their yard will look like in the spring? There will be chuck-it balls everywhere! This handsome boy shares his home with Daisy a six year old Schnoodle who was a bit leery of big dogs since she was bitten by a large dog when she was younger. It has taken a few weeks for the two to work things out and establish just who is the boss. But now Daisy tries to sneak up on Tommy and steal his ball or other toys when he is in his bed. Tommy is actually on to Daisy, but pretends he doesn’t notice and lets her get away with whatever she wants in order to keep the peace. Maxime tells us that Tommy’s eyes really say so much. They truly are the windows to his beautiful soul. When he first came home with them you could see so much of the whites of his eyes. Now that he is feeling more confident and at home all you see is his fully dilated pupils– he is in full on excited puppy mode. Taking a cue from Todd, Maxime will say: “What’s up?”, like Todd and Tommy goes cracker dog – hyper and ready for whatever the next adventure is around the corner. Ths boy loves to play now that he is feeling so much better and knows the love and security from Maxime and Tracey. How would Maxime describe Tommy? She responds: a great companion, good-spirited, good-hearted, a gentleman, ball crazy and an obedient, good dog. The MexPup family is so very happy and grateful that Tommy has found such a great new family to love him forever. We look forward to seeing regular updates from one of our greatest super stars!

Shanti: Adopted! October 8, 2013

Marcela was in Las Juntas when she saw a dog running desperately through the streets. She and her friend were amazed by the condition of the pup’s skin. It was a hot and sunny day so they started by bringing her water, but she ran from them crying and howling. They knew she was in pain and it was going to be hard to catch her, so they enlisted the help of some neighbors and Marcela's husband. They weren’t sure what they would do once they had her, but they focused on the first step which was her capture. Once they had her, they immediately took her to Dr. Manuel Peña. They were worried that her condition might be so bad that the only kind thing to do would be euthanasia. Thankfully, although very ill and in much pain, they were told that it wouldn’t be necessary. Marcela later learned that Shanti had been around that neighborhood for a few days. The people from a nearby store wanted her to go away and threw some boiling water on her back, so her skin condition was a combination of mange and a burn that was made on purpose (what the heck!!!)…..that is truly inhumane behavior. Shanti was off the streets and being moved between a few foster homes the first 2 months she was in care. A number of people contributed, each doing a small part so she didn’t have to go back to the streets. One day when Marcela was at Mascotas, she met Carmen & Claudia. Luckily, they had just moved and were able to take on a foster dog so Shanti moved into her long term foster home. There she gets to spend her days with fur foster siblings Mila and Coco in addition to 4 cats. The cats and Shanti are a bit curious about each other. She does not chase or attack them, she simply wants to say hello but as of yet, the cats won’t allow it. Shanti is about 11 months old and is a medium to high energy puppy who likes going for runs alongside a bike. She loves chewing on ice cubes during the hot summer months. Shanti has learned to stay outside the master bedroom, even when the door is open and we know she is ready to learn lots more! We think she is an Old English sheep dog/terrier cross. She patiently (but eagerly) waits to hear you say “OK!” before she eats and she displays no aggression while eating or any other time. Shanti is a sweet, good natured puppy that might still grow a little bigger, she has large fluffy paws, is excellent with children and will make a great hiking, running or biking companion for the whole family. This is one seriously sweet puppy that will spend the rest of her life making sure that her family feels as lucky as she does

Shanti after...

Really great people, Andrew and Sarah, had adopted Shanti. This is their story: Before we looked at any of the dogs we knew we wanted a medium sized dog that could be an outdoorsy companion. When we looked at the "hoping for
homes" dogs, Shanti's goofy smile stood out. Reading her full story was terrible and tugged at our heart strings; looking at her before photos hasn't gotten any easier. We sent in our mexpup application specifically for Shanti. We knew that there was a significant chance someone had applied for her already, and sure enough we got an e-mail saying another applicant was slated to adopt Shanti. We were devastated, we imagined her in our family from the beginning. We knew there were other great dogs needing homes, so we kept checking the mexpup site. Before Thanksgiving we had a trip planned to the Kootenays to visit family. Two days before we were set leave, we got a phone call saying that Shanti was in Canada and available for adoption. We were shocked, excited, and a wee bit panicked! We were both a bit crazed having to run around getting approval from our landlord and purchase all the doggy supplies. She was barely introduced to her new home before we had to pack her up across the province. The trip was a success, Shanti did well in the car, and loved being in the wilderness. It was a great way for us to get to know each other. Now, Shanti has settled into a regular routine. She loves going mountain biking with Andy, and afterwards she has the best puppy naps. Shanti hasn't completely figured out her giant polar bear paws, but shes getting there! We live near a dog park so Shanti has lots of regular play mates. Recently she met a fellow mexpup, Zoe, and they became fast doggy friends. Shanti is an energetic puppy, so we took her to Connective Training. We have made great progress with her commands and feel confident training Shanti. Everywhere we go people adore her cute, scruffy face. We are a couple of proud doggy parents and couldn't be happier having Shanti in our family.

Daisy: Adopted! October 6, 2013

This beautiful little girl had a Mom that loved her very much, but her living arrangements changed and although it broke her heart, she had no choice but to give her up. Daisy is a Shih Tzu Mix that has one of the sweetest personalities. This calm sweet girl is from the Duncan, BC area and is looking for a new forever home. She is 7 years old, 9.5 lbs, is spayed and is current with her vaccines. We were told that she had some back issues in the past, so x-rays were done and the veterinarian that evaluated her told us that all is fine. She likely had some soft tissue damage that caused her issues, but there have not been any problems for over a year now. She is a bit over weight, so we are helping her regain her girlish figure through diet and exercise, a step in the right direction. This sweet girl loves to go for car rides and would be an excellent companion in a calm home. Daisy does well with people and dogs but is not a fan of cats. Daisy is currently in a Duncan foster. Please consider offering this girl, a calm, loving, and fur ever home.

Daisy after...

On a previous trip to Puerto Vallarta Kathy and Woody were visiting Bucerias, a little town north of there; when they rescued Marlene (now Nikke) off the beach. They heard about MexPup and reached out to them to take in Marlene. After that they continued to follow the MexPup website, always amazed at the miracles that transpired. Their older dog Barkley had passed away and they wanted a little dog for their other dog Abby. When little Daisy came up on the MexPup website and was in Duncan where they lived, they called Susan to see if they could arrange a “meet and greet”. Well Daisy went home with them and has never looked back. It is working out very nicely even though this lovable little girl is quite the prima donna and likes to think she can rule the roost. She is interested in exploring and sniffing the neighbours’ yards and will never miss the opportunity to try to run at an open door. So everyone in the household is prepared for Daisy and her dash routine! Daisy and Abby get along wonderfully. They play all the time and are a very good match and the best of friends. Daisy is a good fit for this home and is a very good companion. Congratulations Daisy and your family for a life lived - happily ever after!

Alfie (formally Jose): Adopted! October 6, 2013

The first time Chuck saw this pup he was out on a walk with his 2 dogs. He thought this little guy was a stray, but the situation wasn’t dire and Chuck couldn't take action because of the behavior of his dogs. About a week later, on another walk, and there again was the pup. Like before, his 2 dogs were a bit aggressive and restricted him from trying to do anything at that exact moment. When he returned home, he got a bowl water and went back to find the pup, but he was nowhere to be found. Almost three weeks had passed since the first sighting when on a hot summer morning Chuck found Jose under a car getting some shade. By now he was very thirsty, hungry and exhausted. He picked him up and took Jose to the vet where he was examined and treated for 5 days as he was suffering from dehydration. Jose then went into foster care with his rescuers, Chuck and Claudia, and his playful personality started to show itself. Within 2 weeks he had assimilated very nicely into their household and was doing great with their three other dogs. This sweet pup is about 2 years old. He does well with people and with other dogs. Jose is house trained and walks well on a leash. We are excited for him to have a family of his own….we only need them to identify themselves….who’s going to say “me”?

Alfie after...

Marilyn and Terry had been looking for another rescue pup to add to their pack as a friend for their dog Sadie and their older Rotti who they had rescued from New York. Unfortunately for everyone Alfie did not get the opportunity to meet their senior pup. They were told about MexPup from a friend who had spent a few months in Mexico. That started Marilyn to surf the website and that was when she saw Alfie. Without discussion from other family members, Marilyn knew Alfie was the right dog for them and immediately forwarded an application to MexPup. She could just tell from his eyes and his face that he would be the perfect fit. Soon after he arrived at their home and has made the adjustment extremely well. He was named by Marilyn and Terry’s daughter who lives downstairs. Alfie gets along great with everyone in his new family and really makes an effort to be everyone’s dog! He really loves his recliner and his fur-sister Sadie. He is a bit of an imp and loves to steal her toys. The two play and play the day away. Alfie has had his first check up with his new vet. Marilyn told the veterinarian that Alfie was from Mexico. The vet then proceeded to speak in English to Marilyn and completely in Spanish to Alfie, who apparently appreciated the gesture by wagging his tail constantly.Alfie and his sister Sadie received new hand knit sweaters this fall for the cold weather. What lucky pups!! Marilyn said he is just so easy sweet and lovely. This certainly sounds like a happily ever after match for everyone!

Murphy: Adopted! October 4, 2013

We have a tie to the NWT SPCA and when we hear they are in need, we try to help. Their shelter was full, we had space and so Murphy became a MexPup. We know that Murphy was originally from High Level, Alberta. It seems that he was passed around and finally dumped from Yellowknife (“surrendered” is the official term but that is too nice, too sterile to describe what happened to him) which is where the NWT SPCA came into his life – his first bit of luck. He was stressed living in the shelter, and spent his days curled up in his kennel. I am certain that he was scared, sad and wondering what bad thing might happen next. We have suspicions that he was treated poorly when he was in a home, so it’s time to really turn this little guy’s life around. It is time that he know he is safe, will be treated well, will be cared for, will be protected, will have food & water, will be loved, and will be a part of a family….not just something that can be discarded. Murphy is about 3+ years old and weighs 8 kilos. This Pomeranian/Corgi mix is house trained, likes going for walks, and likes the company of adults. He is a bit reserved and a bit reclusive, but upon arrival in Vancouver he went to the fabulous foster home of Alfi (of hair flying fame), Carmela and Pauline……..no surprise, this home welcomed him with open paws and he has already started playing! So before we tell you too much about him, we need to give him time in foster care to settle in and show us who he really is. He may have had a difficult past. He may have been mistreated. Many things may have happened, but we don’t really know. What we know is that he is now in a great place, getting great care and we will find him a great home…..can you help us do that? Please share the story of Murphy so that a special family can see him and know he is just the pup they have been waiting to meet.

Murphy after...

Sue and Bruce knew they wanted a dog. They were looking at another pup, and in the interim decided to foster another. A few days later, Sue made the call to Mexpup announcing that Murphy was already home. Sue describes Murphy as sweet, and charming, and very loyal and devoted to them despite being a new arrival. He has a few quarks that he's attending "charm school" for, but despite his shortfalls, Sue is working with him to help him through his issues, and we know he'll come out of charm school and show everyone how perfect of a gentleman he really is. Sues' favourite thing about this little guy is his face. Murphy's favourite thing is to perch behind the couch like a cat, and the cold. Yes, thats right. This little guy LOVES the cold, and the snow. As it snowed a short while ago, Sue says that this guy went wild for snow (that makes one of us Murphy). He also loves car rides, and walks, and loves spending time hanging out with his papa Bruce. Sue and Bruce say they just love this little guy to bits. We're so happy to give this guy a second chance, and so happy that he found his place- snuggled in right between Sue and Bruce.

Bella (formerly Buttercup): Adopted! September 28, 2013

You may remember the story of Smiley a dog from Wekweti, NWT that had been rescued by the NWT SPCA. There was a plea for help as the NWT SPCA shelter was overcrowded. Mona, a MexPup volunteer, also works with this group and advised us of the situation. Thankfully, we were in a position to help. That is how Smiley became a MexPup arriving in Vancouver and eventually being adopted by a great family in Victoria. The NWT SPCA continues to have more dogs than space, so we again offered to help and this time we got 2 wonderful dogs. Buttercup is about 2+ years old and is a terrier/lab mix. She weighs approximately 16 kilos, is a very friendly pup and is looking for an active home. This pup loves to run, follow along on bike rides, and swim – which includes chasing any fish that she sees. She is house broken, spayed and up to date on her vaccines. Buttercup had a home, but when one of her owners passed away, the other could no longer care for her. Losing her family & home certainly wasn’t easy, but this sweet girl has taken it all in stride. She is adjusting well to her foster home and we are confident that she will make one lucky family very happy. Please consider giving Buttercup a new home where she can become a part of a loving family.

Bella after...

Bella, formerly Buttercup is now living the life of luxury! She indulges in heated floor during the colder months. She's a restful type, and likes to lounge the afternoons away. Alison, Bella's mom, found Bella on Facebook. She says that her pets have a tendency to find her rather than her seeking the out. Alsicon had always said they always wanted to have two dogs, and since their previous dog had sadly passed in August, she had kept an open mind. One day, Bella's picture came up on Facebook, and with a quick read of her profile she was the ideal match for this family. Alison quickly applied for Bella, and was excited to have her home! When the family went to meet Bella at her foster home, she was very leery of them. Alison had decided, well we better just take her home and see how it goes! Once they got her home she was fine. She now lives in the country and gets to enjoy daily walks on their acreage land, and loves to chase small critters. She's still trying to figure out the hierarchy of the cats in the house- she thinks cats are for chasing. During the day, Bella gets to rest in the heated sun room when her mums out of the house, and then when she gets home, she waits patiently for her leash to be put on to go for a walk. Alison has happily reported that Bells is fully potty trained, and asks to go outside.

The best quark about Bella is that she doesn't like the rain- common for the dogs in Mexico, but Bella is used to the snow. Alison says she twitches when she gets wet, as if to say "get this stuff off me'. The owner are thrilled with Bella, and say this was their perfect match.

Silo: Adopted! September 22, 2013

You may remember the story of Smiley a dog from Wekweti, NWT that had been rescued by the NWT SPCA. There was a plea for help as the NWT SPCA shelter was overcrowded. Mona, a MexPup volunteer, also works with this group and advised us of the situation. Thankfully, we were in a position to help. That is how Smiley became a MexPup arriving in Vancouver and eventually being adopted by a great family in Victoria. The NWT SPCA continues to have more dogs than space, so we again offered to help and this time we got 2 wonderful dogs. Silo is about 2+ years old and is a husky mix. This approximately 20 kilos dog is a calm guy that is super friendly with people and gets along well with other dogs. He does well in a home setting, is house broken, and would love a real home to call his own. Silo is neutered and up to date on his vaccines. We may not have the background of how or why he ended up in a shelter. What we do know is that Silo is a great pup that deserves more….a loving home with caring people that will make him part of the family. Please share his story and help us get Silo a place of his very own.

Silo after.....

Silo came from a past that we have no clue about in the NWT, What we do know now is he’s with the perfect family in Sooke. Silo is settling in as we expected, full of spunk, and attitude. Aside from the occasional cat chasing and hole digging, Silo is an amazing pup. We are all learning who he is and his family loves the Silo that’s coming out. Silo is enrolled in beginner obedience classes and is a bit stubborn, but really...what Husky isn’t stubborn. Although mom isn’t a fan of the hole digging, and their other dog Zak loves to bring out the wood from the wood pile and shred it all over the yard so you can imagine what her yard looks like...giggle. Holes and wood...Silo absolutely loves his new fur brother Zak, they play and play rough. Zak is also a rescue and he’s a big boy, a perfect match for Silo. Silo also has a few felines he’s still trying to learn manners with, but they sure let him know when he’s in their space. Silo is a very handsome boy, he’s calm, and always watching what people are doing, definitely an observing boy. He’s sweet and loves his treats and oh so loveable. I can see why his family loves him so. Thank you to all who were involved in his rescue and transport. Happy pup, Happy Life.

Leo: Adopted! September 15, 2013

Leo had been living on the streets for some time. He was very friendly and hung out in the marina which provided a perfect place for this sweet dog to get food from tourists. He knew how to work it so he wasn’t starving, but life on the streets is rough and is no place for a pup. Kathy Garcia was able to rescue him and he eventually found refuge at the SPCA sanctuary in Puerto Vallarta. He is about 8 months old and weighs about 11 kilos. He will grow a bit more and will be a medium size adult dog. He is great the people, but is still a puppy and has lots of energy. Leo loves to play with other dogs but is still in process of learning his manners. He has proven to be quite agile with climbing fences. He does not want to go anywhere, but just isn’t a fan of fences if he’s in a space that he doesn’t like. We are hoping to find him an active family that will take him along during their adventures. He would love to be with you exploring all there is to see and making friends with everyone along the way.

Leo after...

Trysha and her family fostered Leo before for a few weeks while his parents built a new fence for him. It was then that Trysha and her family fell in love with Leo. Leo is the perfect fit to their MexPup pack of 4. With Bode, Pita and Seqoyia to play with and the 4 felines he chases, Leo never bores and always loves playing with the foster pups that come in. Currently Leo and Pita are on a flyball team, and Leo couldn't be happier. Having his mom take him to Flyball every week has sure bonded mom and Leo. Leo is the perfect pup for our crazy pack, and I could not have lived without him. He's a piece of my soul. Leo loves to run free, chasing balls with the chuck-it and loves obedience classes. Trysha is advancing Leo into intermediate then onto his masters." It comes so easily for Leo, we are very bonded and he wants to please me. I'm hoping to make him a touch dog for seniors homes, as he's so sweet and snuggly." This sweet guy has sure found the right home to be a foster failure with.
Happy pup, Happy life.

Trixie: Adopted! September 14, 2013

There was a pup that had a family, well not really a family. She had some people that were supposed to care for her, provide for her and love her. What she really had was people that didn't want her and didn’t care for her. She spent most of her time out on the street dodging cars, dodging people and trying to survive. Thankfully, someone took notice and looked for a solution. They found Angeles and although she didn’t have space for another foster, she got the rescue in motion. The family surrendered the dog (along with another pup, Pyro – formerly Max) and this sweet girl was taken to the vets, started on treatment and then a foster home was found. Trixie is about 3 year old and weighs 3 kilos. She can be timid in some situations, but she also loves to run, loves to play and loves to have fun. This adorable pup is very cuddly with people that she knows and does pretty well on a leash. This little girl is healthy and looking for a family of her own……do you know anyone looking for a pup just like her? We are certain she will make a wonderful addition to one lucky family.

Trixie after...

When their cat crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Belinda and Cory started thinking about adding a dog to their household. Cory had always wanted a Chihuahua since he was a little boy. They started checking a number of rescue site and found MexPup and Trixie. This little girl was adopted on September 14th, 2013 and has never looked back. One small problem…. Trixie’s favourite two legged person is Belinda… but Corey says he is okay with that. Trixie’s new pack consists of Belinda and Cory (Mom and Dad), Connor and Tristan (the brothers) and Candy and Tank (the cats). Yes, it is a big pack, but Trixie has found her place and is very comfortable in her new home. Belinda says she is “just the sweetest little thing ever”. She is very quiet and in fact Belinda can only remember Trixie barking twice. She loves her two legged brothers too and is very well behaved around them. At night she likes to sleep right in the middle of the bed and under the covers of course. Trixie loves her dental bones to chew on and keep her teeth sparkly. Although she is just a little pup, Trixie will never turn down a good game of tug-of-war! She may be tough at this game but when it comes to the rain and the cold she must wear her rain jacket. But she hates to get her little paws wet, so when she must go out in the rain or when it is wet out, Belinda reports that she will walk on her front paws with her back paws in the air! We are hoping that Belinda or Cory can catch Trixie in the act and send us a picture of this awesome stunt! Asking Belinda what the adoption process was like with MexPup, she stated that she had in fact applied to several rescue organizations. MexPup was the only one that replied to her application. Not only that, Belinda says there was awesome communication all the way through the process. She says “don’t change a thing!” She is so happy with her perfect, adororable, and sweetest little thing ever pup, that things couldn’t be better and for that they are so grateful. Happy family, happy pup, happy life! Rock on Trixie…. We couldn’t be happier for all of you!

Lyka: Adopted! September 11, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. The family was very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy forever home. She has been in a foster home for 1.5 months and is doing wonderfully. Lyka is about 2.5 years old and weighs about 13 kilos. She is a happy dog that loves to play with the adult dog in her foster home (Coqueta from the bridge puppies) and with two other MexPup puppies, Marilyn & Manson, that are being fostered in the same home. This sweet girl had lost her place in her home, but now she has a chance for a new life where she will always be cherished. Please share her story and help us find her a place to call home as lovely as she is.

Lyka after...

Lyka has found her furever home in New Westminster with Allison. She loves her new home so much, and loves Allison so much which has made sweet Lyka a wee bit anxious and Allison and Lyka are currently working through her fear of being left alone again and ensuring that sweet Lyka will never again be left to fend for herself. When we stop and think about everything these pups have been through it is no wonder they come to us with a few issues. Separation anxiety is just one of the issues we do see. With the right training and leadership almost anything can be overcome and retrained. We are confident that Lyka is just so in love with her new home and Mom that she is upset when anything changes and with love, patience, consistency and training she will be just fine. We have high hopes for Lyka! Lyka does well off leash and has been hiking with Allison, her sister and their pups. Allison raved about how good Lyka’s recall was on the trail. Good girl Lyka! There are also a couple of good off leash parks in New West where they live. Lyka is very interested in other dogs… people not so much, but Lyka is still coming out of her shell. Every day she shows more and more of her cute personality to Allison! This slow but steady transformation is wonderment to her Mom. Lyka’s favorite toy is a green, rubber, squeaky cricket, which she loves to toss about. It is good and sturdy and hopefully indestructible as Lyka is sure putting its toughness to the test! Lyka sometimes has a “sleep-over” with Allison’s friend in the building. The first time things went very well. Second time... not so much as Lyka howled for Allison to return! Speaking of sleeping, Lyka has come up onto the bed when invited, but by the end of the night she is back in her own pen. Nice to have a choice right Lyka? All in all things are working out pretty well and Lyka is happy with her new home. We look forward to hearing about future updates on this pup’s progress. At MexPup we are so grateful to Allison for opening her home and heart to this precious little girl. Happy pup, Happy Life J

Pyro (formerly Max): Adopted! August 28, 2013

There was a pup that had a family, well not really a family. He had some people that were supposed to care for him, provide for him and love him. What he really had was people that didn't want him and didn’t care for him. He spent most of his time out on the street dodging cars, dodging people and trying to survive. Thankfully, someone took notice and looked for a solution. They found Angeles and although she didn’t have space for another foster, she got the rescue in motion. The family surrendered the dog and this adorable pup was taken to the vets, started on treatment and then a foster home was found. Max is about 1 year old and weighs just under 3 kilos. He is a happy pup that loves to run, loves to play and loves to have fun. Max can be a bit shy, but he is also very affectionate. This little guy is healthy and ready for a family to call his own. We can’t wait for him to start the journey to his new life!

Pyro after...

Do you believe in serendipity or happenstance? Well we know one puppy named Pyro who certainly does! One day this past summer, Larry and Karen were meandering around the waterfront in Nanaimo when they met a woman and started a conversation. The conversation later turned to the subject of MexPup. When Larry and Karen returned home, they headed for the computer and started looking at the pups that were up for adoption. They were looking at a couple of pups, but unfortunately for them, there were already applications in process for these pups. In talking with Susan, they asked about any Chihuahuas in care. Susan told them about Max who was had not yet been posted on the web page. Pictures and information were forwarded and the rest is history. Fast forward a little bit and we find Max at home with Larry and Karen. Larry’s former occupation was a pyrotechnician and since Max is such a little fire cracker, they named him Pyro. They tell us things are working out wonderfully. Pyro shares his home with Maya, an older Lhaso Apso and two cats. Maya doesn’t really want to play with Pyro and he has learned to give up trying… but not for lack of effort on Pyro’s part! Pyro’s ears are so big he can almost hear moon rocks in space and can certainly hear the cats padding about the house. Pyro of course wants to play… the cats… not so much. However they are coming around and there may be hope yet! In the meantime the cats have temporarily gone back to their game of shredding tissues once Pyro has gone to bed. Larry and Karen report that Pyro is an absolute delight to have in their home. He has so much personality it would be impossible not to love him! Pyro absolutely adores Larry and they have a few friends that cannot get near Larry when they come to visit. As of now reports on potty training: Number one – full pass. Number two: A work in progress: Remarks from Karen: “Poo is not a deal breaker – we love and adore him!” We are so pleased that Pyro is now home and will never again be abandoned by his humans. Another MexPup Miracle Match!

Frida (Formerly Corin): Adopted! August 26, 2013

While out one morning walking their dogs, Tere and Saul saw a small, dirty, scared pup. She was very timid and although they tried, they were simply unable to catch her. They left some food and hoped to get her when they returned home from work. That evening they didn’t see her, so they walked the area speaking to people and offering a reward if anyone was able to help. A few days passed and then there was a knock at the door. Marcela was standing there with little Corin on a leash. She told Tere that the pup had simply arrived at their doorstep (they have 4 dogs) and it was clear she needed some help. Corin was tired, covered in fleas & ticks, thirsty and hungry. They took her in and gave her a place to rest, a nice bath, and some food & water. Marcela was trying to figure out how to help this poor stray as she knew she couldn’t keep her. A few days later when out walking Corin, another neighbor noticed the dog and mentioned that Tere had offered a reward for helping her. Marcela went to the home to return the dog and found that Tere was simply trying to help the homeless pup. They worked together to foster and care for her until she was healthy enough to be ready to find a family of her own and that day is here. Corin is about 1 year old and weighs about 5.5 kilos. She can be a timid girl, but is very loving once she is comfortable. This little girl does well with other dogs and cats. Corin loves to play with toys, she loves all things chicken, and she loves going for walks. This pup prefers to be close to her people all of the time, so she could have the nickname shadow. If you are looking for a new family member that will get to spend most of her time around her people, Corin could be just the pup for you. Please share her story and help us to find her forever home.

Frida after....

Frida really hit the jackpot. She now lives in one of most beautiful places in Canada – on Salt Spring Island. She shares her home with Mom and Dad – Emily and Jesse; three children and a long time family friend who helps to look after Frida when everyone is at school and work.

This story is a great example of responsible dog ownership. When Emily, Jesse and family moved to Victoria from Ontario, they had a difficult time finding housing that would accept both children and a dog, which they had raised from a puppy. Long story short, they were forced to give up their dog in order to find appropriate housing. But, being wonderful responsible owners they looked long and hard to find a new home for their dog. Here is the great news – a family member who lives a few hours away was able to take their dog. It was very hard on the entire family but they are able to still see their dog on a regular basis. So they waited until the time was right and the housing situation was perfect!

Fast forward to August 2013 – A very thorough application was made to MexPup for a mid-sized terrier type dog - like Corin! The home check was completed and the report that came back was – “There is no better place or family for a dog than here!”

Emily reports that Frida is doing wonderfully! She has really settled into her new household quite effortlessly. She is amazing to go for walks; Duck Creek Park is her favourite, where she can tear around off leash. But she never goes too far and always circles back to check on her pack. She is also a real goof playing fetch and she loves digging holes and hiding things in the yard.

Being responsible owners, of course Frida has already been to the veterinarian for a check up, preventative flea medication and basically to establish a relationship with the new doctor.

Things look very bright for this little super star and her new family. We are so pleased that things have worked out so well for this wee girl that not too long ago was skinny, hungry, and alone and craving the love she so rightly deserves. Thank you Emily, Jesse and family for sharing your life and love with Frida.

And the rest of the story? And they all lived happily ever after!

Bello (formerly Canito): Adopted! August 24, 2013

Angeles was on her way to work when she saw a puppy under a truck. The pup was curled up in a tight ball trying to stay warm & safe. He was underweight and his bones were visible – certainly not the right condition for any dog, let alone a puppy. Angeles did what Angeles does on a regular basis. She picked up the pup and changed his life for good. Canito weighed 2.9 kilos and was only 2-3 months old when he was found. Thankfully, he tested negative to all the worst illnesses and began treatment to get him healthy and prepared for vaccinations, neutering & a forever home. Canito was in foster care for about 4 months and boy did this pup grow! He is now a happy, healthy 18 kilo pup that is very well behaved. This guy is a lover, plain and simple. He loves to cuddle, he loves to get scratches, he loves to be with his humans and he loves to give love. Canito is house trained, walks well on a leash and gets along great with both dogs and cats. He travels extremely well and always wants to be by your side. His mellow disposition has been known to even calm the other dogs he travels with! All this sweet boy wants is to have a family to love and he has so much love to give. Absolutely everyone Canito meets falls for this handsome little guy and whatever lucky home he goes to will definitely fall for him too.

Bello after.....

Sweet Bello, what can we say about a scared little pup that was rescued from the streets of Mexico weighing only 2.9kg. We can say that he is now 14 months old and weighing in at almost 40 lbs! Ya we can say
he has grown, and not just from food, but from love and guidance. This sweet pup
has found his forever home with Julie in Vancouver BC. Julie found Bello on pet finders, and had initially picked out another one of our pups, but that pup was already spoken for. Bello was suggested and as it turns out it a match made in heaven. Julie says that she’s been searching for a dog for a very long time and none of them were her dog, they just didn’t fit with her until she saw Bello. Julie said “that’s my dog, he’s perfect for me” Julie has Italian heritage and she changed Bello's name from Canito. It had too many syllables and Bello means handsome in Italian and Julie can picture a grandparent pinching the cheeks of a young pup Bello say how handsome he is. Well we agree
Julie, Bello is indeed a very handsome pup. Bello has a full and active life with Julie. I would say a very spoiled life. Bello goes out with his pack for doggy walks a couple times a week, and he absolutely loves this. He gets tons of treats, exercise and to see his buds. Every Friday Bello goes to doggy day care for more treats, training and fun. What a happy well rounded little guy he is. Everywhere he goes people comment on how beautiful he is, how smart he is and well mannered he is. Julie says that he’s her shining star, his soul is just as beautiful as his outside. Bello is quite playful too. When mom takes off her socks after a long day, Bello is right there to play tug-o-war with mom. When he plays he’s stretches out to paw at you and makes these funny noises. Bello loves fetch and mom just loves watching him run. She’s in awe of his beauty and his strength and she says that playing with the chuck-it she feels like it’s her game as she gets so much joy out of watching her baby Bello run and play. Bello has bonded deeply with mom and when she gets back after being out at work, his whole body shakes, and he makes these noises like “why did you leave me, please don’t leave me again” That’s just so sweet. Julie we are so very happy you have your baby Bello. We hope he continues to awe and surprise you and we hope you both have a wonderful life together. Thank you for making him a part of your family. Happy pup, happy life.

Kamy (formerly Camila): Adopted! August 21, 2013

A cute female dog, had been wondering around the neighborhood for a while, but she was elusive. Everyone seemed to see her, but she never got too close to anyone. One day Christi was out for her daily walk and the dog followed her home. Obviously, she was waiting for just the right person to come along and thankfully, she chose well. Camila was given food, a warm bath and a nice place to sleep. Although they couldn’t keep her, Christi & her husband wanted to make sure that she found a home. As Christi’s neighbor is always rescuing and fostering dogs, Tere’s home was her first stop. Tere’s mom had space and so Camila found herself in a foster home where love, care and attention are abundant. This sweet girl is about 1 year old and weighs about 10 kilos. Camila is very active; she likes to run, play fetch and go on walks. She maybe an outdoors girl, but she also likes to sleep on the bed and lay down in the sofa. Camila is a very affectionate pup and she is submissive when she meets a new dog. We can’t wait until she is in a home of her very own!

Kamy after.....

Sweet Kamy went from dodging cars to chasing balls and going for 10km runs. That’s quite a difference to this sweet pup’s life. No more running scared for Kamy, just love, exercise and a wonderful home for this sweet girl. New mom Pam found our Mexpup site from browsing the internet. We are thankful she stopped and saw Kamy’s picture. Mom couldn’t say no. “Her look, she’s just beautiful” when asked to describe why she chose Kamy. Or was it Kamy that chose you Pam?? Everyone who meets sweet Kamy says she’s just stunning. So mild tempered, pretty and Kamy is just soaking up all the attention. Kamy has some funny traits when she plays. When Kamy see’s another dog, she will literally do a 180 circle, over a puddle, not getting a bit wet to go and see that dog. Nothing will stop her…lol She also spins to play fetch, spin, fetch, spin fetch. We have got to see video of this. That’s just too funny sweet Kamy. We are so glad to see her spirit shining through now that she knows she’s safe and loved. Kamy loves to chase things and when she goes out for 10km runs she tends to criss-cross in front while they runs, sooo obedience classes are next for her so she can learn how to run in a straight line. Kamy has a Mexican hairless pup to play with and she absolutely adores him. They are best buds. Kamy has a nickname called little Mexican bean, she’s tiny but she’s mighty. Kamy also has quite the wardrobe going on. Being from Mexico, she hasn’t quite adapted to the wet west coast and she tends to get cold. I don’t blame you sweet girl. Princess Kamy we are so happy you found you’re forever home and your people. Keep spinning, and playing and being a funny girl. Thank you Pam for giving her a new chance at life and for loving her as she deserves. Happy pup, happy life.

Molly (formerly Salter): Adopted! August 21, 2013

Paulina lives in a quiet, simple town on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta. When she saw a pure bred basset hound walking the streets she knew something was up. This pup looked like she had lived in a home at one point, so the search was on for her family. After checking around to find that no one knew her or where she came from, a care plan was put in place. Mar agreed to foster her which got her off the streets and into a loving home. A vet check was set up and Salter began her new life. This lovely lower rider is about 1 year old and she weighed 26 lbs when she came into care. In the past four months she has put on a few pounds, so we are now working with her to make sure that she maintains a healthy girlish figure. Salter suffered a leg injury prior to her rescue so we try to get her swimming on a regular basis to help with her weight, strength and fitness. The orthopedic vet has evaluated her and is pleased with the progress she has made. Her prognosis is good as long as she has proper care and maintenance for the old injury. This happy-go-lucky girl just loves to make friends. She is very social, very outgoing and simply adorable. She is great with children and children just love her. Her ears are spectacular and if you are a fan of basset hounds, this girl will NOT disappoint. Please help by sharing her story so that a wonderful home can be found.

Molly after...

Sweet Molly has settled into her new home with her Mom Jennifer. Here is what her Mom has to say about her new fur baby:

So it is just Molly and I and it’s great to have someone to come home to. Molly has changed my daily routine for the better! She likes to jump on me to wake me up nice and early for her morning walk. I just can't say no to her cute face! My family met Molly at Thanksgiving and she fell in love with them especially my dad and my dad with her!

I'm very active with her and have lots of friends with dogs so we have lots of company and lots of good doggie friends for her to play and interact with. My one friend’s dog in particular she loves, we say they are boyfriend and girlfriend.

Her little quirks...she loves to cuddle! I let her sleep in my bed curled up beside me. I have taught her to sit and stay and come. She loves her food and devours it and loves celery and carrots. She also follows me around everywhere I go. Molly hates the wet grass, she doesn't like getting her feet dirty - ha ha! She's a sweetheart!

She has made my life so much happier and it revolves around her. She's the first dog I have ever had. We go for morning and evening walks. On my days off I'll take her for a little hike. She's great off leash for being a Bassett hound but definitely sniffs everything. I take her everywhere with me, even lots of truck rides! She doesn't really play catch but loves tug of war and is very vocal when she plays, it’s very cute. She listens to me very well but likes to have her stubborn moments too. She loves people and dogs, a very friendly, loving dog which has helped me come out of my shell in being loving and open with people.

MexPup has been great, they have supported me with the issues that have come up with Molly. Like her previous leg injury and seizures that have just started. The ladies are great to talk to and get back to me right away.

Molly's my little sweetie!

Jennifer we are all so, so very happy that you have opened your heart and home to Molly. We love to get updates, so please keep the notes and pictures coming.

Rocco: Adopted! August 21, 2013

What would you do? It is a question that gets asked often, but it can be hard to answer. You want to say you would help, do the right thing, and take action. Well, that is exactly what Adriana did. It was the morning, she had a full day of work ahead, but when she saw this dog, she knew she had to help. She didn’t know what she would do, she didn’t know where she would get help, but she loaded him in her car and set about making a plan. Based on his physical condition, he needed to see a vet immediately. There was no question Rocco had a serious problem, a strangulated penis. Thanks to Adriana, he received treatment in time (the vet said he was just a day or two away from losing function) and has fully recovered. This awesome pup is approximately 1 year old and weighs about 16 kilos. Rocco is full of life, loves to be around people and loves to play. He is doing well in his foster home with small children, so we think he could do well in most any environment. Rocco is an active dog and would thrive in an active household. If you are looking for a new family member, he might just be the right guy for you. Please share his story and help us find Rocco a forever home.

Rocco after...

Rocco has hit the jackpot! Here is what his new Momma has to report: Rocco and I just started clicker training classes this week. He is basically a good dog even without training, but we want to make sure he has a good base set while he's still pretty young. The highlight of training so far has been when he peed directly into the water bowl during our second class. His aim was impeccable! He's been getting along with everyone from the day we brought him home. We have Charlie, an older small dog, who gets annoyed with Rocco sometimes because he can be rambunctious, but Rocco takes his cues and respects the old guy most of the time. Our 20-month-old daughter adores " 'Occo!" and gives him many hugs and kisses throughout the day. He's incredibly patient with her and we love him for that. He likes my husband a lot and gets really excited when Donald gets home, but I'm still his favorite because I'm the one who runs/hikes/walks with him, plus I'm the one training him. Sadly, Charlie has arthritis and can't do much with us out of the house anymore, so having Rocco, who is young and excited about everything; comes with us everywhere has added a new energy to all of our family outings. One funny thing about Rocco is that he loves, loves, loves being petted. He will stand in the most uncomfortable positions as long as someone is petting him. Charlie tends to hover under Wren's high chair for food, and we noticed Rocco started doing the same thing as well, except Rocco isn't looking for food -- he is standing there because Wren pets his head with her feet! You can see this in one of his pictures in his album. He has a little bed downstairs that he took over from Charlie that he sleeps in, but he prefers the couch and sometimes his bed upstairs. We have some toys for him, but he doesn't really know how to play yet, which is kind of sad. I want to teach him fetch and other games once we finish obedience classes. He loves to run, so he'll love that game. Overall the experience we have had with MexPup has been fantastic. Everyone we met was so kind and passionate about rescuing dogs. We couldn't have had a better experience, and I feel like we got the perfect dog for our family. It's a testament to the compassion everyone along the MexPup path has shown to Rocco that he is as open and loving to all humans as he is. He wins over everyone he meets with his sweetness (and those big brown eyes and funny ears don't hurt), and I'm thankful for all of the people along the way who gave him the chance to continue doing that.
Thank you Kelly! Everyone at MexPup is thrilled to hear how well Rocco is doing. Thank you too for showing responsible leadership in so many ways with this little guy - we couldn’t be happier!

Brischa: Adopted! August 21, 2013

A few months ago Gretchen was walking up the very steep path behind her home and saw a little dog. She lived with a negligent owner in a humble home surrounded by trash and garbage. She seldom saw clean water in the water dish. It usually only contained a mixture of dirty water and old tortillas. Whenever Gretchen came by the adult female, her young pups and their father would always run out to see her. She spoke with the owner of the dogs who said he was going to take all the females far away and leave them to survive on their own. The man didn’t want more puppies, but didn’t understand how to stop the cycle. After speaking with Gretchen, he gave his permission to take the female dogs and so the process began. Pups were removed, spayed and adopted to loving families, but the adult female hadn’t been seen. They also allowed her to take the male dog to be neutered and returned him to his home (they didn’t have permission to keep him) – the best way to stop the cycle is simple….spay & neuter. After some time, the adult female appeared outside the shack wagging her tail. It was finally her chance to get a better life. Brischa is about 3 years old and weighs about 6 kilos. This sweet girl resembles a longhaired Dachshund and is quite beautiful. Brischa is a bright pup and will make a wonderful companion. We can’t wait to hear about her new life once she finds her home.

Brischa after...

Brischa is settling beautifully into her new home with Ryan and Kissanya. Dad reports that she is more of a Mommy’s girl, but loves him too. When Kissanya returns home from work Brischa follows her around the house until its time to stop for some loving and cuddle time. Ryan says that they have found that over the time she has been with them, she loves playing with all the dogs in the neighborhood as well as their neighbor's cat. No favorites being played here…. Love everyone equally. That’s Brischa’s motto! One thing Brischa does not like is water in any form (except for her drinking bowl). Rain, streams, lakes or baths…. All of these do not even make the list of Brischa’s favorite things. Her Mom and Dad keep telling her that she lives in Victoria now, so she better get used to it! We know she will come around! It is not uncommon for many of our MexPups to come to Canada and not like the rain and the cold. Soon they get into the swing of the family and their new home and nothing fazes them! Ryan and Kissanya both express a feeling of contentment and love looking at their new little charge and seeing how happily she is settling into their family. Life is good for this little girl and we are thankful to Ryan and Kissanya for opening their home and heart to Brischa.

Juma: Adopted! August 16, 2013

Juma had a home and a family. Unfortunately she got hit by a car, and this caused a number of internal injuries. When her health began to fail and her family wasn't able to pay for the necessary medical care, they decided it was best to give her over to Mexpup's care. Juma's pelvis healed poorly from her accident so it is very important for her to stay "regular" in order to ensure her body functions correctly. Juma was put into an excellent foster home with Freda who has helped a number of MexPups on the road to recovery.

Juma after.....

Freda loved and cared Juma back to health and Juma was soon ready for her forever home. Shortly before we thought she would fly to Canada, Freda took Juma to the beach with her friend Pat and Pat's dog Stella. The chemistry was instant...between both Juma and Pat, and Juma and Stella. The dogs played like they were long lost sisters, and Pat knew it was a perfect fit. Juma was adopted by Stella and Pat shortly after their beach date. Juma's body is staying "regular", and her life is now one of luxury. We are so happy for Juma and her new family!

Charles Darwin (formerly Rusty): Adopted! August 14, 2013

There was a dog hanging out at the police station. It wasn’t anyone’s dog. He had been there for a few weeks and as much as they wanted to help him, they couldn’t keep him there. They were certain he had been dumped, so they knew he (and they) needed help. Carolyn had seen the pup, found out there was a situation, and got involved (she isn’t one to sit on the sidelines). Calls were made, plans were crafted and Rusty got taken off the streets and put into care. His first trip was to the vets for evaluation. He had some of the basic issues for street dogs, so treatment was started and his new life began. Rusty is a loving, trusting pup. His is about 4 years old and weighs about 8 kilos. This happy-go-lucky guy has done wonderful in foster care and melts hearts everywhere he goes. It seems he lived in a home at some point as his transition from the streets to a home went very smoothly. He loves going for walks, playing and just hanging out with his foster family. If you are looking for a smaller, adult terrier mix, Rusty could be just the pup for you. He is healthy and ready for adoption; we are just waiting for someone to say…..”me, yes me. I’m the one that wants this wonderful dog to join my family”.

Charles Darwin after...

Lindsay really wanted a dog. But she would not commit to having a dog unless she knew it would be a perfect fit for both herself and the new pup. So she continued to think about it and early this spring accepted a short term job dog sitting. It was only then that she realized just how well having a dog fit with her life style and in fact enhanced her life. While still dog sitting, she started looking for a pup to rescue. While searching through many of the local rescue organizations, she found MexPup and then she saw Charlie (formerly Rusty) and fell in love. Unfortunately for Lindsay, there was already an application in for Rusty and she was very disappointed. But as luck would have it (read: some things are just meant to be), when Charlie arrived in Victoria he didn’t do well with the cats in the home that applied to adopt him; so Lindsay’s application was next in line. When she got the call she was elated! Charlie has really settled in to his new life with Lindsay. They go for a walk before Lindsay goes to work. Lindsay comes home at lunch to let Charlie out. Then after work they go for a nice long walk. Speaking of walking, everyone is a friend to Charlie! He is Mr. Lovebug! He goes up to everyone to say hello and is very good natured. Lindsay says Charlie has a lovely demeanour … he must have been born with it; because you just can’t teach that. He is very eager to please. Recently they took a doggie obedience class and they both “killed it”! Everyone at the class was in awe of Charlie’s ability to grasp his new commands. He has an amazing recall which we all know is very important. Next up for Charlie and Lindsay – agility classes. Lindsay thinks he will enjoy this exercise because he is so bright and it is less repetitive and more challenging than basic obedience. Charlie’s favourite toy is “Henrietta” the bikini clad rubber chicken. He loves to toss and play with her and makes up his own games while playing with her. He loves the unique squeak that Henrietta lets out when he chomps down on her! What words would Lindsay use to describe Charlie? Spunky, quirky, energetic and affectionate. He looks just like that in his pictures! We are so happy that Charlie has found such a wonderful home and look forward to hearing more about his future achievements and activities. What a match, and when the perfect match is made its very evident in both pup and human! It truly is a joyous occasion to see the bright eyes of love, hope and forever. Happy pup, Happy life.

Duke: Adopted! August 10, 2013

Brian and Mona have 3 dogs of their own and often have other MexPup fosters so they are frequently “walking dogs” in their neighborhood. Over several days, there was an “extra dog” following them on their walks whether it was Brian or Mona who was out. It was a very friendly dog who seemed to be totally comfortable with people and other dogs. The Kines’ were sure he belonged to someone and that he would eventually just go home. It didn’t happen. One evening after the walk, the dog just came right up to the door of the house and wanted to come in. Brian and Mona decided that he was lost so brought him in and over the next week posted bulletins in the neighbourhood and on Facebook to find the dog’s owner. Nothing happened. Brian decided to take the dog to the SPCA to see him someone might have been asking after a lost dog. One of the SPCA staff and Brian and Mona’s neighbor John, saw the dog and recognized him right away. He said the dog had been living on the street in the neighbourhood for some time and was being regularly fed by he and another woman who lived nearby. They wondered where the dog had gone. It was decided that “Dude”, as we called him at that time, had been abandoned or lost. A plea was issued for a foster home and Candace Shaw stepped up as she often does. She took Dude into her home along with her 2 dogs and 2 fosters. Candace described Dude as an “old hound dog” and decided to change his name to “Duke”, so Duke it is. He is approximately 2 years old and weighs 20 kg (44 pounds). He is not a big dog as much as he is a solid medium sized dog. He does very well with both dogs and cats and really prefers a slower pace to life with the exception of when there is a rabbit to chase – then he is gone!! Duke walks well on a leash, but sometimes just decides the walk is over and just stops! He does look forward to his twice daily walks. He eats twice a day and sits nicely while waiting for his dinner. He likes to lie on his grey blanket and enjoys chew toys and rawhides. Duke was in good shape when he found us, but did have an ear infection that has been treated. He has been vaccinated and neutered and is now ready to move on to his forever home.

Duke after...

This story all started when Susan was asked to email Duke’s picture to Barry’s granddaughter. She told Barry that Duke was exactly what he needed. So that is how Duke became the other dude in this home. How would Barry describe Duke? Great! Perfect! Barry has four children and two grandchildren who are frequently either visiting Barry and Duke or vice versa. The entire family loves Duke and are so happy that he is keeping an eye on Dad/Grandpa. Duke is so mellow and low key he makes friends easily and is accepted everywhere he goes. Barry reports that Duke does like the young ladies – young women that is. Duke has introduced Barry to quite a few new ‘friends’ at the dog park! One time at the dog park, he stole another dog’s ball. So being a good Dad, Barry immediately went out and bought Duke a Chuck-it and ball. Duke picked up the ball once after a throw but that was it. He kind of looks at Barry as if to say… Well of course I can get it, but I don’t want to… do I look like a ball crazy lab??? So the Chuck-it doesn’t come out too often any more. Barry is certain that Duke must have had a home at some time because he seems to understand commands so well … almost without saying them. For example, he walks perfectly on a leash and will sit when Barry stops. That had to be trained at some time.

Duke likes to sleep on the couch and sometimes sprawls out so much that Barry has to fight to regain some territory. One time Barry showed Duke the nice little bed that he had hoped Duke would use. Duke kind of sniffed and disappeared. A short while later Barry found Duke sleeping in the exact spot that Barry slept on in his bed. It was like he was saying….. “If you think I am going to sleep inthat silly little bed... you are wrong and if you insist, I will just sleep here.” Don’t these two sound like an awesome team? A perfect match! Let the good times roll!

Barry’s children have dogs too and Duke gets along well with his “cousins” -
Mocha a lab/shepherd cross and Sebastian a beagle. In fact Barry reports that
Duke’s mellow energy is really good for Sebastian who tends to be a little more excitable. Finally, Duke has earned a special place in the heart of an elderly gentleman who lives across the street from Barry. The man’s wife told Barry that her husband will soon be passing away and is now confined to a wheel chair. She told Barry how much he loves dogs, so Barry asked if Duke could come by for a wee visit. Much to everyone’s amazement… Duke came in and instinctively knew his job was to comfort the dying man. He stood still by his chair while the man reached down to pet him and Duke gently nuzzled his hands. Good boy Duke! What a great ambassador you are for your new family and also for MexPup. Barry we think your granddaughter was right – Duke is perfect for you… but must as important…. you are perfect for Duke!

Diggs (Formally Diego): Adopted! August 9, 2013

We don’t know how Brandy ended up at the local high kill shelter, we only know she was there and she had her litter of puppies with her. The acopio is a tough place for any dog, but it is an especially horrible place for puppies. The combination of too many sick dogs, too much illness and not enough cleaning, make it a deathtrap for too many puppies. Thankfully, the SPCA was able to pull Brandy and all of her pups. They went to the sanctuary to get healthy and they grew. By the time they were ready to travel, the summer cargo travel ban was in place for most airlines and they were too big to fly in cabin….they were stuck. Time passed and they were still there. Then, MexPup had 2 reserved spaces on a plane and both the MexPups that were scheduled to fly needed a bit more time in PV. We always try to use every space, so Audrey & Diego (formerly Jack) got the call. The vet gave them the green light and it was time to get these pups to their new country. Diego is now 1.5 years old and weighs about 22 kilos. He is a sweet boy, but needs to gain some confidence. Jack is a very trainable guy and needs a strong leader. We can't wait for him to find a family of his own.
UPDATE June 18, 2013: Diego: Digs, Mr. Digs, Diggedy is a very sweet, cuddly boy. He has awesome basic skills (sit, down, shake, stay etc.) and walks well on leash. He is great inside the house and very polite. He is very timid and has fear issues. He is good with other dogs and has many dog friends. All introductions to people, children, and other dogs must be done in a controlled manner. Once Digs trusts the person or animal, everything is great. He has a very strong prey (chase) drive so off leash he will chase squirrels or birds. He has lived with cats and is good with them. Digs would do best in a home with another dog who already "knows the ropes" and likes to play. His person(s) aside from liking to hike and walk, should be very dog savvy and confident in their skills.

Diggs after...

Diggs was a foster failure! We love these, really we do. When a foster home just knows that the pup is where they are meant to be we see a match made for each other. He has two other fur pups to play with, Kira a Mexpup and a very large and handsome husky! Diggs has had a hard life, and we know that with Jan's love and patience Diggs will turn into the wonderful boy we know he can be. Diggs is so sweet natured and loving, and we have high hopes for this sweet boy.Have a wonderful life sweet Diggs, we wish you well and we look forward to hearing how your doing. Happy pup, Happy life:)

Tramp (formerly Tiny): Adopted! August 9, 2013

There are those that can drive through town and not see the animals hiding under cars or in the corners trying to survive. Angeles is not one of those people. It is as if she has “animal in need” sensors. She will find herself driving a different path than normal and will come upon a situation where help is needed. That is exactly what happened one day when she was on her way to work. She saw a tiny pup hiding under a car and she stopped to see if it was ok. The little guy was underweight, missing hair in a few areas, had lots of fleas, and had clearly been on the streets for several days if not longer. It was easy to see that the pup needed help, so Angeles loaded him in the car, continued on to her job and then when she finished work, got him to the vet. He had a few issues, but his prognosis was good and so off to a foster home he went. He was a fun, energetic pup that loved to play. He got along great with the other dogs in his foster home and had the opportunity to get healthy & grow up in a loving, nurturing environment. After a few months in care, he got his chance to catch a flight to Canada and start his new life. Tiny survived on the streets, but that is now a part of his past. He is now living in a wonderful home, with a great family that will provide the love and care he deserves.

Tramp after...

Tramp is just a little love bug according to his new mom Marilyn. When he is excited he just quivers and his tail wags so fast its is a blur. He just loves everything and everyone. Marilyn says he is easy and has no issues. He is very outgoing and friendly and it seems that everyone he greets respond to his energy in kind. Well - except for the odd dog who finds Tramp just a little too exuberant. So they will correct him and let him know that his manners need a little polishing. Now, Tramp is learning to be a little more cautious with other dogs. But Marilyn reports that he is super smart and is learning his manners as well as the usual obedience commands. Recently Tramp went on a camping trip and was ever so pleased with his next door neighbors. They thought he was the cutest little pup on the planet and showered him with treats. Marilyn worries that he will always expect this when out camping. On that trip she says, these were friends and not everyone may be so generous and accommodating. But who could refuse that cute little face? From his first evening home, Tramp slept in a little kennel. He was very comfortable there and felt safe and secure. Now the door is left open and Tramp will just go in when it is time for bed and not a whimper all night long. Tramp shares his home with Marilyn and Gene and their grandson Cody. Cody and Tramp are very good buddies and very much an awesome twosome! Like many pups that arrive from Mexico, Tramp also extremely dislikes the rain and doesn’t like to get his feet wet. So when I asked Marilyn if there anything she would like to add to the story, she said: “If there is anyone out there who has a spare pair of size small doggie boots…. Tramp really needs them!” Happy pup, happy family, happy life. Another successful adoption and wonderful life to add to the MexPup album! Boots anyone??

Tucker (formerly Mitch): Adopted! August 5, 2013

Shelly saw a dog in her neighbor’s yard. No one lives in the home, so she decided to try to help him a bit with food & water. When she realized the dog couldn’t move, she knew there was a major problem and she had to do more. She contacted us, a plan was made, and on Dec. 30, 2012 off the rescue team went to see what they would find and to figure out what they could do. They were prepared for the worst, and although Mitch has issues, he is one sweet guy. He clearly wanted help, wanted water, wanted food and wanted to be saved. What we know is that he cannot walk. He has bruising around his left rear leg so we suspect a fracture of the leg, hip, back or a combination of those. He can move his right rear leg, so that is a positive sign. The rescue team fashioned a stretcher from a blanket, got him loaded into the lower half of a crate for transport, and got him in the MexPup ambulance (ok, it’s just an SUV but it was our rescue vehicle for today). He is now safe and will be seeing the vet first thing tomorrow. Thank you to Shelly for her commitment to helping him, to the rescue team for taking action, and to our supporters! We will need assistance paying for his care, so please consider making a donation to help Mitch and all the other abandoned, sick and injured dogs that need our help.

May 16th update from his Canadian foster home: Mitch is all puppy and more :) He is sweet and loveable. He has a huge personality and when he sees people he has a huge grin and gallops right over to them (literally gallops like a horse or jumps like a deer lol). It's so cute! As he is still a puppy, and being a big puppy, sometimes he forgets that he is bigger than my 3 year old and often bowls him right over lol. He always stops to make sure my little one is okay though ;) He thinks he is lap dog lol. He loves to cuddle and hog the bed :) He is learning his manners and we are working hard at not jumping up. He has no aggression towards kids or other dogs. He simply loves everyone lol. He will make an amazing companion for a family. He loves kids and is very energetic so he will need lots of room to run and daily walks. He is house trained and prefers to have his own dish at meal time. Mitch is a great dog and with a little training in manners he would be an amazing addition to anyone's family.

Tucker after...

Happy tucker tails to follow:)

Tuffy: (Formaly Mick) Adopted! August 2, 2013

Candace has often hiked from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas. She was on such a hike on a Sunday in early May with friends from Ireland and her dogs Sterling, Honey, and Bonita. Shortly after settling on the beach, the group was approached by a playful white dog. The pup hung out with the group all day, playing and napping with his new found friends. A few hours later, it was time to hike back and the pup insisted on sticking with the group and followed along. Candace assumed the little dog lived in Boca as there are many dogs there, but when the group got to the first wooden suspension bridge, it was obvious he had never crossed it before. Neither Candace nor her friend helped him across, but when he thought he would be left behind he ventured across the bridge and made it to the other side. Once at the car, the pup sat in line with the other dogs waiting for his turn for water. Candace’s friend, Patricia, said to Candace “What are you going to do? We can’t leave him”. So, into the car he went. On the way home Patricia suggested they call him Mick, so Mick it was. Once home with Candace, Mick got a two hour bath to rid him of his fleas, and he got a “bad hair cut” to rid him of the knots in his matted hair. Poor, pup was so happy and so tired from his fun day, he fell asleep in the bath. While he didn’t look bad when they were at the beach, after his bath he was obviously too skinny and his ears looked infected. He has since received vet care and lots of love from Candace and he is now healthy and happy. Mick is about one year old and weighs 28 pounds. Candace describes Mick as “just the cutest dog ever” and Candace has lots of experience with dogs! Everybody loves Mick, and Mick loves everybody. He gets along with all people, big and small and he also gets along with cats. He is totally house trained and loves to go for walks. He has accompanied Candace and Honey to work many times and is friendly with everyone coming into the store. He is totally socialized and behaves well at parties and in restaurants. Mick is just a “one of a kind” dog and will be a great addition to any home.

Tuffy after

Gwen and Wayne had heard of Mexpup through Kelly- who had adopted Sheldon (Youngblood). When they saw Mick they thought he was the mini version of Meesha who is Wayne’s 12 year old Mareema cross. They immediately put in their application to adopt but someone else’s application got there before hand. They were
heart broken. However, shortly after Susan called to say the fit wasn’t right for Mick, so it was meant to be that Mick would soon be on the move to Port McNeil. Reilly, Gwen’s Golden Reilly likes Mick, and Reilly normally doesn’t like dogs. Mick is now named Tuffy. Why the name? Well he's had to be "Tuffy" living alone on a beach and he has a bit of a Tuffy attitude. Tuffy has settled right in now that he knows he is home. When Gwen and Wayne picked up Tuffy he had had a long day and been with many people to get him "home". When they picked him up from Susan and Karen's dad, he pulled on the end of the leash and sadly looked off into the distance. They didn't think much of it. Two days after they were home, they ran into Kelly and Sheldon at the gas station. When they took Tuffy out of the car to show him off, he went to the end of the leash again and looked off into the distance. Poor little guy likely thought he was moving again. Well, that was the last time he did that because he now knows that he in his forever home! Tuffy is a joy. He is so easy and truly happy to be in his new home and they are happy to have him. He's such a good natured guy. He's a great fit for the two geriatric dogs. He's getting used to moss and grass and isn’t doing his “business” on the gravel as much as he used to, being so used to the beach. Talk about a lucky guy - he's got some new rain gear, has gone camping and loved it, will be travelling for work with his people and has lots of new toys to play with. According to Gwen and Wayne he will "lead a pampered life". Hooray for another great rag to riches story!

Riley (formerly Smiley): Adopted! August 2, 2013

As our MexPup co-founder, Patty Marchak, says “compassion has no borders”. Therefore, when the plea came on facebook from the Northwest Territories SPCA for help with their capacity issues at the shelter, Mexpup’s other co-founder Karen Munroe contacted them and offered MexPup’s help. This isn’t the first time MexPup has connected with the NWT SPCA as one of our volunteers, Mona Kines, has traveled on a few occasions by air from Yellowknife down to Vancouver with NWT pups. Although Mona’s business travel to the north will be less in the future, there are always other ways for one rescue organization to help another when in need. Smiley is one of several young dogs rescued from the northern community of Wekweti, Northwest Territories. Wekweti is located 195 air kilometers north of Yellownife. It is a tiny hunting and fishing community of 137 people accessible primarily by air, but during freeze-up and break-up the community is virtually inaccessible. Smiley and his siblings were flown to the SPCA shelter in Yellowknife after a report that an individual in Wekweti could not look after all the dogs he had. This is a common occurrence in the North and the SPCA works very hard to raise awareness and do what they can for dogs in need, often regularly sending in food and dog supplies. The harsh winter conditions make it next to impossible for dogs to survive on their own and it is not uncommon to find puppies or young dogs frozen to the ice while curling up, trying to keep themselves warm. Smiley is approximately two years of age and is a husky-cross (pretty common in the North). When rescued, he was severely malnourished and infested with internal parasites. He is now healthy and ready for his forever home. Smiley has an amazing personality and is very much a people dog. He will do anything for love and has been known to break out in a toothy smile when really happy – hence his name. Might your home be the future for this MexPup amigo from the North?

Riley after...

Riley has settled in extremely well to his fur-ever home. He shares his home with Leanne, Kathy and their two year old German Shepherd – Lexi. Leanne and Kathy felt that Lexi could really thrive with more canine company – so they went on a search and found Riley. Now the two pups are so inseparable that Leanne says they actually do have to separate them at times. Riley has become so accustomed to his family that he gets a little bit anxious when he is alone – but Leanne says they are working on that and getting him used to being on his own for short periods of time.

Riley has also started a “Pet Manners” class. If you give Riley a down command he plops loudly onto the ground immediately – no hesitation. Good boy Riley!! Leanne says she is sure he will be easy to train because he just loves the praise and so wants to please his new owners. Riley also goes on adventure hikes once a week with Doggie Adventures. Leanne reports that the experience is fantastic. The trainer uses GPS collars on all the small pack and during their two to three hour outings they also get some extra training. They come home happy, tired and clean. It’s a win-win all the way around. Highly recommended by Leanne but also by Riley and Lexi! Bad habits: not really according to Leanne. He does like to pick up a piece of their footwear, but doesn’t really chew on them. He just likes to move them to a new location – often in the middle of a room! Maybe Riley has invented a game called “Where are my shoes?” Lexi and Riley have the run of the house with six or seven different bed on which to lay their heads. They can usually be found curled up together on their favourite couch. As Riley’s former name was Smiley – I had to ask if he was still smiling. Yes, Leanne reports… he still has the character grimace that is so priceless! And why shouldn’t he be smiling? Riley now has a wonderful home with loving parents and a fur sister to share his time with. Thanks you Kathy and Leanne for loving and sharing your life with this pup. Keep us posted on your adventures Riley… we love to hear how our MexPups are doing!

Fell (formerly Bowser): Adopted! July 26, 2013

A family decides to move. The next part in the story is angering and happens much too often….they don’t make any plans for their dog. They don’t include him in their moving plans, they don’t find a new home for him, and they simply plan to let him loose to fend for himself. Mexpup adopters and now volunteers, Shane and Shelly from Port Hardy, BC found out and took action (Yea for Shane & Shelly!). They brought him to their home with no plan, just a lot of heart, as they knew this dog shouldn’t end up on the street fighting for survival. They contacted us to see if we could help and that is how Bowser became a MexPup. A vet appointment was set up and he has been thoroughly checked, vaccinated and neutered. Bowser is a rescue from Alert Bay, BC who is about 9 months old. His is a husky cross that weighs in at 63 lbs. He is ready for a family that will love him forever, not just until it’s time to move. He is playful and loves other dogs, kids, and people (he has no experience with cats). He is learning his leash manners and is doing really well in foster care. He is just a happy puppy that needs a family. Please share his story and help us to find him a forever home.

Fell after...

Bowser became a Mexpup when we were asked to take him out of the Alert Bay SPCA which had expanded beyond its means, so we said yes, and Bowser became a part of the Mexpup family. Lael and Jake from Seattle had sadly lost one of their pups from old age, and were looking on Petfinders and Bowser’s picture came up. “His face! He spoke to us and we saw a bit of our lost baby in his face and we had to have him!”, and Bowser had finally chosen his furever home. Bowser now has a new name and a new nationality. He comes to the name Fell and rightfully so, as apparently Bowser is an evil villain on Mario Cart and Lael just could not have her baby named after a villain, but a great wolf in one of her favourite childhood stories. He fits his name so well that on his first day home, “he came in, flopped on the ground and was belly up” saying “I’m home…now rub my belly” What a character. Now some typical traits of a husky are 1: They don’t swim, and 2. They love to dig. Well Fell is not such a normal husky! He loves swimming, loves hopping like a bunny into the water, and when his dad was building a nice new fence, Fell went and filled all the post holes in! WHAT??? LOL Silly boy. Hope dad didn’t have to dig too much. Fell’s life at home is wonderful. He picked the perfect family, including the perfect feline companion. Well the cat Sammy, doesn’t think so…yet. Sammy and Fell’s relationship is funny. If you know cats, cats are sneaky, smart, and love to prank dogs, especially dogs that are clumsy, quirky and as curious as Fell are about their feline species. Fell and Sammy who I will add is 12 years old, love to play a sort of hide and smack. I will explain.. Sammy has a cat door downstairs, so Sammy hides on the other side of it and when Fell goes to see where Sammy is, Sammy smacks the door into Fells face..lol and over and over this happens, and I can totally hear the cat giggling to herself! Sammy will growl at Fell when he’s close to her, then prances away like she’s queen bee until Fell pokes at her with his nose and she swats him. I think there is love between these two! Fell you sweet boy, you sound like your having a blast in your new furever home. Keep teasing Sammy, and keep waking your mom and dad promptly at 0700 by breathing in their faces. We are so overjoyed and this match was definitely made in heaven. Thank you Lael and Jake and of course Sammy for loving Fell and giving him the life all dogs deserve. Happy pup, Happy life.

Nicci: Adopted! July 25, 2013

There was a knock at the door in the early evening. Todd didn't know the person, but there they were asking for help with a dog that was pregnant and lying in the street just a few blocks from our home. We assumed she was going into labor, made phone calls to try & find a place for her to go (we currenly have 6 fosters including 4 puppies in addition to our own 4 dogs, so we couldn't bring her to our place), gathered supplies and headed out to see what we would find. Nicci was lying there, alert, but not interested in moving. Brian & his wife had moved her from the road using a sheet as a stretcher. We loaded her into a crate and then into the car for the drive to the a vet clinic. Thankfully, Alejandro was still open and able to receive her. An ultrasound was done and the babies were ok, but Nicci was not going into labor. It became apparent that she wasn't moving because her leg was broken and we deduced she had been hit by a car. She was left at the clinic for observation with the hope for the best. Today it became apparent that things were not good. Nicci wouldn't move and had no interest in food. The puppies were no longer moving & heart beats could not be found. She has been taken into emergency surgery to try to save her life. We remain hopeful that she will survive. The focus now is on internal injuries and her broken bones will be addressed once she is stable.
UPDATE - we are now 6 days post rescue and Nicci continues to improve. She needs to heal more from the first operation and then it will be time to have surgery done on her leg. Her prognosis is now quite good.

Nicci after...

Nicci went from starving and pregnant on the streets to a loving home. Nicci was one of the saddest cases we had seen in awhile and we are so happy she is with people who will love and cherish her for her lifetime. Nicci will never know abuse, hunger or pain again. Nicci has a life of walks, snuggles, and runs with her new family. we are so very glad that this story ended in a happy way after such a sad start for this sweet girl. Thank you to everyone who made this happy ending a possibility. Without all of you sweet Nicci would never had the life she deserves. Happy pup, Happy life.

Marvin (formerly Morgan): Adopted! July 24, 2013

Lee was on vacation and trying to get help for a dog that had been hit by a car. We try hard to respond quickly but sometimes there just isn't time, space or ability to do anything. We kept thinking about this dog that needed help and hoped for a plan. A few things fell into place and so off we went to find this dog. Upon arriving in the neighborhood, the first group of people we asked knew exactly the dog we were talking about. We asked for help finding him and one of the kids walked me down the street to Morgan - that is what everyone in the neighborhood calls him. He was laying at the feet of a few young men. They all told us the same thing, that he didn't have an owner, that he had been hit by a car, and that it would be fine if we took him and got him care. One of them helped us get Morgan loaded into the car and off to the orthopaedic vets we went. He has a fractured left rear leg. The good news is that the joint seems intact and the exposed area is just tendon and capsule (there is no exposed bone). The vet is hopeful that we will be able to save his leg. We focused on his leg, so we don't know his age, but he is an adult that weighs about 20-23 kilos. He had to be in lots of pain and was also nervous, but he wasn't agressive with us in any way. He knew we were there to help him and I think he was grateful. He is now on antibiotics and pain medication. He will likely have surgery on Saturday where they will use an external fixator to repair and stabilize the fractured leg. It will likely be a long road and some time before we know if the leg will be saved, but we will be there for him no matter the outcome. These surgeries are not cheap, so any donation to help Morgan recover will be greatly appreciated.

Marvin after...

Sweet Morgan became a Mexpup when he was run over and left to deal with his multiple fractures on his own. Well sweet Morgan, we are your family now, and we will be bothered with ensuring you are loved, safe and cared for in every way. It’s simply what family does to those we love and cherish. In comes Liana and Mike, all the way from Canada, who saw sweet Morgan’s face and Mike knew immediately that Morgan spoke to him, in that cosmic way a special bond is made, and Mike said “I’m getting that sweet boy, I have to have him”, and this is Morgan’s story. Mike and Morgan share an injury, and in a way that only serious injuries can be, Mike knew and felt what Morgan went through as he went through it himself. That bond has only strengthened since Morgan now Marvin has joined their family. Marvin got his name when mom Liana and new human sibling Jaine were out walking when they were throwing out names to him and when Marvin came out he kind of looked at them and said “ya I like that name mom!” lol and he became Marvin. His new name suits him, mom says “he’s just goofy, with his one ear up and one ear down, his head cockeyed, lol he’s a goofy boy, he’s floppy”. He runs up to all people and dogs, like “hi! I’m here! Let’s play attitude. He’s not shy at all, and loves playing with his fur siblings, Indie and Keisa. Indie and Marvin are pups, whereas Keisa is an elderly gal of 13, so when these pups are tearing around and Keisa has had enough she lets them know in her old wisdom ways how to treat an elder. One of Marvin’s goofy tactics is because of his leg injury, he’s adapted a new way to sit that makes his family laugh; he sits on his tail and balances on his good leg and tail and sometimes he looses his balance and falls over. Lol Too funny Mr. Marvin. Marvin loves going for tons of walks, and loves playing with his family, and is learning his leash skills and manners excellently. He’s very smart and trainable and he has puppy classes to look forward to and Halloween and Christmas. I can’t wait to see what he dresses up as!

Marvin, we are so happy you found your cosmic match. Thank you to Liana, Mike, Jaine, Indie and Keisa for loving him as all dogs need to be loved. Happy pup, Happy life

Mia (formerly Seren): Adopted! July 18, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. Laura & Edwin continued to foster Luna & Canela while Brian & Mona fostered Pi, Selena, and Seren. All five puppies are now official MexPups and well on their way to a healthy and happy life. The family is very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy home (she is now in a foster home and doing wonderfully). Seren is just over 18 weeks old and about 8 kg. She is about the same weight as her sisters, but has longer legs and a slighter frame. She is white with a brown face and brown/tan dappled markings. She has a friendly and gentle temperament and got along very well with her sisters Pi and Selena with whom she was fostered. Seren is kennel trained and happily sleeps in her kennel every night and has started her house training….we expect she will learn quickly. Seren is such a happy and smart puppy! She brings total joy to her foster home every single day. She loves to play fetch and is guaranteed to make you smile every time you are with her!

Mia after...

Sweet Mia went from her Mom Lyca and her siblings to her new mom Tammy
and wonderful community of Kettle Creek. Her new community dog pack has accepted this sweet girl into their pack. Way to go sweet girl. Tammy wanted a puppy, and she had originally picked out another puppy from Lyca’s pups but that puppy was
already spoken for so Tammy turned her attention to sweet Mia and it was
definitely meant to be for these two. When we asked Tammy why she changed
Seren’s name to Mia, we both thought instantly, missing in Action...ha, She just
looks like a Mia, pronounced Maya. Mia is settling into her new home again as
mom and her just moved from her first home to new home in Kettle Creek. After a
few weeks of constantly disturbed spots in the yard from the area workers, Mia
now has her permanent bathroom spot where Tammy can now focus her full attention to potty training which is going very well. Mia’s new life is at her mom’s side greeting all the clients. And boy do they all love sweet Mia. Even Willow, Mia’s 15 year old feline sibling is starting to tolerate her. Tammy says that Mia
never barks, except when Willow is taking mom’s attention away from her. Now
that’s just cute, sibling rivalry for mom’s attention. Mia’s training is going
well also. She can sit, shake a paw, stay, wait, and herd! Yes herd, lol mom
says that when going down the stairs Mia likes to nip her heels or at the hem of
her skirts. Mia’s manners are very good. She greets well, and is loved by all
Tammy's clients and the pack of dogs at the dog park. Her only ailment is playing
till she drops. She just won’t stop. Sweet Mia, I don’t think that’s all that
bad if that’s the only thing you can’t keep under control. Who doesn’t love a
playful pup? Tammy mentions that when she doesn’t have time to play with Mia,
Mia is all okay with that and plays by herself. She will throw her toys in the
air and catch them and keep throwing them up and will do this all day. Lol Well
sweet Mia, we are very happy you have found your person and place and are
fitting into your new community. Thank you to all who made this happen. Happy
pup Happy life.

Maya (formerly Negra): Adopted! July 15, 2013

Negra was rescued off the beach in Bucerias. She was “luckier” than most as at least during the day she hung around one of the beach restaurants and was treated kindly by the staff and fed scraps. At night though, she was on her own: dodging traffic, kicks, and always having to find a safe place to sleep. Tracy became a friend of Negra’s at the beach and when she visited she would check on her health, feed and water her and Frontline her against ticks and fleas. Upon arriving back in April it was very apparent that Negra was very ill. She had lost a lot of weight, barely ate and was extremely lethargic. She had the glossy eyes of a very sick dog. One evening as Tracy was packing up on the beach to leave, Negra just appeared by her side. She was in an area of the beach she had never been seen in before. Well, that was that. Tracy took her home to her house that night. The next day it was off to the vet in Vallarta. The plan was that Negra would return to Canada with Tracy and Mike, and once well enough, she would be adopted out through the rescue group Tracy works with in Canada. Two days prior to the flight back to Canada, Negra’s blood tests showed she was still too ill to fly. Now what? Thankfully, MexPup had been helping Tracy with vet visits and were able to step in when the plan was no longer possible. It was very difficult for Tracy to leave Negra behind but she had to do what was best for her. She knew Negra was in safe hands with MexPup. Isn’t it great when rescuers help each other out, even from different countries? This sweet, gentle dog is around 4 years old and weighs around 11 kilos, although she is in the process of gaining some much needed weight and will likely end up around 14 kilos. She is around knee height and has a beautiful feathered tail and ears and a rich rusty tone to her coat. Negra walks like a dream on the leash, sits for treats, is very respectful in the house and is fully house trained. She hardly ever barks except when she chased the beach horses! Negra will be in foster care with MexPup until she is well enough to travel. If you think this wonderful little black dog could be your friend for life, please get in contact with us.

Maya after...

When we see dogs on the beach that look like
Maya, we think, oh they must have a home because she’s so pretty and not skinny
like the others we see. This is the sad fate of most pups in Mexico. But when
sweet Maya contracted an illness thankfully she found someone to care for her.
Along comes Mary Ann who had giving up searching for her perfect pup so she put in an application to Foster for us, when low and behold a picture of sweet Maya came up and Mary Ann read her story she knew this pup was meant to be with her. So the application went in and was accepted. It was love at first sight. - But when it came down to actually making the decision, she dithered about whether to apply for her as sadly she had just had her own dog put down not too long before. Mary Ann finally decided to apply but was too late. Maya was taken, so she kept on reading the heartbreaking and heartwarming stories on our website and could hardly believe her eyes when she noticed Maya was available again. The person who was to adopt her had to withdraw. It turned out that Susan still had Mary Ann’s application and she was emailing Mary Ann at about the same time as Mary Ann was emailing her. The rest is history. Mary Ann went to the airport to pick her up with 2 excited friends who didn’t care that it was a midnight arrival
time and 1:30 a.m. before they were all on their way home. Sweet Maya is so
loved and I will endeavored to write her story as it should be, full of love, wonder and respect for such a beautiful being. Sweet Maya seems to be her neighborhood star. Everyone she meets is in awe of her and wants to hear her story. Maya is also an emotional and spiritual healer. Mary Ann’s neighbor
recently lost her 18 year old cat, and was pretty sad and really low emotionally and she opened up to Mary Ann that Maya was a life saver. She pulled her out of her dark place and really loves Maya. I think Maya is a very special pup with qualities that can help others. She is aptly named after a poet and writer Maya Angelou, who inspired Mary Ann and Mary Ann respects Maya Angelou for her strength, and abilities to conquer in times of hardship. Maya is so loved by all that she has two boyfriends. Yes two! Miss Maya definitely prefers her Rascal over her best friend Charlie, and Charlie knows this and doesn’t let other boy dogs around his girl. lol Miss Maya’s personality is definitely coming out after hiding for 4 years but she definitely will always have her security issues and loves to be surrounded by her people at all times. She tries to walk between your legs when you first attach her leash. When walking with two people she loves the wants one on each side of her. She loves (and gets) regular cuddle sessions on the sofa. She is not afraid of thunder and lightning storms and she’s very good in the car – just lies down in the back seat and stays put when we go off somewhere. She loves to roll on the grass in the back yard and rub her back in it all fours in the air. Maya is fantastic with the little children, who come to the door to ask to play with her. She’s very gentle and lets them pet her, rub her tummy, and play with her paws and tail. She licks them enthusiastically in return. She is a big kisser! A few nicknames that friends old and new are giving her titles like ‘Wonder Dog’, ‘Miracle Dog’, and ‘Mayan Princess’. Maya’s trust in humans is slowly coming out. So far it has taken a lot of coaxing to get her to come upstairs in the house. She has a bed in both places but prefers to sleep downstairs. However, this morning much to Mary Ann’s surprise, she found her asleep on her bed in Mary Ann’s bedroom. That’s progress. She must be feeling more and more at home. (She really likes sleeping on sofas as well of course. She’s not stupid!) Thank you Mary Ann for loving her whole being; spiritually and emotionally. Maya is definitely in her right place and we are so grateful to you. Have a wonderful life sweet girl. Happy pup Happy Life.

Canela: Adopted! July 12, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. Laura & Edwin continue to foster Luna & Canela while Brian & Mona are fostering Pi, Selena, and Seren. All five puppies are now official MexPups and well on their way to a healthy and happy life. The family is very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy home (she is now in a foster home and doing wonderfully). Canela was the baby of the litter, the smallest one with the shortest legs. Despite being the smallest, she is very adventurous and definitely gives as good as she gets when play fighting with her sister Luna. She has a very gentle temperament and loves to have cuddles and attention. Canela is an absolute joy to have, she brings a smile to the faces of all the people that meet her and nothing beats those morning cuddles. Canela would make an ideal family dog, especially if paired with her big sis Luna.

Canela after...

Canela was fostered with her sister Luna by Laura and Edwin. As time passed, they began to realize that these two pups weren’t just visitors in their home; they had become part of their family. So after much thought and consideration, Canela and Luna became a part of the best type of failure….foster failure. Canela and Luna are doing great in their home, they love their lives, and they are happy, healthy, fun-loving pups. Kudos to Laura and Edwin for saving Lyka and her pups, and for then for adopting two of them.

Luna: Adopted! July 12, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. Laura & Edwin continue to foster Luna & Canela while Brian & Mona are fostering Pi, Selena, and Seren. All five puppies are now official MexPups and well on their way to a healthy and happy life. The family is very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy home (she is now in a foster home and doing wonderfully). Luna was the biggest of the litter at 3.8kg. She was the last to be born and the last puppy to be handed over by the family. This sensible soul is a protector. If you are sad she will sit with you quietly and rest, if you are happy she loves to play games, she knows when it is time to sleep and she has been excellent with the special needs children her foster mom works with. Luna would make an incredible family dog, especially if paired with her little sister Canela.

Luna after...

Luna was fostered with her sister Canela by Laura and Edwin. As time passed, they began to realize that these two pups weren’t just visitors in their home; they had become part of their family. So after much thought and consideration, Luna and Canela became a part of the best type of failure….foster failure. Luna and Canela are doing great in their home, they love their lives, and they are happy, healthy, fun-loving pups. Kudos to Laura and Edwin for saving Lyka and her pups, and for then for adopting two of them.

Buddy (formerly Uri): Adopted! July 7, 2013

When a little dog was running like a maniac on the main street of Tere’s neighborhood, she knew something was wrong. No one recognized the little guy and he was clearly in distress. Cars were zigzagging around him and disaster seemed a real possibility. Thankfully a number of her neighbors were outside and they worked together. It took some time and some effort, but they finally caught him. Once in Tere’s arms he relaxed, his breathing slowed down, and he looked at her in that knowing way – it was all going to be ok. She gave him food, water and a safe place to sleep. The next morning they went to the vets to find out what challenges were ahead. Uri had mange, ehrlicia, anaplasma and was underweight. This approximately 1 year old Chihuahua mix weighed in at 3 kilos and began thriving in care. Uri has a big personality inside his little body! He loves to cuddle, loves to give kisses and loves to make friends. He does fine with other dogs but can be a bit jealous….we did say he was a Chihuahua ;-). He is now healthy, happy and looking for a family of his own. Uri will make a wonderful additional to a family and now we just need to find them. Please help us by sharing his album.

Buddy after...

After his remarkable recovery and a whole lotta’ love from his foster home in Mexico, Uri made his way to Canada. He made the trip to Vancouver Island
where he was kept by another loving foster home until he was “discovered” on Petfinders by his Mom in Vancouver. She had been looking for a “buddy” for her dog Frannie. Apparently Uri looks a lot like a mini Frannie. Once they met – well the rest was history.

Fast forward to his new home where Uri has settled right in. He responded well to the name “Buddy”, so his name was changed. He is however, sometimes called “The Tongue”, because he apparently is quite the kisser! He has lived up to his name as a buddy to Frannie. Although Buddy is smaller than Frannie, who loves to mother him, Buddy takes no guff when he has had enough. He is part Chihuahua after all. But he and Frannie play for hours and hours then collapse together in the same bed. That is until it is really time for bed when they both curl up and cuddles with their Mom.

Buddy is very sweet and loving. He loves everyone he meets – whether two
legs or four. It’s a happy ending for this sweet pup who had such a battle at the beginning of his life. It is so wonderful to know that now he has a wonderful family who will love him forever. The family too is so happy to have Buddy who makes their family complete. Well done Buddy – keep on loving your peeps! We are so happy you now have the life that you fought so hard to live for. Good boy!

Piper (formerly Pi): Adopted! July 6, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. Laura & Edwin continue to foster Luna & Canela while Brian & Mona are fostering Pi, Selena, and Seren. All five puppies are now official MexPups and well on their way to a healthy and happy life. The family is very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy home (she is now in a foster home and doing wonderfully). Pi is just over 16 weeks old and like her sisters weighs approximately 8.8 pounds (4 kg). She has short legs and will be a “low rider”. Pi is white with brown patches and “dapples”. Like her sisters, Pi has a wonderful and gentle temperament and gets along very well with other dogs. She has a “puppy curiosity” of cats, but is not overly concerned with them. Pi is kennel trained and happily sleeps in her kennel every night, but likes to run away when it is bedtime! Pi never has an accident in her kennel, but anxiously runs to the closest patch of grass to do her business first thing in the morning. Now that she has completed all her immunizations, she can start to be taken for walks outside. Pi is a loving and generous little dog. She loves to cuddle and loves to be around people. She is a joy to have around!

Piper after...

On July 6th, 2013, Pi officially became Piper. She joined her new family which consists of Debbie, Rob and their children Lucas (4) and Derek (1.5). The family had been looking for a dog to complete their family but it had to be just the right pup. They wanted the kind of dog who would be sensitive to Lucas’ autism and be a therapeutic support for him. They were told about MexPup and were then directed towards Pi because she was less timid with children. In fact that is how she got her name. Rob called her “Rowdy Piper” – so Pi became Piper! There are also two cats that share the home with Piper. Luna gets along well with Piper and Dashka who will get along with Piper as long as she gives Dashka her space! Piper has really filled the bill for Lucas. He has come out of his shell quite a bit since Piper arrived. Good job Piper!! We are so proud of you! But Derek is probably the family favourite as he loves to throw food from his highchair to Piper or toys for her to retrieve. She just loves her boys! At night Piper sleeps in her kennel, but she has made it known that she does not like being in there when she has to be home alone. Fortunately for Piper, that does not happen very often. She is quite the character! She loves to nip at the boys’ knees and ankles or pull at their pants if she wants their attention. She might be a bit of a nut – but she knows how to get her point across and that’s the main thing! Piper also loves being outdoors. In the backyard she has a toy boat filled with water that she loves to run through – in and out, in and out – over and over! If there are walks, Piper prefers that her boys are along as well. If one of both of the boys is not with her on her walk, she will only walk to the corner of the street. Then she will grab her leash and turn around and head for home. If the children are along – then she is more than happy to go further. Clearly the boys are a primary part of Piper’s Pack! We are so happy to hear that Piper has settled in well and is working hard with Lucas. What a wonderful family and life this MexPup has found herself with. Another happy ending the MexPup way!

Selena: Adopted! July 5, 2013

Two years ago, Laura and Edwin noticed that the family living across the street from their apartment got a puppy. She was a very cute little puppy who loved to play with the family’s little girl and greet passers by with a happily wagging tail. Laura noticed the puppy because she was just that lovable and they watched her all that season until Laura had to go back to the UK to work over the summer. The following year they noticed that the puppy, whose name is Lyka, was still with the family, but now she wasn’t welcomed into the house. The little girl and the older woman still obviously liked her, but the other adults didn’t seem to care about her at all. Laura departed for the summer and when she returned to Vallarta, she was devastated to find Lyka living completely outside of the house and in poor physical health. The family still laid claim to her, but other than the little girl and the grandmother, Lyka didn’t get much attention. Laura and Edwin tried to help as they could. It then became obvious that she was pregnant and in February, the family informed Laura that Lyka had given birth to 7 puppies. She found out that two of the puppies had been given away, the remaining 5 were not doing well and Lyka was also in very poor health. She convinced the family to give up the surviving puppies and Laura & Edwin took them all to their small one bedroom apartment. They immediately got the puppies to the vet and started providing the care they desperately needed. As challenging as it was, they managed to keep Luna, Canela, Pilot, Seren, and Selena together for several weeks. They approached MexPup for help and help was given. Supplies and food were provided and eventually a foster home took three of the pups. Laura & Edwin continue to foster Luna & Canela while Brian & Mona are fostering Pi, Selena, and Seren. All five puppies are now official MexPups and well on their way to a healthy and happy life. The family is very pleased with how well the puppies have done and they agreed to give up Lyka so she can find a happy and healthy home (she is now in a foster home and doing wonderfully). Selena is just over 16 weeks old and weighs approximately 8.8 pounds (4 kg). She has short legs and will be a “low rider”. This black pup has beautiful brown “highlights” on her face and feet. She also has long ears that get wet when she drinks water! Like her sisters, Selena has a friendly and gentle temperament and gets along very well with other dogs. She has a “puppy curiosity” of cats, but is not overly concerned with them. Selena is kennel trained and happily sleeps there every night. She never has an accident in her kennel, but anxiously runs to the closest patch of grass to do her business first thing in the morning. Now that she has completed all her immunizations, she can start to be taken for walks outside. This adventurous pup is not afraid to try new things. She loves to play with toys and particularly enjoys chewing on a rawhide bone. Selena is simply a joy to have around and she is ready to find a family of her very own!

Selena after...

What do you get when you enter into a foster agreement in a home with a nine year old Jack Russell and a dog loving mom? Add the cutest little Dachshund mix you have ever seen – plus foster failure?

A proud foster failure, Carrie calls Selena a sweetheart. She fell in love with her soon after she arrived and knew she was never going to be able to let her go anywhere else. Carrie had been looking for a companion for her nine year old Jack Russell – Legend (for Legendary of course) who suffers from separation anxiety. The two pups compliment each other perfectly. Selena is calm and loving and that energy helps Legend’s “jack-atude”. When they are out on one of their walks around Thetis Lake and Legend starts to get a little attitude when someone approaches, Selena just does her cute little bum wagging routine and melts everyone’s heart as well as dispelling any aggression between the dogs. There is a particular group of golden retrievers and their owners that are at the lake regularly and Selena loves to run up to them, roll over on her back for tummy rubs from the two legged people and then take off back to Carrie and Legend. This can go on for some time… clearly this girl also has a fan club! Of course this also makes Carrie feel so much pride in the way Selena acts as both a love bug and peacemaker. Selena, Carrie says; rescued both Legend and herself. Legend really needed a fur friend to play with and hang out with while Carrie was at work. Carrie says she needed a pup who was the cuddly type – the kind who gave kisses and loved to be loved. Selena has fulfilled this dog description perfectly. She brings the perfect balance and energy to this family.

Does Selena have a favourite? Carrie says it would have to be her because she gives belly rubs and cooks the chicken for Selena’s specially prepared meals. Legend says it is him because well... they are just in love with each other! Funny habits: Selena likes to nibble on Legend’s legs and eat the dirt in Carrie’s plant pots. Favourite toy: Not really. Selena loves all squeaky toys and loves to fetch sticks in the water… yes this girl can swim with her life jacket on and loves the water!! When asked to describe Selena in ten words or less, Carrie uses these words: magical, calm, playful, precious, piglet, beautiful, sociable, snugly, happy and perfect. Sounds like the perfect pup to me…. Wouldn’t you agree? Carrie and Legend, thank you for sharing your home and love with Selena. We know that her gifts will continue to amaze you in the months and years ahead. Keep up the great work and remember to send us pictures… we love updates! Carrie wanted to be sure to add: Thank you MexPup for making the transition from foster to adoption so smooth. She feels that the people she has worked with are compassionate, loving people and would highly recommend MexPup to anyone looking to adopt a new family member. Thank Carrie! Much appreciated.

Annie: Adopted! July 1, 2013

What do you do when you see a dog in distress but have no way to help at that exact moment? If you are Carolyn, you finish what you are doing and you get back to the dog as quickly as possible. That is what happened when she saw a tiny dog in real need. Carolyn had no idea why her head was the size of a grapefruit, but there was no question that this dog needed help. When she returned to the area where she had seen the dog, the pup was nowhere to be found. That didn’t deter Carolyn, that just made her search longer and harder. Finally she found someone who had seen the dog and they helped her find Annie. There was lots of concern as her head was beyond swollen, so they quickly got her to the vets. We aren’t sure what caused the inflammation but it was likely a bee or wasp sting. The good news is that as soon as she started getting treatment, the swelling began to subside. She remained in care with the vet until her head regained its normal shape and we knew she was going to be ok. Annie went into foster care in Vallarta where we discovered that this little girl likes the finer things in life. Sitting on the couch isn’t quite enough….this princess needs to sit on a pillow on the couch. She is teeny tiny weighing in at just under 2 kilos. The great news for Annie is that someone was waiting for a dog just like her. As soon as she was ready to fly, we were able to get her to her new family. Yea for Annie!

Annie after...

Sweet Annie was a lucky little girl when her rescuers found her. Her head was swollen to a grapefruit size, and for a 3 pound little girl that’s a lot of swelling. She received her very fitting name as her rescuers found Annie on their anniversary. This special day is the start of Annie’s very treasured life. Thankfully Annie’s swelling was from an allergic reaction to a bee sting, and her head went back to normal with treatment. During Annie’s time in treatment and foster, Annie’s new parents knew right away that they belonged with Annie. As most animal lovers know, we don’t pick them, they speak to us. So Barb and Eric knew they’d been the chosen parents for sweet Annie; a title they cherish and love. Annie got to her new home and immediate found her favorite spots in the house. Starting with her people, she follows them everywhere, and nips at their ankles to get their attention. So to help Annie for her love of ankle biting her mom and dad bought her what they call the green monster. This toy is about 2 feet long and more than doubles Annie’s weight and length, but she drags and attacks this thing like she’s a 50 pound dog and not a 3 pound dog. You can see her in the backyard dragging the green monster everywhere she goes. She even brings her monster with her to sun herself on the patio. Annie’s dad says she’s a total sun lover, and will lounge in the sun all day if allowed and mom has a hard time trying to get her in so she can head to work. Annie’s absolutely loves her car rides, and whenever she can goes with mom and dad for walks to the beach, or the trails, or just out visiting. Annie loves all people, and is loved by all she meets. She’s not shy at all and is very well socialized. When speaking to dad about whose girl she is, he admitted that Annie’s a total daddy’s girl. That he thinks of her all the time when at work and cant wait to get home to her. He wants to take her to work, but she’s too small and would get lost. Well Annie, I think you have your daddy wrapped around your wee little toe, and I hear your mom is wrapped as well. Bless you sweet Annie, and we are so happy that you've found your people and your green monster. Happy ankle biting, and happy sun lounging baby girl.

Lulu: Adopted! July, 2013

Fernanda and Enrique’s neighbor feeds the feral cats on their street. One day a dog arrived and she started to eat the cat food. She was extremely thin. She continued to return, so after 3 nights the neighbor got her some dog food. For the next two weeks, this sweet pup continued to come back to get food & water. The neighbor wasn't able to take the dog in, but she continued to feed her and finally told Fernanda what was going on. Fernanda knew she wanted to help, but first she needed to find her – street dogs know how to keep a low profile. The day came that Fernanda saw the dog and she didn't hesitate. She got her in the car and off to the vet they went. Not only did she have the regular issues of a street dog, but she also had a TVT tumor. She needed treatment and to be quarantined as the illness was contagious. Thankfully after several weeks of treatment, the tumor was gone and Lulu could be fostered with other dogs. She shared a foster home with Homero another MexPup (who she loves) and the families 2 other dogs – all four had a great time together. Recently the landlord required the foster family to find another location for both their foster dogs (he set a limit of 2 dogs in their home). Poor Lulu lost her first foster home, but she is now staying with Monica and gets to interact with numerous dogs every day. She is thriving in this environment with lots of activity, lots of other dogs, lots of space to run, and lots of love & care. Lulu is a very sweet and loving dog. She is about 2 years old and weighs about 19 kilos. The pup gets along great with other dogs, loves humans and deserves a home of her own. Please share the story of Lulu and help us to find her a family that will give her a wonderful life.

Rocco (formerly Chuchito): Adopted! June 30, 2013

One day, two dogs showed up in front of Pilar’s home. She loves animals and often helps those on the streets in need, but these two decided her home is where they would find help – smart dogs! One was a pure bred and found a home quickly. The other was a young mixed breed that was very skinny, very tired and something seemed very wrong with him. Pilar got him to the vets and found out that she was right, this pup had Parvo. He remained in the care of Dr. Peña for 6 days and beat the deadly illness. He went into foster care where he got the love, care and time he needed to fully recover. Chuchito is about 10 months old and weighs about 12 kilos. He is a terrier mix and has a wire hair coat. Chucho is a friendly pup that has great manners with other dogs – giving space when needed or becoming immediate friends. He loves to cuddle and everyone he meets falls for him. This playful pup will make a great family member for someone that wants a dog that has lots of energy, but also likes to sit on the couch and cuddle. He is in a foster home in Victoria and is thriving in his new country.

Rocco after...

Ben was looking online for a smaller unique looking dog and came across Chuchito on the MexPup page. Once Chuchito arrived in BC, Ben set up a time where he could have a meet and greet with this great dog. What happened next? Of course, he fell for that cute little face and couldn’t say no. Ben took Chuchito home with him that very same day.

Soon Chuchito became Rocco; who has a wonderful home on a farm. This year old pup enjoys his Saturday mornings at the beach where he loves the freedom to run around. He also spends plenty of time walking with his people with his tail wagging high in the air. Rocco applied for and was accepted as Ben’s assistant at work. It’s not a part time job either... Rocco regularly accompanies his Dad.

Rocco loves belly rubs....he sits up on his bum, front paws up and begs for them. He also waits to play fetch sitting up on his hind end. Can’t you just picture this!

Ben says Rocco is a funny little guy. He is a “dream dog" and hasn’t required much direction. He is so super smart and a quick study! Rocco has a great new home and they have a great dog. And they all lived happily ever after! And another MexPup success story unfolds. Yay for Rocco!!

Rocco (formerly Bobby): Adopted! June 26, 2013

Carolyn had seen a pregnant pup on the streets for a few weeks and wanted to help. Through lots of networking, we were able to find a foster home. Todd & Carolyn got her off the street and into care with Diana. Alice had her puppies just 2 days later. She had 3 puppies of her own that day and they all did very well (she also took in another puppy one week later that needed to be nursed – thankfully, Alice was more than willing to adopt Marsha). Bobby is the black pup with brindle markings. He was born on February 7th, 2013 and continues to grow (he is currently just over 5 kilos). He is very playful and loves to be in the middle of all the action. Bobby can be shy at first, but once he knows you, he will sprint to be with you as you come in the room. He loves to run, play with toys, and also does great with another special MexPup that lives in the same foster home Mardi Gras who is blind. Bobby is a mixed breed puppy. Other than the black coloring, he doesn’t look anything like his mom Alice and we’re not sure what he will look like as an adult beside cute! Our guess is that he will be on the large side of a medium sized dog, but it is still early in his development so it is very hard to know. What we do know is that he is friendly, social, playful and a lovely pup. If you are interested in adopting a puppy that will bring joy to your life and is ready to play all the time, Bobby could be the one for you!

Rocco after...

What can we say about this adorable, happy pup that isn’t totally apparent in his pictures? We have watched the Brady bunch grow before our eyes
and are so thankful that Caylee and Cam fell in
love with Rocco formally Bobby. Caylee says it was complete love at first sight for her and Cam and could not wait to get their bundle of joy home, and a bundle of joy he is! Mom describes Rocco, “he’s a bunny rabbit, he looks like a bunny as he bounces like a bunny, and he’s a total goof ball” LOL Caylee says Rocco sleeps with all legs in the air with not a care in the world as he wheezes and dad snores…lol We wont tell Cam we know he snores… Rocco’s crate trained but he still tries to sneak onto the bed for snuggles in hopes mom and dad will forget the crate. Rocco tried his 4 legs at tubing the Cowichan River this summer, and loved it! He’s also been to the Shawnigan Quarry. Sounds like a future water pup to me. This pup’s family keeps him busy and active. With mom and dad working opposite shifts this guy has both parents 100% of his time. Rocco gets multiple walks a day and loves to run with mom, and walk with dad. He goes everywhere with both of them. We are so happy for you Rocco. Thank you to all the people who have helped Alice and her pups find their furever homes and love. Thank you Caylee and Cam, we are forever grateful. Happy pup, happy life.

Thalia (formerly Jan): Adopted! June 26, 2013

Carolyn had seen a pregnant pup on the streets for a few weeks and wanted to help. Through lots of networking, we were able to find a foster home. Todd & Carolyn got her off the street and into care with Diana. Alice had her puppies just 2 days later. She had 3 puppies of her own that day and they all did very well (she also took in another puppy one week later that needed to be nursed – thankfully, Alice was more than willing to adopt Marsha). Jan is the black pup with white paws and a white ring around her neck. She was born on February 7th, 2013 and continues to grow (she is currently just over 3 kilos). Jan is the smallest and most graceful of the group. The other pups are much larger tend to bowl her over, so she has learned to stay close to the walls and to the humans. She loves a good cuddle and is very playful. Jan loves to meet new people and can be very outgoing. She loves to play with toys, and also does great with another special MexPup that lives in the same foster home Mardi Gras, who is blind. Jan is a mixed breed puppy. She seems to have a slender build similar to her mom Alice but we’re not sure what she will look like as an adult. Our guess is that she will be a small to medium sized dog, but it is still early in her development so it is very hard to know. What we do know is that she is friendly, social, playful and a lovely pup. If you are interested in adopting a puppy that will bring joy to your life and is ready for you to be a joy in hers, Jan could be the one for you!

Thalia after...

Thalia’s mom Jenni has friends and family who live in Mexico. Jenni travels there four or five times a year so she was all too aware of dog problem in Mexico. When Jenni lost her last dog she knew she wanted to get a rescue dog from Mexico. When the time was right she began her search and found MexPup. Sweet Thalia has found her forever home in Victoria. We think it is a match meant to be because when we asked Jenni to describe Thalia in the interview she began with,
“I just love her!” Thalia also has lots of aunts and uncles and many four legged friends that she gets to visit and play with regularly. Jan also gets to see her brother Rocco (Bobby) regularly and they go on many hikes and adventures together. Good to know that these two - who seem to be so connected are still spending time together. Thalia is Spanish for “muse of comedy”. If you take a tour through her photo album you can see why!
What a comedian! Between the flipped up ears and those expressions, she is certainly a girl who knows that laughter is good for the soul and goes about spreading the fun wherever she goes. What are Thalia’s favourite toys? Her mother responded with “the socks on my feet!” But Thalia also loves her funky chicken, her stuffed dog Odie and a big stuffed bear (bigger than Thalia) who she loves to take to bed and cuddle up with. While we are talking about sleeping, apparently Thalia loves to sleep on her back with those gorgeous long legs sticking straight up in the air. Note to Jenni: Please send a picture of this for her album. We need to see this! When we asked Jenni to describe Thalia in ten words or less she responded: comedian, loyal, lover, curious but timid and graceful. Her pictures certainly demonstrate these attributes. She is such a beautiful girl. Jenni found the MexPup adoption experience to be very smooth. She was impressed with the level of communication; she always felt informed with what was going on in the process. Now Jenni and Thalia are truly a part of the MexPup family! Welcome aboard - we look forward to hearing your stories for years to come!

Maya (formally Cosma): Adopted! June 24, 2013

Picture this: a small patio with a female dog and her 3 male puppies. They never go in the house, they have little shade, they get little food and water, they are unwanted. Laura saw what was happening and tried to get them help. She posted, she pleaded, she spoke with the owners and she posted some more. The pups continued to grow, and all 4 dogs continued to suffer from lack of space, lack of nutrition, lack of medical care, and lack of love. One morning, one of the growing pups was found dead. More pleas were made, information was shared and Candace put up her hand and said yes, I will help. She committed to fostering one of them, but was out of town for a few weeks. The two boys had grown and there was a real fear the mom would become pregnant by one of the sons. Enter Nadia who agreed to foster until Candace returned – the immediate threat of another pregnancy was averted. Cosma was safe and the next part of her journey began. She has been in foster care for a few months getting healthy, getting care, getting love and attention. This sweet 4-5 year old girl is simply a lovely dog. She weighs 20 kilos, is leash trained, house trained and extremely friendly. She did suffer a broken rear leg after being hit by a car, but her tibia has healed well and her x-rays look good. Her teeth have also suffered due to years of malnutrition, but she is a happy, playful girl just the same. Cosma had a few rough years, but that is over now. She will no longer sit outside alone. She will no longer wait for days between meals. She will get the life that all animals deserve filled with care, attention and love. Please help us to find her a forever family so that she can bring joy and smiles to their lives the way that she has with everyone she meets.

Maya After...

Well the stars have aligned for our beautiful Maya! It has happened in a way that sometimes happens when we least expect it. Maya was being fostered by Ashley and her son Liam (MexPup’s number one
cheerleader extraordinaire). Now this is not your average foster family. Ashley has dog training in her genes. She has helped MexPup on numerous occasions; sometimes taking in some very difficult and/or heartbreaking pups. Ashley has enormous patience in working with dogs but at the same time she will be the first to admit that she also has high expectations too. Liam too has inherited the dog training gene. To see this young man with animals is completely amazing. Gentle but firm - leading but loving - fun and understanding. When you hear the phrase “a boy and his dog”, you know the kind of emotions it stirs in your heart. Check the pictures to see the one of Liam and Maya at the MexPup reunion and you will know why this is so fitting. The best thing for Maya – she became a foster failure. What is that you ask? Well it’s what happens (not infrequently) when a foster home just happens to fall in love with their pup they are caring for and know that their pup is already home. Ashley tells us that Maya is the perfect fit for their family. The grandparents love her too! And who else loves Maya? Mouse the cat. Maya and Mouse (I love the alliteration in their names – another sign this is meant to be) love to curl up together and spend time grooming each other. Can’t you just picture it! Ashley, Liam, Mouse and Maya – this family is complete and we couldn’t be happier. We look forward to seeing more pictures of Maya thriving in her new fur-ever home.

Zeus (formerly Chicle): Adopted! June 13, 2013

Karla often rescues dogs in need in her community of Boca de Tomatlan. She takes responsibility for all their needs and tries to find good homes for them. Occasionally, she asks MexPup for assistance. This is the case with Chicle. At only 12 weeks of age he was wondering along a busy highway outside of town. He “found” Karla at a highway restaurant and immediately “attached” himself to her and followed her home. Hence the name “Chicle” or gum in Spanish! Karla asked around and found his mother in a house with several of his littermates and several other dogs. The family stated that they had too many dogs and were okay with Karla taking Chicle. This was fortunate as Karla found out later that all Chicle’s siblings died (probably due to untreated internal parasites which are a very common cause of death in puppies). Chicle is approximately five months old and weighs 8 kilos. He is of mixed breed and tan/brown in color. Karla describes Chicle as “100% adorable, fun, cute, friendly, and playful” and everyone that meets him agrees! He has a firm and confident bark for a little guy and gets along well with other dogs. He playfully chases the cats, but they seem to like it and come back for more! Chicle is a cuddler and will hug your arm with his paws. He loves the beach and runs around on his own, but always stays close to his walker. Chicle is very smart - he will also sit and stay until he is called to his food. He is house trained, is learning to walk on a leash, and is very well behaved for a puppy. He loves to play fetch, but hasn’t quite gotten the hang of bringing the ball back! He truly is bundle of joy…could he be yours?

Zeus after...

Mary Ann and Laura had been thinking about getting a dog for some time and once they had the right home; they started to scour the rescue sites looking for a dog to make their family complete. They learned about MexPup through a friend whose mother had successfully adopted a dog. Well, when they saw Chicle…. they immediately fell in love! The adoption process went so smoothly that it seemed in no time at all Zeus got his Canadian Dog-ship and was with them. We love the way that Chicle got his name when he was rescued… because he stuck to you like gum. Well his new Moms say not much has changed. Zeus is still a great cuddler. He loves to get up on the couch beside you, flip over on his back for tummy rubs. That’s right Zeus – “Present Tummy” and all will be right in your world! Mary Ann and Laura report that Zeus “is the best dog ever”… he is amazingly restrained and has never had an accident in the house. He goes twice a day to the local dog park and has the best park etiquette. He gets along with all the dogs and loves to just play and be a dog. In fact Zeus is such a hit at the park it takes over an hour each time for him to make his rounds to meet and greet all the two legged and four legged fans in the park. People everywhere stop when they see Zeus and ask what kind of dog he is…. because he is so darn cute and of course the best dog ever! His Moms reply: “A miniature Mexican Belgian Shepherd with gigantic ears!” Clearly a traffic stopper! Another of Zeus’ wonderful character traits – there has been no separation anxiety. In their new home one dog per unit is allowed, but of course they couldn’t have a dog that barked or howled because that would be upsetting for everyone. Well Zeus is the perfect dog. No barking, no damage or chewing. Again, the best dog ever! Favourite Toy: Well Zeus will play with just about anything. But he loves is Kong stuffed with a nyla chewy bone. He will throw it up in the air for himself… then run to pick up. He will do this repeatedly, happy to amuse himself. Happy dog… happy life! Clearly living up to his reputation …”he is just the best dog ever!” We at MexPup think that happy endings are the best ever too! Thanks for opening your hearts and home for this little guy.

Ruby (formerly Krystal): Adopted! June 13, 2013

Martha and her sister were walking along the river in Puerto Vallarta when they noticed a cardboard box along the shore. There were sounds coming out of the box and it was jiggling. They went over to investigate and found three young puppies in the box. There was no one in sight and they concluded that the puppies had been dumped at the river, either to make it on their own, be found by someone, or die of starvation. Martha looked at her sister and said, “What can I do? I have to take them”, and so as she has done many time before Martha took the puppies and settled them into her hair salon in the Old Town. The puppies were estimated to be about 5 – 6 weeks old when found; one was white, one was black with tan and white markings, and one was golden brown. It was decided to call the puppies Krystal, Amber, and Perla (Pearl) or “the Gem Puppies”. As usual and at her own expense, Martha took the puppies to the vet for evaluation and care. Before becoming official MexPup’s, Perla’s foster mom decided to keep her so only Krystal and Amber came into our fold. They were moved to Brian and Mona’s for ongoing foster care then on to Mayo’s when the Kines’ went on vacation. Krystal, the black pup with tan and white markings, is now approximately 12 weeks old and weighs 5 kg (11.2 pounds). She is a wonderful and playful little pup who already understands basic commands and is starting her house training. She sleeps in her kennel every night and never has an accident in her bed, but needs to rush to the grass when let out each day. She loves water and usually plays and splashes all the water out of the water dish. She loves toys, cats, and other dogs. Krystal is a little “gem” of a puppy and will be a wonderful dog. Could she be yours?

Ruby after...

Miss Ruby and her siblings were left in a box to fend for themselves at just 5 weeks old. We all know the fate that awaited them if they had not been found by our wonderful rescuers. Thankfully they were found, and loved and given proper nutrition and vaccinations. The gem puppies as we call them are such sweet pups. When Correne and Jason were looking for a pup they came right to Mexpup as other members of their family had adopted a pup and found the experience very rewarding. Correne and Jason were looking through the photos and reading stories when Krystal now named Ruby caught their eyes. “She stood out, her coloring and she was just so darn cute” says the new mom. When asked why the new name to Ruby, mom says it’s because they wanted two “R” names for their pups, Roxy and Ruby. The fact that her new name still coincided with the “Gem Puppies” was over looked and they giggled when it was mentioned. Ruby’s presence in the home is much loved. Having a puppy in the house and a puppy personality is bringing smiles top our faces and tiring out our 3 year old pup Roxy. “Ruby just simply brightens our day and we love her.” Ruby loves to play tug-o-war, unfortunately for mom and dad it’s with their socks. Ruby even attempts to jump and bite at the hanging rope that hangs from the tree in the back yard attempting to swing by her mouth. She’s seen her playmate Deo do this, and I can hear Ruby now.” Deo can do it why can’t I?” Oh sweet Ruby, Deo is a big male pit-bull and your still a wee puppy, but keep trying, you will do it. Ruby in her short life has been camping, and absolutely loves her walks around Langford Lake. The fact that she’s still a wee bit clumsy and falls over her two left feet doesn’t stop this pup from running, jumping, and playing with everything and everybody. This rambunctious pup is definitely loved by her family, and we are so happy. Thanks you Correne and Jason for adopting her and giving her a life of love and play. Happy pup, Happy life.

Kona (formerly Chona): Adopted! June 13, 2013

You drive by the same road a hundred times. It becomes routine and you may not notice the details. Fortunately Andres does notice details! One day while driving home he saw a small pup eating in the garbage pile. Driving the motorcycle, he wasn't able to get the pup at that exact moment. He rushed home to ask his wife Michelle what the plan was. The answer was obvious when Michelle grabbed a leash, some food and said "Let's go!". They found the puppy right where Andres had seen her; ripping open bags of garbage looking for food. With some patience and tasty treats, Andres was able to leash her and her new life began. This pup's new name is Chona, which is the nickname in Spanish for the name Conception...a new beginning. A trip to the vet revealed what can be expected for a puppy too young to survive on her own; mange, a tick born blood disease and a world of parasites in her tummy. Chona is responding well to treatment and is getting healthier every day. She has a great pack to guide her and is quickly learning how to just be a puppy that lives in a home and gets to focus her attention on play and growing, not survival. At approximately 6 months old and about 9 kgs, this sweet girl is so grateful for her new life. Are you the family who can turn her new beginning into a happy ending?

Kona after...

This sweet girl is so young to have been tossed aside in the garbage. Her diet was garbage for the first 6 months of her life. Thankfully her life and diet will never again see garbage. This sweet girl grabbed the attention of her new mom and dad with just her eyes alone. One look and they were had and I don’t
blame them. Kona’s new mom Carly was so excited to get her that she was tempted to fly down and get her. Mom and dad say that her puppy side is coming out now that she’s safe, and she’s such a snuggler. She’s such a snuggler that when you try to wake her in the morning, she will not budge…is there a pup that’s not a morning pup??? Yup that’s Kona! You won’t see this pup rise and shine till at least 10 am. Then its full throttle for Kona. Carly laughs and says that “when you go to put her harness on her for a walk, she gets all angry, bows her head, sulks and puts on a pout and her tail is straight up in the air and her whole body vibrates” What’s up with that sweet Kona?? Carly says it doesn’t last long and as soon as they are out the door this pup wants nothing but to play fetch and greet everything and everybody. Kona loves her ball so much that mom and dad are thinking that fly ball or agility are in her future. Also in her future is puppy day care. Oh what fun for you sweet girl. We are so blessed to have our rescue people in PV who see these beautiful beings and save them. Kyle and Carly would never know the love of Kona without you Michelle and Andres. Thank you everybody and have a wonderful and loving life sweet Kona. Happy pup, happy life.

Carlos (formerly Jasper): Adopted! June 8, 2013

Claudia and Carmen had seen this puppy before. He was just outside their home running up the hill. They called to him, but he did not even turn and just kept running until he was out of their sight. He was a lot smaller then. Being the rescuers they are, they had hoped they would see him again. About one month later, Claudia was walking their dog Coco on that same steep hill and she saw him. This time when she called to him, the big puppy came over to say hello. Claudia called Carmen and they quickly put on a leash and collar on him which they always keep handy for this type of situation. They knew the dog was still just a puppy and he needed help. He was skinny and had lots of ticks & fleas. When they arrived to the vet's office, he was examined by Dr. Peña and then he was bathed, de-flead, de-bugged and treated for ehrlichia. Jasper has been in a foster home with Patty and Gaby getting healthy and gaining weight. He is now about 9 months old and is medium size weighing about 19 kilos. Jasper is a super friendly dog and a very handsome puppy. He is now used to cats, and plays with them if they let him. He is good with children, is house broken and affectionate. Jasper loves to play, run, be active, and has medium to high energy. He would make an excellent biking or running companion. He is always eager to play with other dogs and is hoping to find his forever family.

Carlos after...

Some matches are just meant to be and that certainly is the case with Carlos and his new family. He now shares his life with his Mom Kala and Dad Dave and a fur sister Penny. Penny likes to bully Carlos a bit, but he doesn’t mind. He takes it all in stride and continues to try to win Penny over with his handsomeness and playful ways! Carlos has not wasted any time letting his family know that he is very, very clever and eager to learn. He now is leash trained and waits on command. He loves to run along when his family is mountain biking…. plus there are plenty of places to explore in his new home on Vancouver Island. He has excellent eye sight and loves to watch and chase birds. Looking at his markings, he could very well have some pointer or other birding dog in him. Like many pups that come from Mexico, Carlos does not like the water. Perhaps it is because it is too cold – but none the less… don’t expect this fellow to get more than his feet wet any time soon! At night, Carlos sleeps in his kennel where he cuddles up and feels safe. Speaking of cuddly – Kala tells us that Carlos is very affectionate and just can’t get enough love. His sister Penny is quite the opposite being a girl who is a little older and knows her place in life. Playful describes Carlos well but apparently so does clumsy! He is young and exuberant and sometimes he is just having such a good time playing – he kind of forgets himself. One day he ran right into a stop sign – but just stopped for a second, regained his composure and carried on playing. Isn’t this the way it should be… not a care in the world. But please Carlos, watch out for those stop signs that jump out and block you way! What’s one of the funniest things Carlos does? Kala tells us that he has a very immature kind of yelp instead of a bark. When his sister Penny hears him she begins to howl. And so the duet begins. Contracts are still in negotiation! What does Mom Kala think of her newest addition to the family? “We just love him and he is the perfect fit for us! Thanks MexPup for a great adoption and an awesome boy!” On that note…. And they all lived happily ever after.

Stan: Adopted! June 3, 2013

Stanley was found Sept 6 in downtown Vallarta with a rope tied around his neck suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration and bad eyes. He was seen by many people wandering the streets and was found by Nicole Martin who was not taken back by his appearance and got him into a safe haven. Stanley is in treatment for his eyes and is in a temporary foster home with Candace Shaw. After observing his personality, he would fit into an "only dog" situation as he loves to get full loving attention and give great licks in return. He has low tolerance for male dogs, but can handle female dogs (must be his romantic side). He is approximately 8 years old, has been neutered, had first shots, tested negative for distemper and loves his baths by Candace+Ivan who are getting him ready for a forever home! If you can give this dog a chance, we think you’ll fall in love with him and he will become a faithful companion.Stanley traveled to Canada and charmed everyone that he met. They all said the same thing...this is one special dog.

Stan after...

June 3rd, 2013, was a very special day for Senior Boy Stan… he went to his forever home with Christy and Chris and his new BFF – Chumley (also a boxer lab mix who was rescued a few years ago). The two dogs took a few days to really get to know each other and now it is like they might have been separated at birth. They start the day out waking up at around 7 AM on the bed that they share. Then they realize they still are together and the wrestling begins…. it gets louder and louder and the boys have a good old fashioned wrestle-romp until finally Mom tells them perhaps they should take it outside. Christy spoke passionately about the experience of adopting a senior dog being so rewarding. In their case, Chumley is a little shy and Stan is a character. They are like a perfect Ying and Yang. Stan is teaching Chumley to “try” to like the water, to learn to play and relax and enjoy his life as a dog. They seem to mirror each other and know just how much “energy” to play with until they are good and tired. They really are BFF’s because when they are fed, halfway through their meal they switch bowls and finish off their meal. Isn’t that a fantastic trusting bond! Living up island and being an “outdoorsy” family, Stan loves to go for long hikes and fishing and swimming. This is what life should be for our special boy! When Mom has long days at work, Stan goes to a doggie day care where he is an ambassador for MexPup. Thanks Stan… apparently you are doing a great job at spreading the love. This certainly is an awesome match and we couldn’t be happier for everyone. Thanks Christy, Chris and Chumley for sharing your love and home with Stan. We knew the perfect home was out there for him and are thrilled for the happily ever after story!

Brady: Adopted! May 31, 2013

Carolyn had seen a pregnant pup on the streets for a few weeks and wanted to help. Through lots of networking, we were able to find a foster home. Todd & Carolyn got her off the street and into care with Diana. Alice had her puppies just 2 days later. She had 3 puppies of her own that day and they all did very well (she also took in another puppy one week later that needed to be nursed – thankfully, Alice was more than willing to adopt Marsha). Brady is the white pup of the bunch (his littermates Jan and Bobby are both black). He was born on February 7th, 2013 and continues to grow (he is currently just under 5 kilos). He is quite playful and social. Brady love to run, loves to jump, loves to tackle his siblings and loves to play with another special MexPup that lives in the same foster home Mardi Gras. Mardi is blind and Brady has learned that to play with him he needs to make noise so Mardi knows where he is. Watching these two play together is special….the young pup teaching the older blind pup to play, and they have a ball together. Brady is a mixed breed puppy. He doesn’t look anything like his mom Alice. He does look a bit like a Labrador, but that is changing as he is growing. Our guess is that he will be a medium sized dog, but it is still early in his development so it is very hard to know. What we do know is that he is friendly, social, playful and a lovely pup. If you are interested in adopting a puppy that will bring joy to your life and will make you laugh, Brady could be the one for you!

Brady after...

Natalie and Megan had decided they needed an addition to their family. Brady is definitely a handful, but Natalie and Megan are taking it all in stride. Brady is very bright, and playful pup. He’s 5 months old now, and is getting bigger and stronger every day! Natalie and Megan heard about Mexpup through the Nanaimo Pet page, and saw his adorable little face and couldn’t resist! Brady has a big brother named King who is a Siberian husky. The two of them play and gallop around everywhere together. Over all, if we were to describe Brady, we’d describe him as ‘bouncy’. Brady is happy and living it up with his hew home on Vancouver Island. He’s got a great life, loving parents, and a husky he can roughhouse with- life is good

Molly (formerly Marsha): Adopted! May 31, 2013

A young man had gotten a puppy from a man walking down the road. He clearly cared for the pup and wanted the best for her, but he quickly realized that she needed more care than he was able to provide. He took her to the SPCA sanctuary and asked for help. The pup’s eyes were still closed, so she was probably only 10-14 days old. A volunteer took her into care because the pup was very small and there were no more quarantine spaces at the sanctuary. She had the pup for several hours when she realized that the pup wasn’t eating and would not take the bottle. She started to worry but then she remembered... ALICE, the mexpup who just had puppies! She sent a couple emails and drove to Alice’s foster home to see if she would nurse the pup. Fingers and toes crossed away she went and by the next morning Marsha was part of her new pack! Marsha is about 9 weeks old and weighs just under 5 kilos. She is a pistol – full of energy, full of personality and full of life! Marsha loves playing with her adopted littermates, and also does great with another special MexPup that lives in the same foster home, Mardi Gras, who is blind. She loves playing with the big dogs….she thinks she is one of them, but Marsha also likes to spend time on her own. She is a frog dog as we often find her laying belly flat legs sprawled out – simply adorable. This wonderful pup got her first lucky break when a kind young man brought her to the sanctuary, her second when Alice adopted her & nursed her as one of her one, and now we just need the third….a wonderful family to make her their own.

Molly after...

Cindy and her husband Peter are one of a kind people. They have 5 adopted children, and 3 adopted dogs. Yet, before they found their Mexpups, Molly and Max, they were searching online for the "right dog" and looking at breeders website, when suddenly Cindy said "What are we doing? We have 5 adopted children- why on earth are we searching for a pure bred dog?" Her and her husband both laughed, and immediately turned their attention to rescue agencies. They found Max, a lovely Yellow lab through Mexpup, so when they were ready for another pup, they naturally turned to Mexpup for their third pup, Molly. Molly and Max live on a 5.5 acre property on Vancouver Island. Molly was the most recent addition to the family, and she is where the party is at- she brings the house down!... (well almost). She may be small, but boy can she be playful! Cindy says she's a delight to have, and comedic relief! She runs, and runs (and runs) all over the place, and plays like crazy with her brother Max, her sister Mika, and her 5 human playmates. The families other dog Mika, is an old abandoned shepherd that the family took in when they bought the property. Mike was having some issues, and the family wasn't originally sure if she would be around much longer, but as soon as Molly arrived- that all changed. Mika suddenly did a 180, and now she plays, and has a blast now that the other dogs have arrived. Molly is really the life of the party, and Cindy and Peter are thrilled to have all these precious souls in her life. Thanks Cindy and Peter for helping to make this world a better place!

Yuki (formerly Blanco): Adopted! April 19, 2013

Andy was in town for a short visit when he found 3 dogs in need of help. They were found huddling together under a car down by Playa los Muertos in a heavy rain storm. An unlikely pack, but they had each other. Andy chose to make a difference in their lives. He took them into his home and started to work on a plan for Blanco, Petite and Yoda. He got them to the vets and enlisted the help of friends so they could be fostered while getting healthy. Rescuers are a wonderful, resourceful group and this rescue is the perfect example of that. Blanco was the big guy of the pack. He seems to be a lab mix and now weighs about 20 kilos. He may gain a bit more, but he is close to his full size. Blanco was in pretty good health, so we assume he had a home until he got a skin condition…..and then he was likely kicked out. This approximately 2 year old pup is very sweet and a bit shy. In general, he does great with other dogs, but can be a bit nervous meeting new dogs when out on walk (we are certain the leash is part of his stress in the situation). We have enlisted the help of a trainer (Mar from La Casa de Fido) to help him gain confidence. With a bit of socialization, we know that he will soon enjoy all aspects of his walks. He is very comfortable in his foster home and does well with everyone that comes to visit. Blanco is a great dog looking for a great home. Please help us to find a wonderful family for him!

Yuki after...

Yuki is adjusting well to life in Victoria. He has a wonderful fenced yard to play and just be a happy pup. During the day Yuki loves to chase birds, rabbits and squirrels. But he let’s them think they are faster by not catching them on purpose…. what a gentle boy. Still he certainly gets his exercise! After a busy day of running, Yuki waits patiently for Mom and Dad to fall asleep and then he sneaks very quietly onto the bed. Ahhh, life is so good here! Mark, Yuko and Shion absolutely love him and are so grateful to have this very special boy all the way from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. MexPup is grateful to you Mark, Yuko and Shion for opening your hearts and home to this beautiful boy. Keep us posted on how he is doing. We love getting happy updates!

Francesca (formerly Lady Gaga): Adopted! May 12, 2013

Angeles and her son were leaving the Walmart parking lot late one evening, when her son noticed a dog walking amongst the cars. It was very dark, so Angeles was slow and cautious trying to get close. When she got a good look, she realized the pup was extremely dirty, thin, covered in ticks, her coat was strangely cropped and she was covered with Gentian Violet. She had taken some of the bread she just purchased and started making a trail to the car. Slowly but surely the pup made her way towards the vehicle eating the bits of bread along the way. Angeles was finally close enough and was able to pick her up, hug her and tell her it was going to be ok. Her tail started to shake and it hasn’t stopped since. As she her uniquely chopped coat was splashed with violet, they decided to call her Lady Gaga. The happy pup is about 1.5 years old and weighs 5 kilos. Lady Gaga loves other dogs, she loves cats and she loves to play. She can be a bit shy with people, but warms up when she feels safe. This adorable little girl needs a loving family that will give her the love and care she deserves. Please share her story so they can be found.

Francesca after...

The day MexPup named that cute little girl with the paint in her fur Lady Gaga… you just had to know that great things were ahead for her! Tonight I spent time on the phone with Francesca’s new Mom – Jessica. Within minutes of listening to this wonderful woman tell me her love story; I almost had to hang up the phone as I was choking back tears of joy and wonderment! Jessica has always wanted a dog, but until now the circumstances were just not right… she waited and now she has the “perfect dog”. After six weeks of bonding, she feels that Francesca truly is truly a gift from God and an answer to her prayers. This little pup has healed her broken heart and turned her into a Mother. Francesca was adopted and arrived on Mother’s Day. Coincidence? I think not! Here is the daily routine: Wake up/go for a walk for an hour and let Mom get her coffee fix/ come home and eat breakfast/play and watch Mom do Pilates/rest/play/play some more and rest for short spells. At the end of the day Francesca curls up in her little bed beside her Mom and sleeps the night away. Sounds like a great routine! Jessica says Francesca is like her daughter and is a darling little girl and the love of her life! She loves being dressed up and looks great in pink… just don’t put any of those silly bows in her hair because she will just shake them off! Francesca is very active and loves to throw her many toys up in the air to scatter them about the house. Her favourites are her dragon and a toy piece of toast. Jessica was touched that Francesca’s foster Dad Brian on the mainland was thoughtful enough to send along a little pink “continuation toy” to help Francesca settle in and ease any anxiety she may have during the first few days in her new home. This is another one of Francesca’s favourite toys.

Friends? Francesca makes friends easily but her two best buddies are Amelia, an English Sheepdog and Luigi, Jessica’s mother’s little Shitzu. In fact, Jessica reports that Francesca has no concept of her size… when she plays with Amelia… she thinks they are the same size and plays the same way. Jessica wanted to be sure that MexPup knows how happy she is with her new little girl and is so grateful for all the help along the way through the adoption process. She describes her experience as “excellent”! That’s what we like to hear. So a big thank you to everyone who played a role in getting Lady Gaga to her new home where she is so very loved. Thank you for opening your home and heart to this special little girl. We are fairly confident in saying that you both hit the jackpot and this is one very special for-ever-after love story!

Luna: Adopted! May 11, 2013

Raquel no longer lives in Puerto Vallarta, but she had heard about a dog living on the streets of her neighborhood. She felt bad for the dog and wanted to help even though she was far away. She contacted friends and neighbors to find a foster home. She then started networking to find a forever home. It was hard work since she wasn’t in town, but she never gave up and continued to advocate for this dog. Raquel was in touch with MexPup for many months and a flight finally became available. We knew that sweet Luna deserved a chance at a real life with a real family, so she caught the flight to Canada. This shy girl is about 1 year old. She is a bit hesitant when she meets new people, but becomes fast friends once she gets love from someone. She does well in the commotion of life but still needs to gain confidence. Luna is a lovely pup that has faced a number of struggles in her short life but continues to hope for the best. We are committed to finding her a loving family where she will know she is safe, loved and valued.

Luna after...

Luna was fortunate not to have spent the majority of her life on the streets, but that doesn't mean it was easy. This little girl had to fight to stay alive, a struggle just to make it to the next day. Her new parents, Robert and Eric, did not take this commitment lightly. Regardless of never meeting Luna, they were committed to her from the start, and Robert says its the best thing they've ever done. He said they're not sure what they connected with, weather it was her story or her photos, but something must clicked, and for some unexplained reason, the two of them couldn't stop thinking about her. Luna is smart, fun, relax, loving, and silly. She has a distinct personally and it's almost living with another person who just does not talk. She loves to play with her two green toys and a tennis ball. Her alligator is her favourite and she must have it like a child with a blanket. She does not like baths and gets upset when we put flea medicine on her. She actually gets grumpy and quiet; It's the strangest thing but adorable. She loves to play hide and seek and tag in the house. Robert goes on to say that the best part about Luna is that she fits perfectly with Roberts and Eric's personally so well. When they relax after a long day, so does Luna. When they are bored- she will play with them. A typical day for Luna: She will sleep in with Eric until he gets up for work at home. She gets her morning breakfast and Eric will play with her and her toys. Then she lounges around while Eric is working from home and take breaks in between. Robert comes home in the evening and gets greeted at the door by Luna, super excited to see him and get some attention. They take little trips with Luna, and She loves the attention and seeing all the sights. Everyone wants to pet her and asked what kind of dog she was with her unique look. That's a typical week for Robert, Eric and Luna. Thanks to our friends south of the border for stepping up and making a difference to a little homeless girls life.

Kaya (formerly Amber): Adopted! May 10, 2013

Martha and her sister were walking along the river in Puerto Vallarta when they noticed a cardboard box along the shore. There were sounds coming out of the box and it was jiggling. They went over to investigate and found three young puppies in the box. There was no one in sight and they concluded that the puppies had been dumped at the river, either to make it on their own, be found by someone, or die of starvation. Martha looked at her sister and said, “What can I do? I have to take them”, and so as she has done many time before Martha took the puppies and settled them into her hair salon in the Old Town. The puppies were estimated to be about 5 – 6 weeks old when found; one was white, one was black with tan and white markings, and one was golden brown. It was decided to call the puppies Krystal, Amber, and Perla (Pearl) or “the Gem Puppies”. As usual and at her own expense, Martha took the puppies to the vet for evaluation and care. Before becoming official MexPup’s, Perla’s foster mom decided to keep her so only Krystal and Amber came into our fold. They were moved to Brian and Mona’s for ongoing foster care then on to Mayo’s when the Kines’ went on vacation. Amber is golden brown with black markings and is now approximately 12 weeks old and weighs 5 kg (11.2 pounds). She is a wonderful and playful little pup who already understands basic commands and is starting her house training. She sleeps in her kennel every night and never has an accident in her bed, but needs to rush to the grass when let out each day. Amber is a smart little girl and aims to please. She loves toys, cats, and other dogs. She is a little “gem” of a puppy and will be a wonderful dog. Could she be yours?

Kaya after...

A little note from Lena, Kaya's new mom: "Our summer, is better than ever, with our new addition Kaya to our family. A typical day for her is when she wakes up she rolls over and she gets a good solid three minutes a belly rub before she even leaves her casita ( little house). We often start her day with the jog up Mount Doug, Joel and my fitness level has improved to keep up with her!!
She's a true Mexico dog, after breakfast she takes a good two hour nap out on the deck alternating between napping in the sun and napping in the shade! She loves hanging out in the backyard, sometimes she runs around on the trampoline. Whenever we leave to go somewhere, she's always the first to jump in the car! She is really social, loves playing tag. We feel that when she approaches another dog she basically says let's play tag, and you will always be it! She loves getting chased. In the evening she has a little cushion that she often nuzzles up on. We go for walks in our neighborhood and hang out in the yard. We've taught her how to high-five, and high 10! We love her to bits, and can't imagine life without her." Kaya has found such a loving home and is every puppies dream. Thank you Lena and Joel for loving her and sharing her life with you. May you all have a wonderful life.

Maya (formerly Alice): Adopted! April 27, 2013

Carolyn had seen this pregnant pup on the streets for a few weeks and wanted to help. She provided her food, clean water and a makeshift bed. Through lots of networking, we were able to find a foster home - thank you Diana! Todd & Carolyn got her off the streets and immediately took her to the vets. He let us know that she could have the puppies at any moment - they got her just in time! Alice's puppies will be born in care and that is a great first step. We don't know what challenges they might face but we will be there to help them with whatever they need.

Update: Alice and her puppies are doing great! The puppies are almost 10 weeks old and Alice is now living in a separate foster home so she can get healthy and ready for her very own family. Alice is about 3-4 years old and weighs about 8 kilos. She is a very friendly pup. She loves going for walks, she loves sitting in laps, and she loves meeting new people. After a life of too many litters and survival on the streets, this girl is finally getting a new start. She deserves a life of love, care and attention where her only concern is where to take her nap. We can't wait until she has a family all her own!

Maya after...

Miss Maya has found a loving home. She went from an abandoned girl to a home with her new family who just adores her. Maya’s mom has travelled the word and knew when she got home she needed a companion for her local travel trips. Maya has fit that bill perfectly and loves camping, and loves her bird chasing. Maya is loved by all who meet her with her sweet demeanor, and her chill and relaxed personality. Maya has a fur cousin names Angus who she absolutely adores. Miss Maya is in puppy classes and already knows right from wrongs, has great manners and is eager to please. Mom says Maya is such a snuggler, and the funniest thing about her is that she bounces on all four legs! Like a spring board..lol Miss Maya would love to stay in contact with her pups and hopes fort play dates with them. Welcome to a safe and loving home sweet girl. Happy pup, Happy life.

Gypsy: Adopted! April 25, 2013

Maureen & John were driving home on a deserted stretch of mountain road between Mascota and Vallarta when they spotted a little dog trotting along the side road. She was far away from everything, no homes, no towns, no people, so they turned around and went back to her. When they pulled over, she immediately ran in the direction of the car and crawled the last couple of feet on her stomach as she peed. She seemed in reasonable health, so they assumed she was lost and began stopping at any little houses they passed. Finally one woman looked at her and said "Is she a female? She looks pregnant (she wasn’t). Around here people just take dogs like her into the mountains and throw them out". The next place they asked the man said "Better she should die on the road". She remained in the car and returned to PV with them. Was she dumped, was she lost….we will never know. What we do know is that she was relieved and so happy that someone was helping her. Gypsy is about 3-4 years old and weighs about 8 kilos. She is a cuddler, a lap dog and a happy-go-lucky pup. Gypsy is house trained and seems to get along with everyone she meets – people, dogs, cats. We know she will make a wonderful addition to one lucky family; we just need to make sure they know she is available. Gypsy had a life and then something happened, let’s get her back in a safe place with people who will make sure she has the care and love she deserves.

Gypsy after...

Ilana was looking for a pup, and when she was in Mexico she met the Mexpup veterinarian. She decided to look more into Mexpup and sure enough she looked at sweet Gypsy’s face, read her story and knew she had to be a part of their family. Their current high energy 1.5 year old pup Alice was in need of a playmate and teacher, and Gypsy at 3 years old fits that role perfectly. Mom explains that it took the girls only 20 minutes to figure each other out and now they are sisters to the core. Mom describes Gypsy as a mellow, loving gal who loves to snuggle and sink into you. Gypsy is so quiet that when mom goes to sit down, Gypsy anticipates where mom will sit and get there first and oops mom sits on sweet Gypsy..lol But her cool, mellow demeanor just says, it’s all good, I’m safe and warm. Gypsy loves to sleep around moms head, and as soon as mom moves, Gypsy steals the warm pillow space. What a girl. Mom and dad love the fact that Gypsy came trained and they use her training to train Alice and have high hopes that both girls will be off leash and running free soon. Thank you Ilana and Andrew for seeing Gypsy and wanting her to be a part of your family. We hope you have a lifetime of happiness and love with both your girls. Happy pup happy life.

Coco: Adopted! April 21, 2013

Sometimes people's vacation plans turn into something they never expected. This was the case for a group of tourists visiting Lo de Marcos, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. On most beaches, one will often see "beach dogs" who hang around and befriend the tourists hoping for food and/or a little friendship. Many Canadian and American tourists are dog lovers so don't mind having a furry friend sleep in the shade under their beach chair. One day, a group of Canadians noticed a smaller dog being attacked by other dogs on the beach. She was thin and dirty and didn't seem to belong as she wasn't accepted by the other dogs on the beach. She often sought safety beside one particularly family - MexPup volunteer and Guardian Angel, Lynn. The family befriended the dog who they named Coco and wanted to do something to help her. They met a woman who regularly gathers beach dogs and takes them to be spayed or neutered. The family thought this might be the first thing they could do to help Coco. Unfortunately, after she was spayed she would need to be released back to the beach. Efforts were made by Lynn and her friend Tracy to try to find someone to adopt Coco. Excitement grew as an offer to adopt Coco was made by another Canadian, but this fell through when the person changed her mind. By this time, Lynn had gone back to Canada thinking Coco was safe, and Tracy had taken Coco in temporarily despite the strict "no pet" rules at her condo in Bucerias. This is when Tracy decided to launch her Adopt Coco Campaign. She took Coco back to the vet for a follow-up visit and spa treatment, then made her an "adopt me" t-shirt and took Coco everywhere in Bucerias in attempts to draw attention from a potential foster or adopter. Coco became somewhat of a celebrity around Bucerias with all the locals knowing and addressing her by her name. Many fell in love with her but there was no adoption and the days were counting down before Tracy had to move the pup from her home. MexPup appreciated all the effort Tracy made on behalf of Coco and understood the predicament she was in. Thankfully, a foster home became available and on Saturday March 16th, amongst tears of happiness, Tracy took Coco to meet MexPup foster mom, Claudia, where she will continue on her journey to find a forever home. Coco is a wonderful dog. She is about 1 year old and weighs approximately 14 kilos. This playful pup loves to snuggle in bed, nap and chew bones when not running around having fun. She is a total sucker for belly rubs and hardly ever barks. She really, really wants to be friends with cats and loves to play with other dogs. She has quickly learned her name and comes when she is called. She is learning to sit, stay, and lay–down. She is eager to please and in the opinion of Tracy, "very smart". She was loved and will be missed by many in Bucerias, but they are all so glad she is off the beach and on a path to a loving family. Now we just need your help to make that happen. Please share her story so that Coco can have her happily ever after.

Coco after...

Coco a resident beach star from PV was spotted by a young Canadian girl named Becka. Her mom Kathie had already adopted Bailey from Mexpup, but when Becka saw Coco she knew this little gem needed to be a part of their family. The transition from a one pup home to a two pup home took a few days as the pups figured each other out and Coco learned her new routine. Coco has stolen Bailey’s crate and Coco sleeps all night in it and naps in it during the day. Mom, Kathie, now has to get another crate for Bailey, who now wants a crate after seeing Coco in her old one. These two pups play and play hard. Mom describes it as “snouts in mouths, teeth out and snarling and grunting noises” Oh what fun for these sweet pups. Coco is a bouncer, bounces and bounces all the way up to your shoulders with her spring board legs giving mom the chuckles every time. Kathie loves to walk her two new pups, and takes them everywhere with her. As soon as her car keys jingle the pups are up and at it, on their way to visit Kathie’s neighbour. These pups get a treat when going there, and are fast asleep at Kathie’s feet for their visit, which Kathie says Coco grasped onto her first visit. What a smart girl Coco is. Fun times for these pups. Lots of walks, belly rubs and cat snuggles for Coco in her future. Thank you Kathie and Becka and to Bailey and Minou for accepting and loving this once bullied beach pup. She will forever love you all.

Chelsey: Adopted! April 21, 2013

There was a dog that had a place. She didn’t really have a home since they didn’t let her inside. She didn’t really have a family since they didn’t spend time with her. What she did have wasn’t much; the occasional scrap of food and the occasional bowl of water. Erika and her boyfriend saw the dog and knew she needed help. They started feeding her daily and they would take her along on walks when they were out with their own dog. They heard the story of how the pup ended up with a broken back leg; the father hit the dog when pulling away from the house and didn’t even take her to the vet to be treated. After some time had passed and a few conversations were had, the family offered the dog to Erika. They recognized that they weren’t taking good care of the dog, that weren’t willing to change and that they didn’t really want to keep her (not that they deserved her in the first place). That is the story of how beautiful, sweet Chelsey became a MexPup. She is approximately 1+ years old and weighs about 18 kilos. Her femur was fractured and not properly set. Chelsey was seen by our ortho vet and her x-ray show that her bone is misaligned but healing, and he recommended against surgery because her leg is functional and re-breaking the bone wouldn’t be worth the risk. She is really thriving in foster care, all she needed was for someone to love her and give her a chance. She loves to play and does well with other dogs. We are excited for Chelsey to become a valued member of a family where she will finally find a home, not just a place.

Chelsey after...

Megan found Chelsey through another Mexpup, Layla who was adopted by one of Megan’s friends. One look at Chelsey and Megan knew she was the perfect fit. “I admit it was the ears at first then because she was so cute” Megan describes Chelsey as a lover girl who loves giving face kisses. Who needs a shower when Chelsey is around? Chelsey has an amazing uncle who lives with her and she loves her uncle because he feeds her peanut butter and probably laughs at her constant tongue licking the peanut butter off her nose. Megan and Chelsey are beach bums to say the least. Any chance they get to get to the beach is where you will find Chelsey and Megan. Chelsey is so friendly with everybody, and when she greets you her whole body shakes until you give her a good belly rub, then she’s your friend for life. This sweet pup loves her hikes with mom, and runs free, exploring everything she can. All everyone can comment on are her ears...Yoda much.. Satellite dishes...and many more nicknames for the ears. Chelsey doesn’t mind at all as long as she gets her belly rubbed. Megan, we at Mexpup thank you for giving this sweet girl a wonderful home with tons of love and of course belly rubs. She so deserves this and she will pay you back in face kisses. A wonderful new life to a sad beginning.

Peko (formerly Papito): Adopted! April 18, 2013

Domingo was doing a construction job at a home. On his first day at the new job site, he arrived to find that no adults were there and 2 young children were alone in the house. Domingo came back a second time; the mom was home, but was leaving and asked Domingo (whom she barely knew) to take care of her youngest child (Imagine!) - But he agreed. That day Domingo saw the puppy in the street and the small child said it belonged to them, but that the mom put the puppy out on the street (at 7 weeks old) because it had diarrhea. Domingo brought the puppy in, gave him water, etc. as he worked and babysat the child. When the mom came home she was unhappy to see the puppy inside the house, was mean to the puppy and "shushed" him back out on the street while telling Domingo about the diarrhea. Domingo offered to take the puppy off her hands and she was very quick to accept saying they didn't want it anymore because of the mess it made in their house. Seriously, we can’t make this stuff up! Domingo brought the pup home and he & Julie have been fostering Papito ever since. This little guy is about 6 kilos and is full of energy. He loves to run, play, and just have fun. Papito is still growing, but should be a small dog when full grown. He gets along well with other dogs and with cats too. Never again will he be put out into the street, never again will he be mistreated, and never again will he be without love. Please share his story and help us to find him his happy ending.

Peko after...

Well Peko has certainly made a mark on his new family in a very big way for a wee pup. The entire time I was on the phone interviewing his Mom Sara …. Peko was acting like a little child - wanting attention from their parent when they are on the phone. It was really quite hilarious getting the play by play …. Bugging his mom… jumping up on the counter which he never does! This boy has a real love for his new life and it shows in everything he does! Peko’s new family consists of his Mom Sara and her daughter Araya. Other frequent visitors are Steve and his dog “Beautiful” a two year old Pitti-cross that was rescued from a shelter in California. Peko loves to race around the yard in turbo mode playing “Hide and Seek” with Beautiful, then runs up a ramp to a tree house. Little stinker! Peko also has extended the “paw of friendship” to the next door neighbour Wendy who has a Black Lab and a Black Lab/Border Collie and Peko’s special friend Buddy the cat who loves to play with Peko.

Our little boy was a little car sick at first, but Sara didn’t give up and now he loves to go for car rides. In fact he recently completed a trip to Tofino where he was brave enough to dip his paws in the ocean. As soon as Peko wakes up in the morning, one of his first duties is to walk his human sister Araya to school. He loves to greet people along the way and let them know that life is grand!

Sara told me one of the funniest things that Peko does is he gets on the couch beside her, puts his head down and pushes up his back legs to stand on his head beside her. I really need to see a picture of that!! Total cuteness! The hamburger Peko arrived with and his squeaky seal are his favourite toys. But he has many more to choose from too!

Recently Sara was in bed with a flu bug and she says that Peko, who is normally so wired to play just knew she needed rest. He snuggled up with Sara and stayed put for hours at a time. Good Boy Peko! Maybe one day you might make a good therapy dog.

Sara wants to let everyone in the MexPup family know that she is so very grateful for this new pup as well as just how positive her adoption experience has been. She says she couldn’t believe how helpful everyone was who she had contact with along the way and what great communication we have as an organization. Thanks Sara… we appreciate the feedback and will continue to keep up the good work.

Having Peko has brought laughter and happiness to both Sara’s life and her daughter. Just picturing Peko standing on his head on the sofa… I certainly can understand why!

Bonnie (formerly Suri): Adopted! April 10, 2013

Carmen & Claudia were leaving Plaza Caracol when they noticed a small, scared dog in the parking lot. They asked the security about the dog and were advised that she had been there a few days, hiding, terrified and dodging the cars. They knew she was in trouble and couldn’t leave without trying to help. She was trembling with her tail between her legs as they slowly approached her. Although beyond scared, she allowed them to get next to her without running….I think she knew their intentions were good and was hopeful for some help. The first step once they had her was a trip to the vets. She needed lots of help and so stayed there for a few days to get the treatment she needed. In stepped Collin and Darlene, who were in town for an extended vacation and had contacted us before their arrival. They were willing and able to foster, so next Suri found herself in a foster home and she thought it was great! This approximately 1.5 year old girl loves going for walks and does well on a leash. She weighs about 7-8 kilos, loves being around people and seems to make friends with everyone. She isn’t a fan of dog food – prefers the treasures found in the trash – but she is getting used to it. Life on the streets taught her many things and finding food was one of the many skills which she hasn’t forgotten. Suri has done very well with house training and had it down after just a few days in foster. This sweet pup is ready for a home and a family of her own, so please help us to find them.

Bonnie after...

The start of Carole and Dave’s story was familiar to us at MexPup - but also so very sad. In early March of this year, they lost their beloved beagle Molly to cancer. They found life so difficult without a little fur baby to love and adore.

They started searching and came across MexPup. They saw Bonnie (Suri) and soon they were a family. Carole says that Bonnie reminds them very much of their Molly. She has
beagle or hound instincts and always has her nose to the ground. When Bonnie runs she hops like a little deer, can’t you just picture this! So, so cute! She could steal anyone’s heart and that’s pretty much what she goes about doing daily. She loves to meet new people and dogs on their walk-about. She is very graceful on her leash and a pleasure to walk.

Bonnie’s morning routine: Wake up and have a good long stretch, then out the door to have a wee “hello bark” to the neighbours next door and their two dogs. After taking care of business, Bonnie walks back through the door that is left ajar for her then has her breakfast. Afterwards she climbs into Mom’s lap and falls back to sleep. When she wakes up a little later and if the sun is shining, Bonnie loves to lay on the deck for a little sun bathing. But rain – no thank you! Bonnie wants to stay where it is warm. It seems that Bonnie has acquired a “dog pile” of toys. She has a bunny, a dog, a cow (who she loves to cuddle up and sleep with) and her Welsh Dragon all the way from Wales where Carole and Dave are originally from. When they first adopted Bonnie, Carole and Dave worried that she would not take to them like they had taken to her. They needn’t have worried. Bonnie adores them both. But Carole reports that Bonnie has formed a very special bond with her Dad – Dave and may just very well have him wrapped around her dainty little paw! It seems that this dog who only a few months ago didn’t know where her next meal was coming from and lived every day in fear, has now found her rightful place. That place is in the hearts of Carole and Dave. Happy pup, happy family, happy life! Thank you for opening your hearts to love again and offering so much to this little girl. We know she is where she was meant to be all along. Keep in touch Carole and Dave. We can’t wait to hear what life ahead holds for the three of you!

Silah (formerly Cactus): Adopted! April 7, 2013

Sue and Gail found a small puppy lying at the base of a cactus on a property near where they live. The puppy was in very poor shape so the couple knew they had to act right away. They were unable to take Cactus home, so they negotiated with the property owner to keep the pup in a building on the site. Sue made a temporary pen to keep the puppy contained, and they made daily visits to regularly feed and water her. Cactus was then taken to a local vet where she was diagnosed with a non-contagious skin condition, in addition to parasites. The next order of business was to find Cactus a more permanent foster home in Mexico. Dee and Eddie stepped up and took little Cactus home with them to live on their boat with their own pup Milo. Dee and Eddie did a great job with Cactus, but a boat albeit a large one proved challenging with a puppy. With broken hearts, Dee and Eddie asked that Cactus be relocated to another foster home where she will continue to grow and prepare for her permanent future home. Thankfully, Mayo & her family had just sent their most recent foster Moose on his flight to Canada and were able to take her in. Cactus at approximately 12 weeks old weighed 4.5 kg. She has pretty big paws so will probably grow to be a medium to large dog. Now that she has been in care, she has grown a lot and she is healthy. She loves playing with her new fur foster sibling Coqueta (another MexPup) and entertains her foster family daily. She is very inquisitive and is constantly on the move searching for love and adventure. Cactus will soon be ready for a family of her own and we can’t wait for them to meet her.

Silah after...

Before we tell you about Silah’s fur-ever after story, let’s just say that everyone who has met this dog along her journey so far has fallen madly in love with her. She stole my heart in the short time with her on a trip from Swartz Bay to Colwood! So of course we were eager to hear how this little darling was settling in! On April 7th, after a long day of travelling from Vancouver, Silah went home with her new Mom and Dad, Stacy and Chris. From the moment she set foot in the house – Stacy says she was home. She found her own bed and then she found Stacy and Chris’ bed. Silah decided that it would now be better known as “the family bed” and she crawled right up and fell asleep. If you have ever watched “Finding Nemo”, you might remember the fish who talked like a whale. Stacy says that is exactly how Silah sounds. It’s really cute. She is very smart and has already mastered: sit, lie down and shake a paw. She is also half way to learning roll over. Silah is a great listener and loves to please. Stacy thinks that after her basic puppy training and once she gets a little bigger she may be a great candidate for agility training. It would be a good challenge and stimulation for this bright little star! One of her funny habits is that she is very much like a teenager – she always wants to sleep-in in the morning and Stacy has to coax her out of bed to get a walk in before heading off to work. Then Silah spends the rest of the day with Chris until Stacy returns home and then it’s off for a walk or a hike. Things to do and places to go – such a busy life for this girl! Her favourite toy - Silah loves chewing for hours and hours on a piece of deer antler that a family friend gave her. Keeps those little puppy teeth occupied!

When I asked Stacy to give me an encapsulated description of Silah she said: “From where she came from to where she is now, we know that she will continue to grow into a lovable sweet girl. We expect great things from Silah!” We can’t wait to hear all about it so remember to keep those updates coming!

Both Stacy and Chris have nothing but high praise for everyone involved with MexPup. Their experience in this adoption has been really positive and they are so impressed with the great organization that is MexPup! In fact, as they are annual travellers to Mexico, Stacy and Chris hope to be able to assist MexPup with taking goods down or earning their Guardian Angel wings by bringing a pup or two back to Canada with them. We think that is great and before long I kidded Stacy that she will be writing these stories!

Thanks for the kind words… we will do our very best to live up to them. Every day for every pup who comes into our care and as we say at MexPup … one woof at a time!

Izzie (formerly Mika): Adopted! April 5, 2013

Monica & Hector were on their way home from work when they saw a small, starving dog that was licking the road in a busy intersection. They stopped, Monica jumped from the car, and quickly & calmly approached the dog while talking to her so she wouldn’t run. She bent down, grabbed the pup and ran to the sidewalk just as the light turned green. They drove around trying to find the owner, thinking maybe she had just gotten away from them, but no one claimed the dog or had any information about her. They had rescued before and lost that puppy to distemper. The sadness was still with them, but they knew that this girl needed help and couldn’t be left on the street, so they opened their hearts again and off to their home they drove. They quickly realized that Mika was loving and active but also very fearful. They spent time helping her to gain confidence while also getting her healthy, vaccinated and spayed. The time came that she was ready to find her forever home and thankfully, MexPup had a flight available. Mika is about 8 months old and weighs about 18 kilos. She loves to play, loves other dogs and just wants to get along with everyone. She has lots of energy and is a very social girl. We think an active home will be best for Mika, some place where she will get lots of exercise and have lots of fun. Please help us to share her story so we can find her family.

Izzie after...

After grieving the loss of their last dog that had been with them for eleven years, Heather knew they needed to look at bringing another canine into their lives. Life just wasn’t the same without a dog to complete their family. Heather and Hamish live in the wide open spaces of Central Saanich on a hobby farm. A dog on a farm also has a job to do. Just having Izzie’s presence and scent on the farm now has kept their animals safe from the mink and raccoons that in broad daylight were bold enough to attack their chickens and ducks. Now that there are baby chicks and ducklings - Izzie really has her work cut out for her!
The family saw Izzie on the MexPup webpage and before long she was theirs! Heather is quick to point out that Izzie must have had wonderful care while with her foster family because she was so well behaved and adapted so well when she came to live with them. They have also received many positive remarks and compliments from their friends. We think our foster families are wonderful too! MexPup could not do what we do without them!! Besides Heather and Hamish, there are also little people in the household - Sylvie and Evan. Izzie had never spent any time around children while she was with her foster family in Mexico, but ever since she arrived she has been “amazing” with Sylvie and Evan. It’s like she knows to temper her enthusiasm around little people and she just loves them so much. Apparently there is some terrier in Izzie because she has a keen sense of smell and loves to go searching for things. She also has a funny bark like a terrier… funny because it just doesn’t seem to go with what Izzie looks like. Also amazing is that Izzie has quickly learned to be around all the animals on their farm and knows that they are friends and spends the day in the yard walking around with chickens, ducks and guinea pigs. When Izzie first arrived she came with a little stuffed guinea pig. When she met the real thing in the yard of course she immediately wanted to play with them like she plays with her stuffy. Heather trained Izzie on a long lead and tells us that Izzie learned very easily that these little guys were not for chewing! So she learned that it was okay to nose up to them and they were not afraid of Izzie at all. She also loves the two senior cats in the family and has not given up on getting them be more playful. Good girl Izzie… tell those kitty cats that playing is good for the soul! One of the great mysteries with Izzie is that she will stop in her tracks, lift her nose up in the air and bark at seemingly nothing. She doesn’t do it often but when she does, Heather says it is quite strange. Who knows maybe it is her way of sensing that the mink or raccoons are nearby and she is just giving them fair warning to keep their distance. This girl takes her job very seriously! Izzie is very comfortable in her home. She loves to play but she also loves to sleep and is a very sound sleeper at that. I have permission to tell you that Izzie snores louder than Hamish! Next week Izzie will begin her basic obedience classes and we are sure she will pass with flying colours. Thank you so much for doing all the right things with this girl. You really are helping her to become the best dog she can be! One final note, because Izzie is so comfortable with being touched (yes, she’s a leaner), Heather hopes that maybe one day when she is a little older – Izzie may become a therapy dog. Regardless we certainly know that the future is very bright for this girl and we couldn’t be happier with this perfect match!

Gadget (formerly Copete): Adopted! April 5, 2013

It was late, Claudia was returning home, and she realized she was being followed. It seems to me that dogs have a sense of who to trust. There is no question that this pup chose wisely. Claudia is a wonderful friend to animals (just ask Stuart, Gracie and all the other MexPups she has fostered). She took him in, gave him food, water and a safe place to sleep. She also noted that he had been groomed previously and so was either lost or abandoned. Morning came and it was time to get him to the vets. He had fleas, ticks, skin issues, infections in his eyes & ears along with being underweight. It also appeared that he may have been burned at some point. Copete is about 1 year old and weighs about 5.5 kilos. He has been diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance which caused his skin issues (we now assume that these issues are what got him kicked out of his previous home). He is in treatment and doing great (is now stabilized & healthy). He will need to continue on medication, but the good news is that it isn’t expensive. The vets here are working to determine the minimum dosage he will need to maintain a healthy system and with that done, he will be ready for a new home. He loves to be with people and likes to follow his foster mom wherever she goes. He is a very smart dog that is leash trained and house trained. He also “speaks” to let you know when he doesn’t agree with something. He does great playing with other dogs and is just a happy, sweet pup. Copete was discarded. It wasn’t his fault. We are now looking for someone that will take him in and make him a part of their family. He deserved to be valued & loved, and we won’t stop looking until we find the right match.

Gadget after...

Gadget came to his new home in Langford on April 5th. He is ever so pleased to share
his love with his Mom – Jill and Dad – Lane.

Jill and Lane lost their dog six months ago. Like many us, who have lost a beloved pet, their hearts were broken and they just didn’t know what if anything would ever make it better. Then one day, a few months later while on a drive up island, Jill and Lane realized that they were ready to find another pup to help heal their hearts. They diligently put the plan in place so that when they found the right dog – their home would be ready. They even arranged with a neighbour to come and walk their new pup mid- day to give the pup a change of scenery. Once they had made the decision – Gadget (Copete) appeared on the MexPup page. Needless to say, everything just ticked along – because Gadget has settled right in to her new home and everyone couldn’t be happier.

Jill describes Gadget as being a very kind and grateful dog with a great spirit. She gets very excited when she meets other dogs and is currently brushing up on her manners so that she will always get a welcome reception from every dog she meets. Jill says she gets so super excited that sometimes another dog thinks she is being a little bossy! This happened once with a larger female, who quickly nudged Gadget back into place. Gadget just rolled over on his back basically saying “I give, I give!” It’s hard to blame a dog for being so friendly and that is Gadget through and through. Mr. Personality! Gadget’s favourite toy of all is his furry mouse ball that arrived with him from Mexico. While there are many other toys to play with… this is still his favourite. Sleeping – well he loves to curl up between Jill and Lane and kiss them each good night. Maybe he is saying “thanks” for the good home he has found. Jill says one of the funniest things about Gadget is that when he falls asleep – he is such a deep sleeper that
you can lift a paw and it will drop like a brick. He is completely at ease without a care in the world. He knows he is loved and safe. One day while curled up on the couch with Mom, he was in such a deep sleep that he rolled right off the couch. Jill says he got up and looked at her as if to say “you didn’t push me off did you?”

Define Gadget? Jill reports that he is a wonderful dog who has filled the hole in their hearts and made their family complete again.

What more could you add to this…. And they all lived happily fur-ever after!

Lauren: Adopted! April 4, 2013

Lauren was found by our neighbor outside of PV in a small town. He cleaned her up, gave her food & hoped for the best. A few days later, he was back in the same location and saw her again. This time he was able to scoop her up and bring her home. He didn't have the resources to do much, but he did all that he could and then asked for help. She is suffering from malnutrition and we are simply trying to get her stabilized, her weight up and get rid of her parasites. There will be struggles on this road, but we know she is a fighter - at 6 weeks and 1.7 kilos, that fact that she survived on the streets for at least 7 days says it all. She is now in a foster home and getting the love, care and attention that she needs. Her improvements after just a few days of care are great. It will take some time, but we are looking forward to a day when this sweet girl is ready to go to her forever family.

Lauren after...

Happy Tails coming soon!

Nicki (formerly Marlenne): Adopted! March 31, 2013

Kathy & Woody are supporters of MexPup and so when they planned their vacation to Puerto Vallarta, they included the booking of 2 dogs for their return flight home (we love Guardian Angels). While on vacation a sweet, friendly, young beach dog befriended them. They started asking around about the dog and found out she had no owner, was young, and had a litter of puppies after her first heat. They knew that Marlenne was set up to have a hard life on the street begging for food and likely having puppies every 6 to 8 months. They wanted to help her and give her a better life, so photos were taken, emails were sent and a plan was made. Lucky for Marlenne she met a couple that loves animals, volunteers with rescue groups, and who knew what to do. She got to spend one night in a hotel room, was taken to the vets for a checkup, and then was placed in her foster home. This sweet girl is about 1 year old. To help her get to a healthy weight, she gets kibble, along with boiled chicken with rice, which she clearly prefers to any kibble she has been offered…..her foster homes says Marley has caviar taste (she weighs approximately 10 kilos). She gets lots of compliments on her good looks and makes lots of friends with her gentle demeanor. Marlenne gets along great with her foster brother Mugsy and is very patient with his “little brother” antics in addition to playing well with other dogs (especially larger ones). She loves to chase all animals of the feline persuasion, so a home without cats is a must. This beach dog is now playing with toys and is particularly fond of tennis balls & soft toys on which to chew. Marlenne loves to run free, loves to explore, rarely barks and is house trained. She is a wonderful pup looking for a loving home that will provide her with plenty of exercise, adventure and love. Please share Marlenne’s story and help us to find her a forever home.

Nicki after...

Nicki was suggested to Michelle by a Mexpup volunteer. Michelle read Nicki’s story, saw her sweet face, and just knew they were a perfect match. Nicki had a few name changes along the way, from Marlene, to Daisy, to Sheena, to Nicki, with her nickname being Shenicki. Mom just couldn’t make up her mind so Nicki did when mom said “Nicki?” Ears perked up and cocked her head, “yup that’s my name mom” she says. Michelle says Nicki sparkles, and has that beautiful old soul that radiates love. Nicki is just in love with her new countries flora and fauna, and she dives right into it sniffing madly like she can’t get enough. Nicki has a new fur brother Chico, and it was an instant bond, where Chico says to Nicki “about time you showed up, welcome home” and its forever bonded right there for these two characters. They sleep on the couch together with all 8 legs straight up in the air. What a sight. Nicki, Chico and mom just love their hiking, and Nicki gets to visit lots of people in her day. She loves all people, kids, dogs just everything and really cant get enough of her new family she just loves them so much. She’s already very bonded with mom, wanting attention all the time, and sitting right beside her whenever Michelle sits down. The only thing that Nicki doesn’t really like is the family bird, and the bird knows this and swoops low to entice and Nicki jumps and snaps. Lets hope the bird is always quicker than you sweet Nicki. Michelle and Chico, thank you for loving Nicki, and giving her the home she deserves. We are very happy she found love.

Shiloh (formerly Sheila): Adopted! March 26, 2013

Prior to coming on vacation, Leanne and her family signed up to be Guardian Angels and will be transporting 2 MexPups to new homes in BC. They had no idea at the time that they would find a stray dog in need of care while they were here, but they did. These are the kind of people that must try to help. They couldn’t just leave the poor girl on her own, they needed to do something, and so emails were sent, calls were made and information was gathered. They were staying far outside PV, but once the plan was made, they loaded the pup up in a cab and the family made the drive into town to get Sheila into care. These parents have a small daughter that learned a great lesson on this day – her parents don’t just say be kind to others, they go out of their way to be kind. They took a day out of their vacation to help an animal in need. They put their words into action. Their daughter Shay loved this dog, named her Sheila and was very concerned about her babies. That’s right, Sheila is pregnant (after a few weeks observation, we have confirmed that she is NOT pregnant). This sweet girl is less than one year old, she has skin issues, and her ribs are showing. She stayed at the vets getting the best of care and then was moved into a foster home. We’re not sure how much she will weigh as a healthy dog, but I would guess around 13-15 kilos. Sheila is gentle, she is tired and she needs a break. We will do what we can to help her, but we need your help to do so. Please consider donating as we can’t help animals without your help.

Shiloh after...

Shiloh flew into BC and went straight to her forever family on Vancouver Island. She is now enjoying walks at the beach, and spending time with her family. Her favourite person on this earth is her mom Judy, who believes so much in helping this girl. Judy has put in a lot of effort to help this girl grow and develop into a confident pup. Shiloh is still working on building her confidence, and with the help of training and a strong leader like Judy, we know we can accomplish this. Judy has said that they've noticed a huge difference in her already. She is now being socialized with other dogs, and going on pack walks. We cant wait to see how Shiloh grows and develops, and with a mom like Judy guiding the way, we know that Shiloh will turn out beautifully.

Lexi (formerly Nina): Adopted! March 24, 2013

Saul was driving home and saw a pup wandering the streets of his neighborhood. He didn’t recognize her and she appeared lost. He pulled over and was able to get close to her. She didn’t have a collar, was skinny, very dirty and he knew she needed help. Saul scooped her up, took her home and got her settled in for the night. The next morning it was time for her vet check, she was underweight and had a few issues, but thanks to him she was safe and getting treatment. They asked around, but no one seems to know this sweet girl, so it was time to find her a new home. Nina is about 4-5 years old and now weighs about 7 kilos. This shy girl is very sweet, but needs a bit of time to trust new people. She loves to cuddle and often tries to sneak up on the bed….she is so sweet that it is hard to say no. Nina is an older girl, so she doesn’t have the spring of a younger pup, but that just adds to her charm. She has done great with the dogs and cats in her foster home. She isn’t a fan of loud noises, so would love a calm home where she can become a part of the family. We think this gentle soul deserves a wonderful family and a warm bed that she can sneak into.

Lexi after...

In August 2012, Tracy adopted Bella and says she was extremely lucky with her and had such a wonderful experience. Bella has a lot of other doggie friends and really lights up
with they are together, which unfortunately can’t be every day so Tracy thought the best thing she could do was find her a companion and started to watch the MexPup website for a suitable candidate. But it couldn’t be just any dog, because Bella is a beautiful soul so it had to be the perfect fit. Lexi (Nina) appeared on the MexPup webpage while Tracy was on a holiday in San Francisco and she made a mental note to look further into her profile as soon as she got home. Instantly Tracy knew she would be the right fit for their family. Tracy says she had butterflies in her tummy and could not wait to meet Lexi. So Lexi came to live with Tracy and Bella a few weeks ago and while she took a few days to get settled in, she is very smart and quickly learned the house rules (thanks in part to Bella). The two pups are learning each other’s quirks while they get more comfortable with each other. The best thing is they are learning from each other. Lexi recently taught Bella how to stick her head out the window when going for a car ride… something Bella never did before Lexi arrived. Lexi recently got a hair cut and now looks so much younger – all the grey hair on her face has been left on the floor of the groomers! Lexi’s name was originally Nina, but Tracy thought it was too similar to Bella’s name and when she settled on the name “Lexi” she knew it was perfect. It took a few days for Lexi to recognize and respond to her new name and in fact one day at the dog park, Lexi went running up to another dog owner when she called her dog who just happened to be called “Nina”. But Tracy reports they have pushed through and Lexi now knows her new name. Tracy says that Lexi is an absolute doll and the perfect fit for their family. She is totally “smitten” with this precious girl and is so happy it worked out so well for everyone in the family. You know that a match has been made when you get a note saying… “If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask… I LOVE to brag about my girls!!

Tracy we are so happy that you have added to your MexPup family! Please be sure to keep us up to date of any further antics or “lessons” between these two sweet pups! We have a good feeling that they have the world “by the tail”!

Frank Red Hot: Adopted! March 24, 2013

Too many times the story begins this way; the dog was kicked out of his house and onto the streets. In this case, the streets were those of Guadalajara and at less than one year old, this pup found himself without a home. Thankfully, a kind lady saw him, picked him up and took him home. She called him Gigio and fostered him with the hope of finding him a family. Sadly, she didn’t have any luck but she was committed to helping out this pup. In steps Paulina, an animal rescuer living in Puerto Vallarta that thought she might have a better chance of getting him placed. She travelled to Guadalajara, picked him up and brought him back to the coast. With his new location came a new name, Frank Red Hot. Paulina works at the SPCA sanctuary and so Frank ended up spending some time there in addition to being fostered by MexPup board member and wonderful volunteer Stephanie. When a flight space became available, he was ready to fly & got the spot! Frank is a fiery little guy with a big personality. He gets along with dogs, cats and everyone he meets. He is about 1 year old and weighs about 5 kilos. He loves to cuddle, loves to make friends, loves to play and simply wants a family to call his own. Please share his story so that Frank can go home.

Frank Red Hot after...

Some of our adoptors are from far away places, some are by chance, and some are right under our noses! One of our very own volunteers Felicity (who is also a proud Mexpup owner) had met little Frank Red Hot- she couldn't get over what a darling this little gem was, and that he had not been scooped up right away (I guess they call it a diamond in the rough for a reason). Felicity attended her book club as always where she spoke to friends Yvonne and David when suddnely it dawned on her- she saw a match not yet made! Sure enough, match-maker Felicity really knew how to make sparks fly! Frank Red Hot as a wonderful new family, and even has a fursister named Frankie (coincidence? I think not!) Yvonne and David have a magnificent yard where there is lots of room to run outside, and play, and explore. Frank Red Hot also has two unusual siblings (2 ducks- Daffodil and Jade) that he's learning to co-exist with, but not sure quite what to make of them just yet. Next door, his fursister has three small friends and their people who are just as cuddly as his new family. Wonder what he is going to do when he meets the miniature donkeys, but we will cross that bridge when we get there!

Kimi (formerly Bianca): Adopted! March 23, 2013

If you have ever walked on the side of a busy road, you know it can be a scary experience. Imagine being born there. When Daniela saw two small puppies living on the side of a very busy road, she knew they deserved more. She asked Mexpup for help, but there were no foster homes immediately available. Daniela fed the pups regularly in order to give them a better chance of survival. Finally a foster home became available, and Michelle & Andres welcomed these two sisters into their pack. Bianca is the protector of the two; you can tell that she spent a lot of time defending her sister Kaala. She is learning that she is now safe and can play without any worries. She is a very curious pup who loves to explore and learn new things. Bianca is about 6 months old and weighs 8 kilos. She was much sicker than her sister when they were rescued, covered in fleas, mange and she has a tick born disease. The good news is that she is responding well treatment and is well on her way to a full recovery. Soon Bianca will be ready to go to her new family. Do you have room for this little sweetheart in your heart and home?

Kimi after...

Kimi is such a sweet pup and when her new family saw her and her sister Kaala on the Mexpup website they just knew they had to keep these two together. Their story touched their hearts and these two girls are doing wonderful in their new family. Kimi in Mexico was Kaala’s protector but now those roles seemed to have been reversed as Kaala is quick to come to her sister’s aide. Kimi is a shy little thing but just loves to snuggle. Kimi loves to play, and play hard with her sister and cousin’s Lucy, Jake, Pita, Bode and Seqoyia. Kimi’s vocals when playing is an instant mute the TV or radio, and just stop and watch her go. It’s hilarious to hear as it’s a bit like a laughing Hyena. Kimi loves to sit on her playmate, usually Pita and sits right on her head while Kaala continues her assaults of nips, licks and play. Kimi will spend some of her Sundays with other Mexpups out in Metchosin running and romping around. Kimi just loves her time with her family while they are out camping, and has lots of that and hiking in her future with her large extended family. Kimi is getting lots of great training from her aunty at K9HQ. This sweet pup has hit the jackpot and never again will she feel abandoned, scared, cold or hungry. Kimi has lots of love to give and is very giving of her love and trust which is truly amazing after her hard start at life. Thank you to everyone who has helped this sweet girl find her forever family.

Kaala: Adopted! March 23, 2013

In Puerto Vallarta there is a tunnel. Through this tunnel runs a very busy road. On the side of this road, two puppies were trying their best to survive. Born on the street, these sisters needed to become very street savvy in a short time in order to survive. Daniela saw them and asked Mexpup for help. It took a while for a foster home to become available so Daniela fed these puppies regularly to give them a better chance of survival. Finally a space opened up in one of Mexpup's foster homes and Michelle and Andres welcomed these two sweeties into their pack. Kaala is learning to trust other dogs, and learning what it is like to just be a puppy. She is sweet and cuddly, playful (a bit mischievous!) and just plain cute. She is about 6 months old and weighs 8 kilos. Although covered in fleas upon rescue, she is relatively healthy otherwise. Once she finishes her treatments, it won't be long until Kaala will be ready to find her new home and family. Is this beautiful little girl the puppy you have been waiting for?

Kaala after...

Kaala is such a sweet pup and when her new family saw her and her sister Kimi on the Mexpup website they just knew they had to keep these two together. Their story touched their hearts and these two girls are doing wonderful in their new family. Kaala is a sweet girl who’s a little more independent then her sister Kimi, where in Mexico Kaala was the one that Kimi protected and here in Canada Kaala protects Kimi. Kaala is a rambunctious pup who loves to play with the big dogs. She doesn’t fear much and boy when she plays she entices her sister into her antics of attack and conquer. Lol Poor playmates when these two are around. Kaala’s sister Kimi sits on their victim of choice and Kaala keeps attacking and playing and it’s an all out hilarious sight. Kaala loves playing with all her cousins, Lucy, Jake, Pita, Bode and Seqoyia and just loves chasing her feline cousins. Kaala is very curious about her feline sibling and cousins, but they aren’t too fond of her yet…lol. Kaala will spend some of her Sundays with other Mexpups out in Metchosin running and romping around. Kaala just loves her time with her family while they are out camping, and has lots of that and hiking in her future with her large extended family. Kaala is getting lots of great training from her aunty at K9HQ. This sweet pup has hit the jackpot and never again will she feel abandoned, scared, cold or hungry. Kaala has lots of love to give and is very giving of her love and trust which is truly amazing after her hard start at life. Thank you to everyone who has helped this sweet girl find her forever family.

Pixie (formerly Dakota): Adopted! March 20, 2013

Carmen & Claudia were doing some MexPup errands when they came across a small dog on the street that looked lost, had no collar and was thin. Without saying a word to each other, they stopped, grabbed the pup and continued on to the vets. That is how Dakota became a MexPup. The vet check revealed that she had many of the common street dog challenges, but thankfully none of the really scary ones. She started her treatments and then a foster family was found (thanks Barb & Louis). She is just a little thing weighing just under 4 kilos. Dakota is a precious little girl. She is in a foster home with other dogs & cats and is doing well with everyone. She will soon be ready for a new home, so please share her story so a great family can be found.

Pixie after...

Pixie has become welcome addition to her family which is made of four- two legged
people. They are: Mom Anna, Dad Shaun and their daughters Isabelle and Ava.
Anna reports that Pixie is a happy, little thing, who loves to walk to school with us or wander around Mount Doug, chase a ball or learn a new skill. She is eager to please and has already learned to sit, high five, walk well on a leash, and try not to chase the ducks. She is learning her recall or “come” command and responds extremely well especially when there are treats on hand. She has just completed her first big hike with her family up Ragged Mountain. Unfortunately, she has also experienced her first Canadian tick and endured its removal without a peep. Isabelle and Ava love to give her hugs and kisses. In fact here is what Isabelle had to say: “We came up with the name Pixie when we were brainstorming names with our friend. Our friends said that Dakota looked like a Pixie Stick candy. We decided that we really liked the sound of Pixie and she is fun and sassy like a Pixie! We are a family of four and have a pet fish. We love walking, taking her on hikes and playing with her in the yard. She loves her toy football and will chew on it for ages. She has black spotted skin and very little fur. Pixie is a dream come true! She is super cuddly and super playful! She is so cute and is such a sweetheart! From Isabelle,” Future MexPup reporter in the works I don’t you think? Pixie loves people and all the attention she gets. She is great with other dogs if she is off leash. Her fur is filling in a bit and she gets her daily dose of wild salmon oil to help with that. Interestingly, a vet and a dog groomer in our area are convinced that she is part Chinese Crested Dog (the pink, powder-puff variety have fur) because of her markings, skin type, fur texture as well as the fact that she loves to give kisses.

The family says many thanks MexPup for introducing us to this sweet pup! Well
MexPup thanks you for opening your home and hearts to Pixie and giving her a
wonderful fur-ever life!

Thalia: Adopted! March 16, 2013

Thalia was found on the street in very poor condition. She was suffering from a huge tumor on her vagina which was causing her pain and discomfort. She was underweight and in need of help. Liliana and her sister rescued Thalia and took her to Mascota's as quickly as they could. As responsible rescuers, they had a raffle and raised as much money as they could to help pay for Thalia's treatment. Thalia needed chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery to help shrink and then remove her tumor. She is also suffering from a hip issue that is still being studied for an accurate diagnosis. She will probably need another surgery to help repair this issue as well. When the raised money ran out, Liliana and her sister asked for help, and Mexpup said yes. We asked Chuck and Claudia to foster (with the support from their sister Laura) and Thalia has settled nicely into her new foster family. She was shy at first but is now interacting with her fur siblings and enjoying a happy dog life. She is about 2 years old and medium sized (about 14kg). Although Thalia still has some challenges ahead of her, she is on her way to being a great addition to someone's family. Could it be yours?re to edit.

Thalia after...

Tally has made herself at home with mom Hedda and her son Simon and daughter Christine. They think this 30 pound beautiful brindle is a great dog and they are so happy to share their life with her. Are there any four legged furry friends in the family you ask? Why yes, there is Misty a 14 year old cat who has grown up with dogs. When Tally came to stay it was no problem for Misty… but Tally wasn’t quite sure about this other furry creature that certainly wasn’t at all like any dog she had ever met! But now she has grown to accept and respect her fellow roommate. Like most pups that arrive from the sunny country of Mexico, Tally does NOT like to go outside in the rain! Mom says she can wait all day until the rain lets up to go outside and take care of business… if you know what I mean! Just don’t expect her to set foot on wet grass… yuck! Tally has claimed the couch as her favourite place to stretch out and catch forty winks. In fact, early in the morning when mom comes into the room she know that’s exactly where Tally will be – hanging out on the couch and loving her new home. I always like to ask about a favourite toy? Well for Tally, it’s a stuffed monkey that Christine bought for her. She absolutely loves it and gets everyone in the house laughing as she tosses it in the air and catches it. Makes me chuckle to myself just thinking about it! Good girl Tally! Tally is building her confidence and trying to get over her shy nature when out for a walk. We know that with this wonderful family in her corner, soon Tally will be relaxed, confident and looking forward to meeting everyone in her new neighbourhood. Keep up the good work Team Tally! We at MexPup can’t wait to hear your updates in the months and years ahead.

Breck (formerly Fusion): Adopted! March 12, 2013

There was a new dog hanging around the neighborhood. Lydia has lived in this part of town for some time and she didn’t recognize him, but she also wasn’t sure he was on his own. After a few days, it became apparent that this guy didn’t have an owner and was surviving on the streets. He was a very friendly guy that needed help and Lydia wasn’t going to let him down. Fusion is about 1.5-2 years old and weighs about 23 kilos. He has a beautiful brindle coat which gets him lots of compliments. He is a well behaved pup that is happy to have a home and doesn’t want to cause problems. This smart dog walks well on a leash, is very obedient and loves to be with his people. He does well with other dogs and gets along with everyone he meets. He would love to be a lap dog, but will settle for a nice cuddle & a few scratches. Fusion would love to be a part of a family and to have a place to call his forever home. After surviving on the streets, we think he deserves it. Please share his story and help us to find him his happily ever after.

Breck after...

When Cameron started her search for a new pup she came across the Mexpup site via Google and her journey began the moment she laid eyes on the handsome Fusion now called Breck. Cameron fell in love with this brindle bundle of joy. She read his story and just knew he had to join her family. Breck tugged at her heart so much that Breck is named after Cameron’s hometown of Breckenridge. Cameron describes Breck as a laid back kinda guy who loves to run. Cameron is training for a triathlon and Breck is right beside her all the way. Breck has a new fur sibling named Jackson who in such a short time have bonded like brothers. Jackson is a wee little guy and Breck is a medium sized guy and well, like typical pups, they want what the other has so if you visit Cameron at her home you will see Breck curled into a tight ball sleeping with his tongue hanging out in Jackson's bed and Jackson spread eagle and full out stretched on Breck's bed. Breck, Jackson and mom Cameron just love hanging out at the Uvic dog park where Breck is learning his recall. Soon Breck you will be able fly free on those fields you love to run in. What a great new life for this great pup. Thank you to all who rescued, fostered, and traveled with him to get him to his forever home. Happy life, happy pup.

Tito - Adopted! March 10, 2013

Martha has always rescued street dogs in Vallarta. She often finds homes for them, but occasionally (especially when she thinks that Canada would be the best place for the pups) she asks for help. When Martha found two pups on the street, they were malnourished, dirty, and looked very scared and alone. They didn’t seem to be getting any kind of support from the neighborhood as some street dogs do, and they were not the size of dog that could easily fend off larger animals. For two weeks Martha worriedly returned to check on them and feed them while she devised a plan for their care. As she has done before, Martha brought Lili and Tito to her friend and business neighbor Dr. Julian Gomez of Hospital Veterinario Del Sol and asked him to clean and groom them and sterilize them. Lili and Tito became best friends and partners during their time on the street. They are both small dogs almost identical in size and weight. During the day Martha kept Lili and Tito at her hair salon and every night they were boarded at the veterinary clinic. Tito is a white and tan Jack-Russell terrier estimated to be about two years old. He now weighs about 7.25 kg. He is just a delightful pup with excellent manners and a loving disposition. He was clearly the more extroverted of the two pups and probably served as Lili’s protector. He is doing very well with his house training and is getting along well with all his fur siblings (currently 5 dogs and 3 cats!). He walks well on a leash and happily sleeps in his crate each night. He is a gem of a dog and will be a wonderful addition to any family

Tito after...

Krista was looking online to adopt a rescue dog. She didn't really have a particular dog in mind, she just wanted to make a difference in the world that she lived in and wanted to help better the life of a needy animal. She came across Mexpup's website, and put in an application to adopt. She had not really seen Tito at this point, but through her application, Tito was suggested to her, as his personality seemed to be a match for Krista's life style. When we called to follow up on how Tito was doing in his new home, Krista couldn't stop saying how great he was, and that he's made a difference to all their lives. Krista has another dog, a husky mix named Bailey. Bailey had separation anxiety, and Tito has basically cured this! Tito has adopted many nick names, like Tito-burrito, and Tito-dorrito, and he's been a very positive addition the family. Krista has a fabulous job walking dogs, and Tito does not miss out on any one of these! He loves his hikes, and by day two, he was ready to be unleashed! He's been such a good boy, and plays well with the big dogs, and even the little ones (his favourite is a little guy named Norman, who is also a rescue dog). Tito loves his family as much as they love him! He loves car rides, and cuddles with Bailey, and Krista's daughter in the back seat. He loves to give little love nibbles to her ears. Tito loves wearing jackets- he can be seen sporting many different fashions, and styles! To get attention, Tito shakes, as if he's cold. He's trained his mom well, as he gets scooped up and cuddled when he does this. Tito is a happy boy, who didn't have a great prospect where he started. Now, he's living life to the Max here in BC.

Cas (formerly Casey): Adopted! March 9, 2013

Casey was a dog in need. She was lucky to get the help of Sofia from PV Animal and eventually found herself at the SPCA sanctuary….lucky girl. We had space on a flight to Victoria, BC and Casey was ready to fly, so she became a MexPup. We believe this girl is a Jack Russell mix. She is about 2 years old and weighs about 11 kilos. A little shy to start, she needs a bit of time to gain confidence and then will come right to you. Casey is house trained, does well on a leash and loves to swim. She likes to chew, so giving her a chew toy, something to focus on, is a great idea. She has been fostered with other dogs and a kitten. She is great with other dogs and has done quite well with the kitten (wants to play but is very gentle). Based on her behavior and what we know of her history, it is likely that she was abused. She deserves a family that will love and cherish her. Casey needs a family that can’t wait to watch her run, play and just have some fun.

Cas, formerly Casey was adopted by Lylah. Lylah heard of Mexpup through a veterinarian. After seeing Cas`s photos, she put in an application and the rest is history! Cas is starting to come out of her shell, she still a little timid, but hey, wouldn’t we all be with such a tough start at life! Lucky for Cas, Lylah is able to provide her with a great atmosphere to be comfortable, and blossom. She`s learning it’s ok to be a dog, and it’s ok to play and have fun! Her most hilarious time is of course the morning, when she runs around like a goof with a ball in her mouth. While Lylah is conjuring up some fun summer plans, there are lots of walks to be had in the nice weather, and lots of time to explore the dog part. One thing that sets Cas apart from the rest of the Mexican pack is that she doesn`t mind the rain- nope she`s rain proof! Although, after a chilly walk, she loves to lay on her cozy blue banket, (or on Laylah`s bed.. Whichever is closer). We`re so glad to see Cas in a home that’s able to provide her with a great environment and patience to let her grow into the dog we all know is just hiding around the corner.

Cas after...

Cas, formerly Casey was adopted by Lylah. Lylah heard of Mexpup through a Veterinarian. After seeing Cas`s photos, she put in an application and the rest is history! Cas is starting to come out of her shell, she still a little timid, but hey, wouldn’t we all be with such a tough start at life! Lucky for Cas, Lylah is able to provide her with a great atmosphere to be comfortable, and blossom. She`s learning it’s ok to be a dog, and it’s ok to play and have fun! Her most hilarious time is of course the morning, when she runs around like a goof with a ball in her mouth. While Lylah is conjuring up some fun summer plans, there are lots of walks to be had in the nice weather, and lots of time to explore the dog part. One thing that sets Cas apart from the rest of the Mexican pack is that she doesn`t mind the rain- nope she`s rain proof! Although, after a chilly walk, she loves to lay on her cozy blue banket, (or on Laylah`s bed.. Whichever is closer). We`re so glad to see Cas in a home that’s able to provide her with a great environment and patience to let her grow into the dog we all know is just hiding around the corner.

Sugar: Adopted! March 9, 2013

Sugar has had a hard life. She lived on the street and was forced to dig through the garbage to find food. Her situation became worse when she had puppies. We don't know how many she originally had, but when she was found she only had one baby left. Both mom and pup were digging through the garbage near Nicole's school and Nicole knew she needed to do something fast. Although she couldn't leave her teaching responsibilities for the day, Nicole rescued the two little dogs anyway and made them a bed in her car. As soon as she was finished work she rushed them to the vet. Mom and pup spent the next two weeks in care, trying their best to recover from weakened immune systems, mange and illness. Sugar improved quickly, but her baby Preciosa wasn't strong enough to survive. Although we had to send her little one over the rainbow bridge, Sugar has put her sad past behind her and is thriving in her new foster home. She is named Sugar because, as her foster mom Freda says, "She is just so sweet!". She is gaining energy, her skin is improving and she is a very obedient loyal dog. Sugar is a little girl, approximately a year and a half old, and weighs around 4 kilos.

Sugar after...

Michelle and her family heard of Mexpup through a friend who had a great experience adopting two of her own Mexpups previously. Sugar came into their lives and has transformed it! Sugar is fantastic with kids, especially Michelle`s two youngsters. They constantly want Sugar to sit on THEIR lap while riding in the car, but Sugar is a bit of a moma`s girl, and eventually slinks up to sit with her mum. Sugar is also known as the `community dog` in her neighbourhood, and all the kids want to pet and walk Sugar, and Sugar thinks this is great!! Sugar`s favourite sport to sleep is a kids blue fuzzy chair, and loves her fleecy squeaky squirrel. Her favourite food is sardines, yes, you read correctly, sardines. She goes bonkers for them. Most of all, sugar of course loves attention anywhere she can get it! She`s the families first dog together, and she`s setting the bar high! Sugar is looking forward to a few road trips to a horse farm, as well as a few cabins where she will try her luck as a `lake dog` although Michelle is pretty sure this won`t be an issue for Sugar at all. We`re looking forward to watch sugar grow and develop alongside this terrific family that has taken her in, and provided her with all the love that she never dreamed she`d have.

Rosie (formerly Tiny): Adopted! February 27, 2013

Nydia was out with Copito. She noticed that he was distracted and then she heard a noise. There was a piece of land surrounded by walls in the front. The back of the property was open land for quite a distance. After hearing more sounds, she decided to investigate. In the field, she saw a small dog, just a tiny little thing that was clearly in distress. She knew that without help, the dog would have great challenges. She figured out how to climb into the area and went down to get the pup. Nydia and Copito had rescued a dog. She was scared, skinny, and covered in fleas & ticks. The first order of business was a bath and then it was off to the vets. Tiny had some of the usual issues that we find in street dogs, so treatment was started, a foster home was found and her recovery began. This sweet girl is about 1.5 years old and weighs 3 kilos. She is in a foster home with other dogs and has a great time playing with them. Tiny loves to go out for walks and she loves adventure (she tries to sneak out of the house if given the chance). Although she was found on the street, she isn’t very streetwise so we suspect she was someone’s pet prior to finding herself homeless. Tiny isn’t a big fan of being held and prefers to sit next to someone cuddled into them to get her scratches. She is a bit possessive of food & toys, but that is diminishing with time and work. She is a great dog that will make a wonderful addition to someone’s family. If you are looking for a little girl, then Tiny might be just the right match for you. Please help us to find her a wonder new home that will give her the life of care, love and joy that she deserves.

Rosie after...

Sometimes you come across a match that was just meant to be…. and this surely is one of them! Rosie’s new mom Norah tells us that Rosie settled in right away. Contrary to previous reports, Rosie is very much a lap dog! She will find Mom’s lap wherever she is! Norah says they are virtually attached at the hip! If she stays too long on the computer, Rosie will gently use her paw to move her hand away from the mouse to let Mom know that maybe she should stop and just pet her instead. Rosie knows that too much time spent on the computer can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome…. smart little girl she is! Like most MexPups, Rosie too hates to go out in the rain. But Norah says that she is such a good girl and when there are inclement conditions – just a command to Rosie and the business gets done there and then! On the nicer days, Rosie and Norah love to take long walks along the seawall where they meet and greet other owners and their pups. At first Rosie was a little timid of all the other dogs, but she soon learned that here in Canada, most dog owners take exceptionally good care of their pets. She has learned that almost everyone she meets is kind and she is quickly warming up to her fellow furry and two-legged friends. At night, little Rosie loves to burrow into the fleece sheets on the bed and then cuddle and snuggle right up to her Mom. Norah says she barely moves until morning from this comfortable, warm place! How would Norah describe Rosie in ten words or less? “A clever little soul with a heart of gold”. She also added that Rosie is as smart as a whip and a bit of an imp! Paints a great picture of this lovely pup – wouldn’t you agree? And how did Norah find the entire MexPup experience so far? “I love the whole supportive family approach.” There is nothing but positive praise from Norah on her adoption process. Rosie is being a wonderful ambassador for MexPup in Sechelt. Already the word is spreading there about what a great organization Mexpup is and perhaps we might see a few more MexPups along the seawall one day soon!

Gracie (formerly Grecia): Adopted! February 24, 2013

Angeles saw a dog on the street as she drove home from work. She didn’t have room in her home to take in another dog, but she knew the dog could at least use some food and she could do something about that. After pulling over, she took out the emergency dog food she had in the car and tried to get the pup to come over. She came to Angelas without hesitation and ate voraciously. Grateful, sweet and way too thin, Angela didn’t have the heart to get back into her car without taking Grecia. They went straight to the vets to get her checked out, cleaned up and boarded until a plan could be made. A foster home was found, treatment was given and little Grecia turned into a happy, energetic, playful puppy. She had a fur sibling in her foster home and she thought that was the best! Grecia is about 8 months old weighs about 8 kilos. She reminds us a lot of another MexPup CK (now Ginger) as their size and look are almost identical. They can’t be littermates as the ages don’t match, but they sure look like they are. This wonderful pup is now in a Canadian foster home looking for her forever family. Please share her story so that we can find the perfect match for her.

Gracie after...

When you are an animal lover, losing a beloved four legged friend is extremely difficult.
Sometimes this is so painful you think you can never open your heart to another. That was how Tasia was feeling. She had lost her dog and then eight months later she lost her horse. She thought she could never go through that kind of pain again. Then she opened her heart a little and brought her two cats into her life. Shortly thereafter, she found Gracie and the little pup has done wonders for everyone in the family. Tasia says that Gracie was a little unsure of things for about a day. Then she just decided that everything was AOK and she started working her magic with everyone! Gracie’s family consists of Mom and Dad, Tasia and Julian; Rebecca and Samuel. Not entirely happy yet about Gracie’s arrival are Dudley and Tootsie (the cats) – who until Gracie arrived … ruled the roost! Currently Gracie walks with her Mom, Rebecca and Samuel to school and back twice a day. So she gets a 4 km walk and loves everyone she meets and greets. Eventually Tasia will be taking her jogging, but not until she is fully grown. Gracie is a bit of a rarity for a MexPup, because she doesn’t mind the rain… well, as long as she has her special raincoat!

Funny habits: Gracie likes to stalk other dogs (picture a border collie) and then when she gets up close… it’s “Just kidding - let’s play!” Kind of confusing to some dogs but that’s just Gracie’s wacky sense of humour! When I asked Tasia to tell me in ten words or less how Gracie has changed their family, she responded: “She has taught us that life goes on.” It certainly sounded to me like Gracie has filled this house with love and laughter. Good job Gracie!! Next on Gracie’s horizon? Camping season is coming up and Tasia can’t wait to see how much fun that will be for Gracie! Have fun little girl….you are so loved by so many!

Lucy (formerly Enya): Adopted! February 24, 2013

No dog should be left on the streets alone. It is much worse when they are near a busy road. Enya had been seen on the road one afternoon, but there was no chance to get her. The great news was that when her rescuer was driving back, she was still there, still alive, still scared and ready to be helped. Once she was off the street, the first stop was the vets. She is about 3+ years old and is just a little thing (maybe 4-5 kilos). She has a few minor medical issues, but is undergoing treatment and doing very well. She is now in a foster home, getting healthy and ready to find a family that will love & care for her. She is a sweet loving cuddle bug and needs a family that will appreciate all she has to offer. Would you like a pup to share your day? Do you want a pup that will sit in your lap or at your side? Would you like a little companion that thinks you are the moon & the stars? Well, she might just be the one you are looking for!

Lucy after...

Stay Tunned!

Lili: Adopted! February 20, 2013

Martha has always rescued street dogs in Vallarta. She often finds homes for them, but occasionally (especially when she thinks that Canada would be the best place for the pups) she asks for help. When Martha found two pups on the street, they were malnourished, dirty, and looked very scared and alone. They didn’t seem to be getting any kind of support from the neighborhood as some street dogs do, and they were not the size of dog that could easily fend off larger animals. For two weeks Martha worriedly returned to check on them and feed them while she devised a plan for their care. As she has done before, Martha brought Lili and Tito to her friend and business neighbor Dr. Julian Gomez of Hospital Veterinario Del Sol and asked him to clean and groom them and sterilize them. Lili and Tito became best friends and partners during their time on the street. They are both small dogs almost identical in size and weight. During the day Martha kept Lili and Tito at her hair salon and every night they were boarded at the veterinary clinic. Lili is a grey Schnauzer cross, estimated to be about 1 ½ years old. She now weighs 6.8 kg. She is a timid little girl and really depends on her friend Tito for support. Lili is a sweet girl who loves attention and cuddling. She is doing very well with her house training, and trying to get used to sleeping in her crate at night (she will need to be crate ready for travelling). She does well with her current foster fur siblings (5 dogs and 3 cats). Lili will need a home that gives her lots of loving because she cannot get enough of it!!

Lili after...

Aimee and Steve have been dedicated volunteers with Mexpup since fall of 2011: This is their story: We were looking to adopt another rescue pup after losing our 11yr old
rottie to cancer. Our other pup Kevin was lost without her. We had an application in for Raicillia, but just a few days
before we were supposed to bring her home, we found a senior dog at the local pound that likely would not get adopted. So home came Curly and Raicilla then went to another fabulous home.Curly was companionship for Kevin, but as she was old, and had some health issues, she wasn’t much of a play mate for him.Kevin still needed some play time & socialization, but as he had his own anxiety & trust issues with other dogs, socialization had to be done his way. So we decided to foster!I n January 2012, we had our first foster, Cleo and over the next year we welcomed a number of MexPup’s into our home: Cleo, Amy (now Violet), Mia, Stanley, Annie, Sandi, Pepita, Copito (now Coco), Simon (BC Chihuahua Rescue) Pierre (now Pete) and finally Lili.Kevin “accepted” them all, played with some, ignored others, but when Lili came into the house, he was in love!And so were we! Lili is a wonderful little girl, full of play and a little bit mischievous at times; she likes to “read” books... She sure has brought a different energy level to our house; gone are the quiet calm nights, it’s now non-stop wrestling & our house is now a racetrack! Lili has started obedience classes and has shown us she is a very smart little girl (when there’s food involved of course)She’s great with Kevin & leaves Curly to herself, however she still hasn’t figured out that Danny the cat does not want to play!I She’s been with us 2 weeks now and feels like she’s been here all along. As with all the pups we have fostered, it absolutely amazes me that for the terrible situations they have came from, how easy it is for them to settle in to a home.Lili will have a long and happy life – next adventure? Camping!

Scout (formerly Susi): Adopted! February 14, 2013

Susi "belonged" to a family that lives near Barb & Louis. She appeared to have been taken away from her mother earlier than she should have been because when they first saw her, she was tiny. Of course, she was an adorable pup. The people that owned her occasionally would be seen carrying her, but soon she was sitting outside their house alone all day, every day surrounded by roosters and chickens and high grass. When her "owner" children would come home from school, they would run right by her without a word or a touch, only to snap their fingers at her to follow. Soon Susi began to look poorly. They could see from afar that her muzzle suddenly looked dark (almost purple) and she had been a beige puppy. Soon her transformation was complete and she had large areas without hair and some that were red and oozing. After that, the "owners" all but abandoned her as they would see her on their street, alone, sick and forlorn. Her abandonment and the intervention came soon after as Barb & Louis found Susi asleep on their front steps. She must've heard through the doggie grapevine that help could be found at their casa – smart pup! Louis gingerly picked her up and took her to the vet where she was diagnosed with contagious mange. They began treatment and then tried to figure out the plan. I love people with hearts so big that they start the process of helping before they know how it will work out. They simply knew that this sweet pup needed help and they were going to make that happen. Susi has been in a foster home for a few months now and is done with the treatment for her skin. She is approximately 7 months old and is an active pup that loves to please. Her hair is still coming back and she is s, but we know this little girl will be quite a beauty – her personality shines through her grateful smile.

Scout after...

After looking at the Mexpup website and all the dogs looking for homes, there was something about Scout that grabbed Jackies attention. Some may call it luck, other fate, but whatever name you put to it, it's perfect. There is an electrifying connection when you see and meet “the one”
and it grows stronger every passing day. Jackie believes she could not have made a better choice. Jackie is stopped constantly because people want to meet her, and everyone just smiles when they see Scout. She draws people to her and makes them feel warm inside- most of all Jackie. “Scouts is good medicine for whatever ails you.. I love my dog immensely... thanks Mexpup for this gift..”

It's been exactly a month since Jackie adopted Scout (changed her name to Scout because whenever they go for walks, Scouts nose was always glued to the ground- always looking for something.) “She has been an absolute joy everyday” Jackie says. Jackie loves Scouts personality, from her herding instincts to what Jackie describes as her “hairy old man snore.” For a little girl, she snores like a tractor! To top things off, while she’s snoring, she needs to be as much on top of you as possible- a complete snuggle bug (and yet a bed hog all at the same time). But all these little things, add up to Scout. She has the ability to tugs your heart strings with everything she does: a look on her face, a leap in the air, the way she runs down the stairs, a kiss in the middle of the night, her morning face... you know, the hair all pushed over to one side (we call it bed face). Jackie finds it very cute to watch Scout run in her sleep; she must dreams that she is faster than the wind! Scout loves to play with a variety of different toys, and to gather all Jackie’s shoes all around her- not to chew on, but to sleep in the middle of. Scout adores the beach and all the other dogs running off leash there. She plays fetch and runs into the water, but will only go so far out-likes to have her paws on the bottom. She is very smart and learns quickly. Scout and Jackie will be doing lots of camping and hiking this summer, including a trip to Salmon Arm and a working visit to her Uncle's property near Chase. There will definitely be some R&R, and plenty of time to lay on the deck and soak up the sunshine.

Watson (formerly Lucky): Adopted! February 13, 2013

There was a knock at the door. It was Mona’s neighbor John (who was with his own dog Skip) and a Mexican woman carrying a puppy. He was taking Skip for a walk when this woman approached him and asked if he lost a puppy (he hadn’t). She said she was canvassing the neighborhood for the puppy’s owner since she assumed it was lost. He is small guy at about 4 kilos and had no collar. He also had what looked like mange with two large, red patches, one on his head and one on his back. Anyway, they were invited into the front courtyard just to assess the situation and the woman disappeared (Mona had the puppy in her hands). Lupita & John love animals and thankfully agreed to foster this little guy. That is how Lucky was rescued and became a MexPup – more wonderful people deciding to make a difference and saying yes to helping. It wasn’t hard for them to welcome this guy into their home as he is a lover. He gets along great with his fur foster sibling Skip, and we expect he would do well with any dog after a proper introduction. Lucky was about 3 months old when rescued and had all that wonderful puppy energy. His blood tests are all clear, and we are glad to say that after just 12 days of treatment, his skin began healing quite well (he had non-contagious mange). He loves to play, loves to cuddle, loves to chew bones, and loves to get love. His photos are a bit deceiving as he looks bigger in pictures than he does in person. His legs are on the short side and we don’t expect him to get taller (or grow that much more in general). We don’t know why he ended up on the street, but as his overall health was good, we suspect that once he developed a skin condition he was simply thrown out on the street. How is it that someone loves a pup and then discards it? We just don’t understand that. What we do know, is that Lucky won’t have to worry about that ever again. He is currently about 8 months old and we would love to find him a forever family.

Watson after...

Catherine and her daughter Cassie were thrilled when they adopted Sherlock
(formerly Jaguar). On a subsequent visit to their home to pick up his kennel a few days later, I could immediately see that he was “home”. The love these two wonderful women poured out to this happy little pup was everywhere. At the time Catherine mentioned that they might even consider applying to become foster parents for MexPup in the future. So it came as no surprise to hear that Catherine and Cassie saw Lucky’s picture and were certain that he would be the perfect companion for Sherlock. Of course he would have to be called Watson… what else right? Catherine reports that “the boys” are doing great. They act like typical siblings – best friends and fighting buddies. Every week they get to go down to Island View Beach – their favourite place! Sherlock runs around like a bunny – he literally hops like a bunny when he runs and Watson eats everything in sight. They love to dig for bugs together. Two investigators on the job! (Catherine thinks maybe they should have named them Timon and Pumbaa!)

This is so cute… Sherlock sleeps with Catherine and Watson with Cassie. But
the doors between the bedrooms must be left open because if they are separated, they have to be able to talk or see each other or they will start to whimper. Isn’t that so sweet! Watson and his sidekick Sherlock love car rides and going to the park. Catherine says “Overall they are two great healthy kids and I don’t know what I did without them.” But then she quickly goes on to say … “Oh right, I got to sleep all night!” Rock on Sherlock and Watson!! May you continue to solve the great bug mysteries of the world together and someday let your Momma have a full night’s sleep!

Pink: Adopted! February 11, 2013

This sad little girl followed Karen home one morning. Karen gave her food & water and a place to rest. She took her to the vets but Pink was very nervous and ran. The good news is this smart girl knew she had found a safe place and found her way back. She saw the vet today and we have confirmation that she has non-contagious demodectic mange. She may have other issues, but we are focused on the care for her immune system and fighting the parasites & bacteria that is causing so much pain & inflammation. She was in so much pain that she could not bear to be touched, but today she accepted some scratches. She seems to be young (maybe a year or so) and weighs about 9 kilos. We will keep you posted as we get updates. We are hoping for the best but know that she has a long road ahead. Karen's son Max has named her Pink because of her color - we love the name and are hopeful that a day will come when people wonder how she got it.

Pink after...

Sherry first heard about Mexpup on Facebook. Her friend had shared Pink’s story on their page last summer, and Sherry has been following it ever since. Her story was so touching, and her recovery was amazing. “I fell for her right at the start. Sometimes, they pick you, even from hundreds of miles away.” Their favourite thing about Pink is her ability to relate to her family. Pink is very honest. She lets you know when she isn't pleased and she turns into a wiggly puddle of love when she is. Pinks life has been transforming since she was rescued by Mexpup, but now, Pinks blooming. Every morning she enjoys a walk with her big brother Cletis. After breakfast, the two of them nap or play until its time for the afternoon walk. The afternoon includes another walk, and a rip through the dog park. The evening is reserved for snuggle time with Dave while he watches soccer or with Sherry while she reads in bed or with any of the other 5 animals in the house. Pink is still not sure what to make of the horses- they’re the biggest dog she’s ever seen! (And she thinks they make very strange noises.) Once she’s figured them out, Pink will get to go out with her family and the horses on some trail rides. She has very much to look forward to, and we can’t wait to see how her new life unfolds!

Tamale: Adopted! February 11, 2013

One day, a white dog showed up in Andres and Michelle's neighborhood. He had a harness on and appeared to live near a local car wash. Although the pup seemed to wander around, it appeared the people at the car wash were taking care of him. One day, while walking her own dogs by a nearby canal, Michelle saw the dog again and noticed it appeared to be badly injured. She took her pack home, picked up some food and returned to the canal to try to catch the dog, but he was very frightened and ran away. Michelle reported the dog's condition to the people at the car wash, and they responded with no interest stating that Tamale had recently been attacked by a bigger dog. Michelle was aghast at the lack of concern and they made it their goal to rescue him. They would see him around the neighborhood, but they were never able to catch him.

Brian and Mona were heading to Michelle and Andres' house when about a block away from their destination they saw a very skinny white dog in the middle of the road. The dog was very weak and obviously severely malnourished. Although they were leaving for a vacation in Canada for 2 weeks, they knew they had to help. They stopped and offered it some dog treats and water. The male dog quickly drank the water, but would have nothing to do with the food. He just stood in the middle of the road looking like he might just collapse. Before Mona could get a leash out of the "dog rescue kit" every good MexPupper has at the ready, Brian had grabbed the dog and with little effort carried him to the vehicle and set him in the back. They drove on to Michelle's house and when she came out she noticed the dog in the truck. She asked where he was found. Brian said just up the road and Michelle burst into tears! She couldn't believe they had found Tamale! The friends put a plan in to place to get the dogs the care he needed. Over the weekend, ticks were picked off, a bath was given, and a warm, cozy kennel was prepared for Tamale to rest in. The dog refused to eat and was obviously in distress, so getting to the vets first thing Monday morning was a priority. Tamale was taken into care by the Mascota's veterinary clinic and after 3 days of intravenous therapy, monitoring and wonderful care, he was able to go to his foster home where he is slowly recovering. Tamale is about 2 years old and weighed 9.4 when he was brought into care. We expect him to weigh about 15 kilos when fully healthy. He still has a long way to go, but every minute Tamale's eyes show that he is feeling better and is appreciative of the people who rescued him. When Brian and Mona return to PV, they will become his foster parents and together with Michelle and Andres will look forward to the day when they bid farewell to a healthy and happy Tamale as he moves on to his forever home.

Tamale after...

There is endless possibility of places to travel, but Hannah decided it should be Mexico. As their vacation was ending, and they were heading to the Puerto Vallarta airport pinning over the fact that they’re adventure was coming to a close, and they were heading back to cold, wet weather, they had no idea that one of their greatest adventures was just about to begin! They were at the Puerto Vallarta airport when they saw a group of people with a dog. Well, who could resist a visit with an adorable dog! They went over and met the dog, they were told that his name was Tamale. They asked about him, and found out Tamale was just going on a trip with his family- Tamale didn’t have a family. Hannah decided to changes this. After the long flight to Canada, Tamale was finally home. Hannah could sense gratitude from Tamale, like he was just happy to have a home, and someone to love him. He was very careful about what he did, trying to make sure he didn’t make any mistakes. When he was invited to sleep on the bed, he was so excited, he stayed perfectly still for nearly 12 hours, so his humans didn’t have a reason to change their mind. Hannah just loves Tamale to bits! Tamale puts on afternoon shows for Hannah, the last few have been “watch me chase my tail parts I, II, and III”. He’s great off leash, and loves the dog park. Hannah says that he’s the best souvenir they brought back from Mexico.

Frankie: Adopted! February 9, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Frankie is the shy guy of the group. At seven weeks old he weighed in at 2 kilos. Frankie is very submissive and loving to people, but holds his own well with his litter mates. He doesn't start fights, but doesn't get pushed around much. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. Please help us find a great home for him.

Frankie after...

Sarah and Matt were searching for a rescue on adoptables in Victoria. They came across Mexpups website, and checked
out the dogs looking for homes. Right away, their attention was drawn to a photo of Frankie. They met him right away, and he was so sweet they just had to take him home. Frankie still has family here in Victoria. They ran into Frankie’s brother, Rio (another mexpup) by accident at a local pet store, and they even have future play dates scheduled. The two boys recognized each other and played all afternoon. Frankie gets to go to doggy day care almost every day, where he meets lots of new friends. Sarah says that Frankie fits so well into their lives, and they’re so happy the happened upon him. We’re happy too!

Jose: Adopted! February 9, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Jose is the funny guy of the group. His is still trying to figure out how to move and can appears a bit awkward. Jose started out as the runt of the litter, having a hard time fighting for his milk. When switched to dry food he found his spirit and soon became one of the largest pups. At seven weeks old he weighed in at 2.7 kilos. Jose is a sweet pup that just wants a bit of love. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. His family is out there waiting and we just need to make sure they know that Jose is here.

Jose after...

Shannon had a dog that had passed, and wanted a rescue dog. They picked him Jose because of his irresistible photos. Jose moved in and assimilated really well. He’s still 100% puppy, but he’s been a great companion! He’s great with Shannon’s other dog, Coco Bean (a chocolate Min Pin) and great with her son. Jose already has fetch down- and loves when Shannon’s son throws the ball for him. Their favourite thing about him is how puppy he is, he’s always getting into stuff, and then when he gets caught, he pretends that it must be someone else. Shannon Caught Jose twice on the kitchen table- he wasn’t supposed to be there, and he knew it. So he pretended like it was perfectly normal to be on the table, and just weird for everyone else to be on the floor.

Moose: Adopted! February 9, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Moose is the big guy of the group. At seven weeks old he weighed in at 2.92 kilos. We are guessing (it is only a guess) that he will be 22-25 kilos when full grown. He loves to play, but he loves to cuddle just as much. He may be the largest of the litter, but he is often the most gentle. Moose has a wonderful temperament and is a mellow dude - he reminds some of a lab, but we really don’t know what he will look like when full grown. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. We will find a great family to adopt him and love him for the rest of his life.

Moose after...

It wasn't hard for Kristi to fall in love with Moose, with his adorable little face, and sweet disposition. Moose has taken to his big sister,
Roxy. She has demonstrated as a great role model for Moose showing him the ropes
of everything cool to do around here like swimming, fetching, napping in the sun, etc. Kristi says that Moose is a bit of an entrepreneur of sorts, a landscaper if you will, Kristi calls is "moose-cavating" which is also known as digging big holes Moose style in the backyard. When the sun comes out Moose is in heaven, he loves to sun bathe and seems to pretty happy that the cold weather is finally gone! It must be the south that lingers in his bones, which will forever be a part of him, but he seems to embrace his new life here in Canada without hesitation. Kristi is so glad that Moose is a cuddler, they spend lots of quality time together, what a love bug! Moose also like to help daddy work on the computer, especially when he’s allowed to type (accidentally of course). He also has an extreme fondness to help work in the garden, and his favourite dish (are you ready for this?) he loves to eat kale, and fresh herbs straight from the garden! Well, I guess Moose knows a thing or two about oral hygiene, and we’re excited to see what else he discovers in his upcoming adventures.

Kipper (formerly Pop): Adopted! February 6, 2012

It happens way too often, a litter of puppies is dumped. They didn’t ask to be born, and the mom certainly didn’t ask to be let out or around male dogs when she was in heat. It could have all been prevented if the dog was spayed, but of course “that isn’t necessary” they say, “the dog wants to have puppies”, “the puppies will be cute”……until they grow too big, new homes can’t be found, and a decision is made to discard them (this is the step in the process that gets me every time). The good news is that they picked a building where some animal lovers live. These people heard the cries of the puppies and put out food & water. The next day they started asking everyone they could for help. We saw the plea and the photo of one pup really pulled at us. We knew he needed care immediately or his chances would start dropping rapidly. It just so happened that Karen and Stephanie (from MexPup in Canada) were in town and they could foster them in an empty apartment that could be used for a week. So off we went to get the pups. We were met by the wonderful people that networked to get them help, we loaded them up and off to the vets we went. All in all, the news was pretty good. The 4 pups all had lots of parasites and were anemic, but they tested negative for the really scary stuff. Pop is the big boy of the bunch and weighed in at 1.8 kilos. He was about 8 weeks old when rescued. Pop is a funny character as he can’t decide if he wants to chase his littermates or come in for a cuddle. He is usually racing between the two options. He is a good big brother and plays well with the rest of the group. They are showing their personalities more each day and are curious about everything. They are romping around as only puppies can do and they are on their way to a bright future. Pop is certain to make one special family very happy.

Kipper after...

Don’t you love the name Kipper? Do you wonder how Pop got his new name? Well
it seems that four year old Sophia has a favourite cartoon show called “Kipper the Dog”. The name just seemed to fit... so Kipper it is and he responds very well to his new name. Kipper’s new life is pretty sweet. Let’s see… there is adorable Sophia who loves to walk him. Then there are Shea and Theresa who think he is so cute and cuddly. Theresa says that Kipper is very calm for a puppy and well behaved. His newest adventure is being able to go to work with Mom and Dad… so far so good. He greets the staff and then goes and lies down on a pillow beside Theresa. Everyone can’t believe what a good boy he is! Then there are romps at the dog park. At first Kipper found it a bit scary with all the dogs, but now he loves to run with the pack at the park. Just hangin’ out with his buddies! Funny things Kipper does? Well he has very long legs that he hasn’t completely grown into yet, so he is a little bit clumsy according to Mom and Dad. Sometimes he forgets where his legs are and when he lifts his leg he ends up peeing on the opposite leg. Oh well… this too shall pass! He is a bit of a Houdini and has learned to climb over the baby gate that was supposed to keep him corralled in the den. Theresa says she is working on another plan! He has a bit of a mane on the back of his neck and when he gets over excited or scared… it stands up and he looks like a lion! The game of fetch… well Kipper has 50% of that mastered. That is the part of getting the ball… returning the ball not so much… but he is learning. Theresa and Shea have ensured that Kipper has lots of toys to entertain him and he loves them all. But his favourites are a dog bone that looks like a stick and his bacon mint flavoured bone…. sounds pretty good doesn’t it?? It seems that this little pup has opened the hearts of everyone he meets. Good job Kipper… you are a great ambassador for Mexpup! Keep up the good work!!

Taco (formerly Negra): Adopted! February 5, 2013

A little dog was seen wandering in front of the Regional Hospital in Puerto Vallarta. Hot, thirsty, hungry and sad….that's what Luz Hernandez saw for several days when she arrived at the hospital to visit a relative. Finally she decided that she couldn't just walk by the dog anymore, she had to make a difference. Not having a vehicle, she gathered the dog up in her arms, named her Negra (the word for black in Spanish) and begged a bus driver to let her on with an animal. Thankfully, he agreed and she brought this sweet girl home. After a visit to the vet, it was discovered that Negra is very sick, with both skin and blood infections and the treatments are a bit complicated. Due to her busy work schedule, Luz needed help giving Negra the medical care that would help her get better. That's when Andres and Michelle stepped in, and how Negra became the newest member of their pack. Approximately 2 years old, Negra weighs 10 kilos and is a sweet, playful girl. She is obedient, loyal and simply loves being part of a family. She is responding very well to treatment and will soon be ready for a forever home. Could she be that member of your family that you have been waiting for?

Taco after...

The first few days in her new home were maybe a little scary for Taco and Breanna says she was very submissive. But it didn’t take her long to decide this was her forever home and Taco then decided that she was going to take her new world by storm! Everything is new and exciting and while she is about three years old, Breanna and Sean describe her as a “Little Weirdo” because of all her funny habits that leave them laughing out loud. For example, she still hasn’t realized that meals will come on a regular basis in her new home. No more scrounging and going without. So when it is meal time, Taco gets so excited she dances around on her hind legs and then runs through the house at top speed… and we mean all over the house…. as fast as she can. Then she calms down a little and eats her dinner! Taco also likes to give kisses but only when she can catch you with an open mouth… her Mom and Dad are still scratching their heads over this habit! Like many pups who come from Mexico to the we(s)t coast, Taco doe NOT like the rain. Breanna and Sean bought her a pretty raincoat to keep her warm and dry. But as soon as she is at the door and sees that it is raining, down goes her bum and she has to be picked up and carried outside to “do her business”. Sound familiar??? I think so!! Taco is learning her manners with other dogs. Mom says she is doing better all the time. She loves her family so much and is dancing on her hind legs when they come through the door. She is a true cuddlebug and knows how to relax on the best seats in the house. Welcome to your new life Taco. You are loved more than you know!

Willy: Adopted! February 4, 2013

Imagine you’re in a grocery store parking lot when you see a little puppy. You realize he is too young to be there alone, so you wait for someone to scoop him up. Everyone continues on their way and you come to realize that he is alone and in trouble. With cars driving around the lot, there is no time to waste. You grab the pup, you ask everyone if they know anything about him and when no owner is found, you put him in the car and you go straight to your vet. That is how Willy was rescued. We are grateful to the woman that stopped to make a difference in the life of this puppy and sooooo the opposite with the mean, heartless, *#@% that did the dumping! This little guy is a bundle of joy and love. He runs around so fast the he looks like the cartoon where the legs are moving in circles and the body can’t catch up. He always makes us laugh and smile. Willy is approximately 3 months old and weighs 4.1 kilos. We think he will be a small to possibly small/medium size adult dog. He loves dogs, cats, children and adults. This pup loves to please, but he also loves to dig in the trash. He is comfortable sleeping in a crate, but prefers to be with dogs, cat, kids or adults (you get the idea). He has started learning to walk on a leash, but still just wants to run here & there. We think that he is an awesome little guy and will make a great addition to an active family. What do you say; are you that family?

Willy after...

Willy was being fostered by Kim and her family. He
developed a skin problem when he arrived in Canada and was undergoing treatment for a couple of months. As he was ending his medications, they couldn't bear the thought of him leaving. They knew he was where he belonged. Foster failures again! Maggy and Willy are a great pair together, she plays and has great patience with him and he is a comfort to her when everyone goes to work and school. (Cooper the cat wasn't cutting it!) Willy is such a funny pup! He makes
them all laugh everyday with his cartoon like personality. He is very playful and has a need to be cuddled. He loves to be loved and has to be the one who is closest to his people- he gets restless and paws if Maggy is snuggling where he wants to be- silly Willy. Willy has accomplished so much, with lots of help along the way of course, but his last ambition is to befriend the cat. He has hope, that one day Cooper will love him just as much as everyone else does.

Pete (formerly Pierre): Adopted! February 4, 2013

Sometimes things just seem to fall into place. A dog is on the street and appears to need help. They may not be in a desperate state, but they have no collar, are dirty, have lots of fleas/tics, are a little skinny, appear lost and the combination of things raise a flag – “help me” is what an animal rescuer sees when they run into a dog like this. Pierre was one of these dogs and he found the right people. They saw him, realized he needed help, and were able to give it to him. They contacted the SPCA de PV who was able to coordinate getting Pierre off the street into a foster home. Things were clearly looking up for this approximately 2+ year old pup. He is a loving guy that weighs 7.3 kilos and loves to cuddle. Pierre thinks humans are great and wants to spend as much time with his people as possible. Playing with his ball on the beach is also something he loves. He is house trained, leash trained and does well with other dogs as long as they aren’t trying to push him around. Pierre is well behaved, loving and full of character, a great combination of attributes. Please share his story that his forever family can be found.

Pete After...

Life as he knew it has come a long way for this little street dog and we love to hear these
stories! Pete has made his home on Vancouver Island with his Mom and Dad – Yuka and
Tom. They tell us that Pete is such a happy little guy and makes friends with everyone he meets. The dog park is next door to Pete’s furever home, so he gets to go out early in the
morning for a good romp and explore all the sights and smells before anyone else. But if someone else happens to be there on a subsequent trip to the park – Pete will happily play the role of official dog park greeter. Pete has made some awesome two and four legged friends at his park and he looks forward to his trips to dog park playland! Another thing that Pete has discovered that is very different from Mexico is the temperature of the water. Pete loves to run after birds and will chase them right into the water…..that is until he realizes …what?? This water is COLD! He high tails it out just as fast as he ran in. Mom tells us that he also hops like a bunny when he plays ball…another favourite activity. Appetite… yes Pete will eat anything! So Mom and Dad keep a close eye on his table manners. Overall, Pete is a happy little guy whose personality shines a little brighter every day. He loves his rides in the car, meeting dogs and people, walks in the forest and of course sleeping. Oh, on the subject of sleeping, Yuka says that one small issue is that Pete takes up almost half of the bed when he sleeps... little bed hog! Yuka laughs when she thinks: “Wethought we adopted a small dog!” Pete is loved and so happy…. Can we ask for anything else? We think this is about as good as it gets and MexPup couldn’t be happier for Pete, Yuka and Tom!

Tessa (formerly Triza): Adopted! February 2, 2013

Bianca was on her way to school. When she got off the bus, she heard a thud and realized a dog had been hit by a car. She ran onto the street with outstretched hands to stop other vehicles that were quickly approaching. Bianca got her off the street, carried her onto the bus, and then searched for help when she got to school. Lots of people chipped in to help and eventually they were on their way to a vet. There are many more details to the story, but the important one are covered. Triza was saved by a wonderful person and many other great people helped along the way. I would say they all deserve a big hug and our thanks! This sweet girl is about 2-3 years old and we estimate that she weighs around 30 lbs. She has done well around the other dogs she has met and seem to have a gentle spirit. As we learn more about her, we will add to her story. What we do know is that her leg will be fine (per the ortho vet that she saw yesterday), she will get healthy and she will need a wonderful home where she will be a loved part of a family. Please help us to make sure that Triza gets all that she deserves.

Tessa After...

Writing fur-ever after stories is like being a reporter. You ask the “W” questions and you get a feel for the new life of your MexPup assignment. This “reporter” wants you to know that after spending some time with Tessa’s mom Krista on the phone, I absolutely am 200% sure that this is a perfect match! Tessa (formerly Triza) shares her home with Emme – a black lab who is nine months old. Krista and Simon felt Emme should have a fur sibling to play and exercise with. They had been looking at a number of rescue web pages. They found MexPup about the time when there were a lot of puppies up for adoption and having just been through that with Emme, they knew they wanted to adopt a dog just a little bit older. It wasn’t too long before Tessa showed up on the website. Simon saw her first and knew she was the “one” and Krista whole heartedly agreed. Krista says that life is certainly “busy” with two dogs but in such a good way. The two are like soul mates. They have bonded and love to play and wrestle with each other from the moment they wake up. When they wear themselves out… they curl up together too. When Mom and Dad are at work, Tessa and Emme go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house so that they won’t be left alone. Life is certainly good and Tessa is so grateful for her new life.

Tessa is continuing her water therapy for her hind leg and it is going well. Krista says treats are a powerful persuader to get Tessa in the tank on the water treadmill. The therapist is pleased with her progress to date. Mom says she is completely surprised at how adaptable Tessa is with everything and everywhere she has been on this journey. She is “lovely” and such a gentle spirit. Her foster Mom in PV called her a “Pretzel Pup” because of how she would curl up into a
little ball… apparently that hasn’t changed… she is one flexible girl! As soon as she sees someone touch her collar, Tessa knows that the really good times are
about to happen - long off leash runs around Elk Lake and up the hill to the Observatory. Tessa and Emme love their runs and then crash together when they get home. Krista and Simon are so happy to have found MexPup and so grateful to have Tessa in their lives. As far as Tessa goes… pretty sure the feeling is pretty much the same andmore! Keep up the good work team Tessa. Let us know how you are doing…

At MexPup we love happy endings. This is certainly one of them!

Freya: Adopted! January 29, 2013

It happens way too often, a litter of puppies is dumped. They didn’t ask to be born, and the mom certainly didn’t ask to be let out or around male dogs when she was in heat. It could have all been prevented if the dog was spayed, but of course “that isn’t necessary” they say, “the dog wants to have puppies”, “the puppies will be cute”……until they grow too big, new homes can’t be found, and a decision is made to discard them (this is the step in the process that gets me every time). The good news is that they picked a building where some animal lovers live. These people heard the cries of the puppies and put out food & water. The next day they started asking everyone they could for help. We saw the plea and the photo of one pup really pulled at us. We knew he needed care immediately or his chances would start dropping rapidly. It just so happened that Karen and Stephanie (from MexPup in Canada) were in town and they could foster them in an empty apartment that could be used for a week. So off we went to get the pups. We were met by the wonderful people that networked to get them help, we loaded them up and off to the vets we went. All in all, the news was pretty good. The 4 pups all had lots of parasites and were anemic, but they tested negative for the really scary stuff. Freya is the only girl in the group. At approximately 8 weeks old, she was one of the largest, weighing in at 1.8 kilos. She loves to play and is the dominate pup in the pack. She does everything at full speed and with her own flair…..Freya definitely provides comic relief as she is constantly wiping out. They are showing their personalities more each day and are curious about everything. They are romping around as only puppies can do and they are on their way to a bright future. If you want some excitement in your life, this bundle of joy could be a perfect match!

Freya After...

Katie and Ariel had always wanted a pet, and one lucky day their wish came true! After pondering for some time, Grandma finally said yes, lets get a dog! They had heard of Mexpup through their aunt and uncle who have two mexpups and also foster as well.They were often looking on their facebook web page and fell in love with Freya. She was too adorable and cute to look at any other pup out there. This lucky pup will never want for love cuddles again. They both say the best thing about thier dog is her cuddles. Freya goes for walks everyday with her girls and her favorite toy is her frog. Hopefully Freya will soon have a playdate with her brother Crackle as the girls have been talking to his new family. This Cuddley girl has found her match with these two.

Xuxa (formerly Prudence): Adopted! January 29, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Prudence is the instigator of the group. At seven weeks old she weighed in at 2.05 kilos. Prudence is an intrepid explorer, always the first to try something new or check out a new area. She takes no nonsense from her litter mates and seems a little shy around people at first, but quickly warms up. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. Prudence deserves a wonderful family and we can’t wait to find them.

Xuxa After...

Xuxa has integrated beautifully into her new family. On the phone there was nothing
but praise for Xuxa’s temperament and socialization skills. Anne wanted me to be sure to pass along to everyone at MexPup that her description
was very accurate and a huge
thank you to Xuxa’s foster families for the wonderful work they did with this lovely girl.
Xuxa lives in a multi-generational family home with Mom, Anne and Nelson and
their son Jeff. Xuxa has lots of four legged friends to keep her company: Luna - a Rotti/Husky Mix, Ozzie - a miniature poodle; as well as Ginger, Hannah and Shoe Shoe – the kitty cats. She has yet to meet the fish and turtles!! Xuxa has already become quite popular at the dog park on Lochside Drive. Because she needed a warm jacket to adjust to the temperatures here – Anne bought her a pink one. She is known at the dog park as the “Pink Bullet” as she just loves the freedom to run. People wonder if she is part miniature greyhound because of her long legs. Luna has taken Xuxa under her wing like her own pup and makes sure no harm will come to her baby while at the park. Luna also makes sure that Xuxa get the proper amount of dietary fibre and has taught Xuxa how to pick the brussel sprouts in the garden. Wouldn’t you love to see a picture of these two doing just that? Xuxa loves to ride in the car but only if she can curl up on Mom’s lap or with Anne. She settles right in like the car is her second home. Anne says Xuxa is particularly bonded to her but loves everyone in the family and all with whom comes into contact. Life is just about having fun for Xuxa now…. and she makes sure that she is the entertainment for everyone in the family. Even Luna, who is eleven years, is reverting to being a puppy around Xuxa. When I asked Anne to describe Xuxa in ten words or less, her reply was: All puppy, totally playful, loves to run and entertainment central! From everything I hear.. this is a perfect fit for Xuxa and everyone in the household. We are so happy for you Xuxa… run on sweet girl. Your life will continue to be sunshine and lollipops – doggie ones of course!

Rosa "Chuleta" Sanchez: Adopted! January 29, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Chuleta is the Speedy Gonzalez of the group. At seven weeks old she weighed in at 2.05 kilos. Chuleta is a speed demon and very aggressive in trying to get attention. She is the first one to reach you and jumps the highest to let you know she’s there. She loves to be held but is wiggling the whole time. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. Chuleta was lucky that her mom was rescued and now she gets to have a loving family all her own.

Rosa "Chuleta" Sanchez after.....

Chuleta was lucky enough to be rescued before she was born. Her mom, Petite was taken off the street shortly before giving birth. Chuleta was born in a safe place and quickly grew into an adorable puppy. She had a great time with her littermates and later with her foster family. When Debbie and Gary contacted Mexpup wanting a small dog with big ears, we knew that Chuleta was the perfect option for them. Chuleta will get to live in BC and take extended vacations to PV, so she gets the best of both worlds. We are thrilled for her, her new family and the amazing life we know she will now have.

Bailey (formerly Daisy): Adopted! January 29, 2013

We rescued 4 puppies and had been fostering them for about 1 week when we got a knock at the door. It was our neighbor Maureen with a young pup in her hands. She explained that she had found the dog under a car not far from her home. She had asked around and found out that the pup had been living on her own for a few days, under that car. Everyone felt bad for her; no one knew where the 6 week old puppy came from and they knew her chances of survival on her own were slim. Maureen knew she had to do something, but they were already fostering another dog (MexPup Tiny) so adding another puppy was challenging. Even so, she got the pup and after a trip to the vet, she arrived at our home. The good news was that the pup was relatively healthy, but even so our foster pups were in quarantine. A decision was made that once quarantine passed and the vet approved, Daisy would come into foster with the puppies we already had. She joined the pack of Snap, Crackle, Pop and Freya as the largest pup even though she is about 3 weeks younger than they are. At approximately 10 weeks old, she weighed 6.8 kilos, so we expect her to be a larger dog at 25+ kilos when full grown. She is such a sweet girl who plays hard and loves to be loved. Daisy loves big dogs and works hard to get them to play with her. She prefers to sleep next to people or other dogs, she is not a loner. This little girl steals hearts and will make a wonderful addition to someone’s family.

Bailey After....

Kathie was told about Mexpup from a friend after their family dog passed away. She browsed through the albums on Facebook, reading their stories, and picked out 2 dogs that she liked - Pink and Daisy. After sharing their stories with her husband, Marty, he said they should get a puppy this time. Kathie was worried because she couldn't find Daisy on the Mexpup.com page, but she applied anyway hoping she wasn’t yet adopted. When Kathie found out they were approved, she downloaded all of Daisy’s pictures that she could find and set her teenage daughter, Becca, to pick a new name (because apparently a dog can't be named for a flower), and Kathie came up with a mantra - brown head, black nose, beige legs, white toes. When Kathie and her other daughter Donna arrived at Karen's house to pick up Daisy (soon to be Bailey), it was like she searched Kathie out - she came right up to where she was sitting on the couch and put her head in Kathie’s lap. Marty works graveyard, so when Kathie and Bailey got home, there was time for a quick sniff and pet before he left. The next morning when Kathie left to drive kids to school, hubby watched as Bailey tried her darndest to work the doorknob with her paws. Later that day, because Marty was sleeping, Kathie took the puppy with her to watch Becca's basketball game. After the pre-game noise settled down, she curled up at Kathie’s feet and slept through the game. It’s very obvious that this pup has found her human to love and protect. The next day Kathie hears growling behind her, she immediately thinks it’s the cat that was picking on the new puppy, but instead found Bailey balancing on her hind legs trying to get a better look at the hedgehog stuffy Marty had given her for Valentine’s Day. That's when Kathie called her "Crazy Daisy" and then she decided Becca was right. Daisy needed the new name - and she became Bailey. We say to Kathie...welcome to puppyhood. Bailey loves Minou (cat sister); Bailey loves the big yard; Bailey loves all the kids who come to the house. She loves going with mom to the schools to pick up kids, too, because all the kids who come out of the school want to pet the cute puppy. Bailey loves to run up and down the yard. If someone is out there with her, she plays keep away with a ball or a piece of bark she pulls out of the wood pile; if no one is there, she just runs up and down the yard chasing nothing at all. Mom and dad watch her doing it on the surveillance cameras. Bailey really wants Minou to play, but Minou only puts up with her puppiness for so long. She will stay in the room as long as Bailey is calm. When Bailey starts bouncing, Minou finds a hiding place. Bailey loves going for walks. Kathie and Marty live right beside a city park and they take a different path every time we go. Becca works near another park and when she has a short shift, Bailey and mom drive her to work and then go walking until it's time to pick her up again. One weekend, Becca had a basketball tournament out of town and mom and Bailey went for a walk on the beach in Qualicum between games. Bailey you have found a loving and sounds like playful and busy home, perfect for a sweet puppy! Have a wonderful life sweet girl. Thank you to everyone who made this match happen.

Chevy (formerly Snap): Adopted! January 28, 2013

It happens way too often, a litter of puppies is dumped. They didn’t ask to be born, and the mom certainly didn’t ask to be let out or around male dogs when she was in heat. It could have all been prevented if the dog was spayed, but of course “that isn’t necessary” they say, “the dog wants to have puppies”, “the puppies will be cute”……until they grow too big, new homes can’t be found, and a decision is made to discard them (this is the step in the process that gets me every time). The good news is that they picked a building where some animal lovers live. These people heard the cries of the puppies and put out food & water. The next day they started asking everyone they could for help. We saw the plea and the photo of one pup really pulled at us. We knew he needed care immediately or his chances would start dropping rapidly. It just so happened that Karen and Stephanie (from MexPup in Canada) were in town and they could foster them in an empty apartment that could be used for a week. So off we went to get the pups. We were met by the wonderful people that networked to get them help, we loaded them up and off to the vets we went. All in all, the news was pretty good. The 4 pups all had lots of parasites and were anemic, but they tested negative for the really scary stuff. The littlest one was definitely the worse off. Snap weighed in at 1.4 kilos and they were about 8 weeks old when rescued. He has shown great improvement in the 10 days they have been in care. He may be the little one, but he certainly has a lot of spunk. Snap jumps into the wrestling matches, chases balls and bites everything (as puppies will do). He is also a cuddle bug who loves nothing more than to get a nice belly rub. They are showing their personalities more each day and are curious about everything. They are romping around as only puppies can do and they are on their way to a bright future. If you are looking for an adorable pup…..Snap definitely fits the bill.

Chevy After...

Chevy had a pretty rough start. All that changed for him when he was adopted by Therese. Therese was committed to adopting a rescue, and as luck may have it, she knew someone who had adopted a Mexpup previously. She knew she wanted to make a difference, and wanted a dog that needed her as much she needed them. She started looking on the web, and came across Chevy. He was the runt of the litter and had a pretty rough start. S knew right then and there that he was the one for her. From the moment he walked in the door, Chevy knew he was home. He’s a very relaxed boy, and is very open to new things and learning. Therese is amazed just how calm this little guy is. He loves everyone, and everyone of course loves him right back. He’s not fond of water or puddles, but he does love heat! He’s made himself a little sanctuary right on the hearth in front of the wood burnings fireplace. Therese says that Chevy has proven to be one of the best things in her life, and she’s so content with him. “Its been great having him, Chevy is so full of life, and personality; he’s a positive addition to our lives”. We’re so delighted and greatful that these two have met their match, we couldn’t be happier for them!

Sophia: Adopted! January 25, 2013

Sometimes things just don’t seem fair. A sweet street dog is about to have a litter of puppies and she picks a “safe” place to have them. She creates a space where she can care for them and hopefully won’t be bothered by others. When the puppies are big enough that they can venture out on their own, a tragic error is discovered. Their safe place is next to a road and the puppies have no idea of the danger. Sadly, a few puppies were hit which alerted a resident to the situation. Tuck stepped in to save the mom and the remaining puppies. Both the mom and one littermate found great homes and now it is time to help the other two puppies find their chance at a wonderful future. Sophia is about 6+ months old and weighs about 7.5 kilos. This shy little girl is sweet, feminine and very affectionate when you pick her up. As the runt of the litter, she often would hide behind the others, but you would always be able to spot this precious one as her lovely, large ears would give her away. Sophia loves to play like crazy with other dogs, but seems to do best in calm, gentle environments. She scampers when playing and it seems as if she wants to play tag. This charming girl has captured many hearts, so we are certain that finding her forever family won’t be hard. We just need someone that has a home full of love and is willing to share it with this gentle little girl.

Sophia After...

Sophia has adjusted to island life incredibly well. She had seemed so delicate and timid when she got here, and now she's crashing through the trails, barking at passing boats her fur sibling Rio and helping him chase away the otters on the dock. She's beyond out of her shell now!! All that and she's sweet and super cuddly too. She's still trying everyday to make friends with a very old grumpy cat,and she now manages to get several kisses in and live. Oh and she loves her chews! She definitely has a personality all of her own:) Wow Sophia, boat living and riding the waves sounds like an awesome life. Sweet travels to a sweet pup.

Copito: Adopted! January 20, 2013

There was a street dog in the neighborhood who slept under cars and got his food from the garbage. He had been living there a long time and then one day he started to get sick. Some nice people noticed that he needed help, so they started to feed him but he needed more help than just food. They spoke to Nydia to see if she could help. They told her that he had always had an involuntary tic and a unique structure to his head, but that he was a sweet guy…..just a little different. Nydia went to meet Copito and there was no doubt that he needed real help. She got a nice man that was driving by to take them to the vet (love that a random man helped them!!!). This pup had a lot of issues and the road to recovery was going to be long, but Nydia was committed to making sure this guy got a chance. Copito is about 2 years old and is a lab mix. He appears to have suffered from distemper as a young pup which caused him to have a tic along with a malformed skull. The tic has greatly improved as his health improved. His jaw & teeth have been affected by the abnormal development which makes eating tricky but this guy is a survivor. He survived distemper, he survived the streets and now he is ready for his chance. He is a sweet, funny, protective and smart dog. He sometimes thinks that he is a deer and jumps, jumps, jumps and jumps. Copito loves to go for walks and is particularly fond of finding wet, cool places to lie down. He has a wonderful spirit and has a special way with kids. This awesome pup brings joy to his own life and to the lives of those around him. He is happy all the time now….he knows how lucky he was and his challenges don’t get him down. We need to find a very special family for this guy, one that knows that different doesn't mean bad…..Copito is simply unique.

Copito After...

Yvette’s daughter in law adopted a mexpup two years ago. This planted the seed in Yvette’s mind. She eventually got in touch with Mexpup to become a foster home. She was approved and was looking forward to her first house guest, and kept checking the website to see who it might be. She kept seeing Copito’s photo on the site, and kept thinking “well, maybe he should be here”. Sure enough, Copito flew to Canada and ended up with Yvettes. Yvette was a little worried about their other dog, an Irish Terrier, who’s a high energy girl, but when Copito arrived, he was so mellow and just melted right in. The only way you would know he’s even there is by the drool on the floor. Copitos life now includes daily walks on the beach-his favourite!. Copito is finally home and we are so very happy he’s arrived at his final destination.

Sherlock (formerly Jaguar): Adopted! January 20, 2013

I truly hate the fact that this isn’t even close to the first time I have had to start the story of a puppy this way….A litter of puppies was found in a pile of trash (makes my blood boil!). Thankfully, a kind person saw them, picked them up and started to ask others to help. Marianna said yes and that is how Jaguar and Diego ended up in her home. They were only 3 weeks old and so needed to be bottle fed. Her son Mateo, who named them, was a big help with the bottle feeding and took great care of his “brothers”, as he called them. A few days after they arrived, Mar was asked to care for Sophia and her two piglets. Sophia took on the two puplets and started to feed them along with her piglets. Jaguar and Diego were nursed by the pig until they were ready for starter puppy kibble. Even a pig knows how to do the right thing even if some people don’t. It took these pups a bit of time to get healthy, but they are doing great and are almost ready to be adopted. Jaguar is now around 5 months old and weighs about 9 kilos. He is a low rider and reminds us of a Bassett Hound – just a mini version. Jaguar loves to play and he loves to explore. He does well with other dogs and kids. Clipping him to a leash still creates a bucking bronco reaction so he is being clipped to Lucca (his fur foster sibling) so that he will get used to walking on a leash. He is a smart pup, is almost house trained and is very attentive. Jaguar will make a wonderful addition and we think he would be great in a family with kids.

Sherlock After...

This is a story about the perfect match, and waiting for that special someone you have not met yet. When these two parties meet it’s like two forces in the universe colliding- it’s impossible to not notice. Cathy’s daughter Cassie had
wanted a dog for 3 years. They were on the hunt to adopt a rescue dog. They had met another dog, who unfortunately wasn’t so nice and left a bad taste in their mouths. Just when they decided to call off the search they came across a picture of Sherlock. They read his story, and it stole their hearts. When they went to
go meet Sherlock for the first time, they were told that he was a bit particular, and that he didn’t take to everyone (he was a bit protective of his pack). This made Cathy a little nervous after her last experience, but Cathy said she walked in the door to meet Sherlock for the first time and she knew immediately know this was her dog. Sherlock wasn’t fond of any others that came to look at him, but he was fond of Cathy and Cassie. Cathy says that Sherlock is the perfect dog for their family, he fits in so perfectly. Sherlock sleeps with Cassie, in bed, and of course, under the covers. He enjoys sniffing (hence his name) and especially sniffing at the beach. Moreover, he enjoys being a dog who doesn’t have to worry about anything other than being a dog. Cathy says they’re all bonded for life, and she’s glad she took that extra second on the internet that day to read Sherlock’s story.

Henry (formerly Diego): Adopted! January 19, 2013

I truly hate the fact that this isn’t even close to the first time I have had to start the story of a puppy this way….A litter of puppies was found in a pile of trash (makes my blood boil!). Thankfully, a kind person saw them, picked them up and started to ask others to help. Marianna said yes and that is how Diego and Jaguar ended up in her home. They were only 3 weeks old and so needed to be bottle fed. Her son Mateo, who named them, was a big help with the bottle feeding and took great care of his “brothers”, as he called them. A few days after they arrived, Mar was asked to care for Sophia and her two piglets. Sophia took on the two puplets and started to feed them along with her piglets. Diego and Jaguar were nursed by the pig until they were ready for starter puppy kibble. Even a pig knows how to do the right thing even if some people don’t. It took these pups a bit of time to get healthy, but they are doing great and are almost ready to be adopted. Diego is now around 5 months old and weighs about 11 kilos. He is a low rider and reminds us of a Bassett Hound – just a mini version. Diego loves to cuddle, he loves to get his belly rubbed and he really loves to give kisses. He does well with other dogs, kids and thinks that stuffy toys were made especially for him. He is learning to walk on a leash and is almost house trained. Diego will make a wonderful addition and we think he would great in a family with kids.

Henry After...

Diego hit the jackpot! He is now living the life with his new
family in Nanaimo, BC. Diego has two little girls to play with, and they keep him very active and busy. He will live his days care free and have lots of fun
and adventure. This little low rider melts hearts instantly and has been the perfect addition to the family.

Kelly: Adopted! January 16, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Kelly is the fun loving girl of the group. At seven weeks old she weighed in at 2 kilos. Kelly is a very happy pup, always wagging her tail. She is very spirited, has energy to spare and is willing to go and explore anywhere, but is also happy to spend time on a warm lap. Currently Kelly’s legs are short in proportion to her body giving her a stocky appearance. This awesome girl is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way her mom did. Kelly will soon be ready to have her own family. Please share her album so we can find them.

Kelly After...

Stay tunned!

Rio (formerly Cuervo): Adopted! January 14, 2013

Petite was living on the street when she was rescued by Andy along with another 2 dogs. They were an unlikely pack, but they stuck together and survived. It wasn’t until she was in foster for some time that her pregnancy was discovered. The good news is that she was in care for much of the pregnancy, so the puppies had good nutrition while they were developing. She went into labor and on Sept 21, 2012 delivered a litter of 8 puppies of which 7 survived. Cuervo is the happy guy of the group. At seven weeks old he weighed in at 2.16 kilos. Cuervo has a shiny black coat with some white on his face and neck. He is very happy-go-lucky, playing well with all the other pups. This awesome pup is growing up in a loving foster home and will never have to suffer on the street the way his mom did. Cuervo can’t wait to have a family of his own, please help us to find them.

Rio After...

Tegan was taking the Coho ferry from Seattle back to Victoria and noticed two people with dogs up ahead. Being an avid dog lover she thought she would go up and pay them a visit and give the pups a pat. After talking to the owners, she found out that these dogs were not just any dogs, they were Mexpups! One of the lady’s asked if Tegan was interested in adopting and OF COURSE she was! Off to the Mexpup website she went, and of course - there was Rio. She put in an application for him, but there were already a few pending applicants. Tegan was a little disappointed, but kept on hoping. Sure enough, within a few days, she got a phone call that Rio was available- within an hour she was at the foster home meeting him. 2 days later, Rio was home- for good. His favourite things are walks, and he’s smart as whip! At times, he runs and grabs his little jacket himself and will bring it to his mum as if to say “I’ve got my coat- put in on me and LETS GO!” Rio is living a very happy life now with Tegan. Sometimes when you go shopping in Seattle you may come home with something other than what you planned.

Snowy (formerly Shana): Adopted! January 12, 2013

It is an unfortunate fact in Vallarta that there are countless dogs that forage through the trash for their meals. They may eat the occasional scrap of food tossed to them by a sympathetic passerby or they may be street dogs too experienced in the dangers of trusting people to eat food from a human hand, surviving on their own. It can be hard to tell one from the other. These are dogs that spend most, if not all of their time fending for themselves. Tere knows PV well and was used to seeing 2 small pups in a particular trash pile. They were "owned" by a homeless man. Then one day she got the news, the man had been arrested on very serious charges and no one expected he would get out of prison any time soon (Jan 2012 update - he remains in prison and it will be many years until he is released). What was to become of the 2 dogs? The next time she saw them scrounging for dinner from the trash pile, she took action. She gathered the pups and got them to the vet. They both needed some medical attention in addition to a bath. Shana was one of these 2 pups. This approximately 1.5 year old girl weighs about 7 kilos. She is a sweet girl, but she’s shy too, so you don’t see her personality until after she has had a chance to see yours. Shana was fostered for about 4 months in a home with other dogs and children, doing well with both. She continues to gain confidence, but is most comfortable when she is around the people she knows. Shana is healthy, happy and looking for a forever home.

Snowy After...

Garry and his wife Serrena were contemplating getting another dog, and a friend (who happens to be a dog trainer) recommended Mexpup as a place to look to adopt a dog in need of a home. Like many of us, Garry fell in love with Snowy just by a quick glimpse of her photo – it was that mischievous face of hers that won his heart. Snowy made the last journey she would ever have to make alone- and arrived at her new home in Mission. She has a wonderful fur sister named Lilly who is a miniature schnauzer. They’re starting to do everything together; walk together, sleep together – you name it. Snowy is living out the life she was meant to have.

Stuart: Adopted! January 12, 2013

Stuart was seen on the streets by Claudia while on her way to work. When she got home that night, she went in search of him and asked the neighborhood kids to help. They were able to find him and he was immediately taken into care. The kids let her know that he had been hit by a car 3 days before. They thought he was dead because he didn’t move for 2 days, not even when the rains came and the streets were flooded. Somehow this pup survived…there is no question he is a fighter. He may only weigh about 5 kilos, but this is one tough puppy. We are in the early days of his recovery. We will do all we can for him. He is in a wonderful foster home that will provide the best of care. He knows he is loved.

Stuart After...

Julie came across Stuart through petfinder. She fell in love with his little face and his sweet eyes and put in an adoption form. Julie waited for months for Stuart to be able to make the journey to Canada; Stuart had barely been with
Julie two weeks when she had a serious horseback riding accident. Julie knew she would be unable to look after him for the first little bit until after surgery so he went to spend a couple of weeks with great friends who are dog people and share similar views on how to raise a puppy (since Mr. Stuart is still very much a puppy). Needless to say Stuart stole their hearts as well. We are happy to report that Stuart is now home with Julie and they are spending pretty much all their time together. On a typical day he goes for a walk first thing, then breakfast, then he plays with his chew toys (he has lots of them because they distract him from shoes, socks, the coffee table, etc.), follows Julie around the house like a shadow (he loves laying right at their feet in the kitchen), naps on his bed, plays some more. He goes for lots of car rides and LOVES the car – and he’s such a good passenger, you hardly even know he’s there. At first he was nervous around other dogs but he’s gotten a lot better – he engages in hilarious zoomie sessions sometimes jumping over a dog to avoid a crash. At night he gets another walk before bed time and then he settles in and sleeps in his house (his crate with the door removed) in the kitchen where he is quiet until the morning. Julie says it best: “He is a fantastic dog and I can’t believe how lucky I am to have ended up with such a great dog through a cross-border adoption. Of course Claudia knew how great he was all along and she took such great care of him when he came to her as a foster that my job is easy. I will be forever grateful to Claudia and Mexpup for rescuing Stuart.”

Lucy (formerly Barbara): Adopted! January 6, 2013

Barbara is (in the animal rescue world) the saddest type of case there is, a homeless and pregnant dog. She was rescued from the streets of Puerto Vallarta and taken to a local veterinarian by her rescuer, looking for someone to take her in. Well the vet called MexPup and we reached out to our community of animal rescuers and once again, the MexPuppers came through! Jenny and Lili stepped forward (again) and have setup a little nursery in anticipation of the 6-8 puppies to come. Sweet, calm and great listener have all been used to describe this 6 year old pup and when she has recovered from birth, been fixed and given a clean bill of health we will be looking for a forever home to offer her.

Lucy After...

Caroline was perusing the ads on pet finder when she came across a Mexpup. She saw a few photos of the dogs, but was really looking for a pointer type mix. When they came across Lucy it was just what she is
looking for. Lucy has moved right in, and gets along well with the other fur
members of the house (2 cats). In an attempt to blend in with the cats, Lucy has taken to playing with cat toys instead of her own. Caroline says that Lucy is socializing really well with other dogs, and she’s also really loving towards people. Caroline says that Lucy is a wonderful girl, and they’re so happy they found one another.

Micky: Adopted! January 5, 2013

Tere saw a little white pup running through a parking lot. He had a collar, so she assumed that the owner was somewhere close by. When she came out of the store he was gone and she figured all was well. She drove a few blocks and saw him again, but this time he was trying to cross a very busy street. There were lots of cars, lots of honking horns and a good chance of disaster for the pup. That is when Tere knew she needed to do something, she pulled an illegal U-turn, and went back to get the pup. When she first approached him, he was very scared and showed his teeth (as they say the best defense is a good offense). She gently spoke to him, telling him that she was not going to let him cross the avenue and told him to jump in her car. Tere says it was like he understood because as she opened the passenger door, he jumped right in, sat in the seat and was ready to go. He was very dirty, very thirsty and his collar had no tag. Off to the vets they went for an exam and a much needed bath. Mikie is about 2 years old and weighs about 4 kilos. He sure is a social guy and loves playing with other dogs (he thinks big dogs are great!). He also loves cats and loves people too. He has a wonderful personality and completely embraces the concept of being a “lap dog”. This little guy is ready for a forever home. The only question is which wonderful family will open their hearts & home to him.

Micky After...

Mickie was adopted by wonderful Cheryl, who lives on Vancouver island. Mickie didn’t have too much of an issue adjusting to his new home, he basically strutted in (yes, he strutted) and that was that- no contest! Cheryl loves Mickie to bits, he’s a very confident guy, but also very sensitive to his humans needs. For instance, he knows that the bed is very cold, so before bed, Mickie will hop in and warm up the sheets for Cheryl . Mickie’s days are now spent people watching from the big picture window in his house. On occasion he also enjoys a good afternoon of duck watching of their pond as well. Mickie has met tones of new people during his adventure of his new life, and we couldn’t be more proud of how its all turned out.

Wally (formerly Kato): Adopted! January 2, 2013

Angeles was driving through a neighborhood and saw a dog in need. She did what she does – she pulled over, scooped up the dog and got him to the vets. I don’t think she realized how desperate the situation was for this pup. When they got him in the clinic, it was obvious that he needed critical care. He was severely dehydrated and starving. Another day or two on the street in the summer heat would have been the end for Kato. He was immediately put on IV’s and given a few days to recover before blood work could be done & other issues evaluated and treated. The great news is that he got the care he needed, got the attention he needed, and is now well on the road to recovery. Kato is a small guy who weighed 3.2 kilos when he arrived. He looked much older than his estimated 2 years, but we believe that with time and good care, his youth will return (it has already started to happen!). After almost 4 weeks in the vet’s care, he has now moved to a foster home. He is a sweet, happy dog that is now a healthy 4.7 kilos. He is settling into his new pack and loves being in a home with other dogs (Hailey, the 80+ pounder is his favorite). We are confident that he will blossom in his new environment and will be ready for a permanent home in no time. If you are looking for a great new addition to your family, Kato might just be the guy for you.

Wally After...

Alana heard about Mexpup from her friend Katie who told her to look the Facebook albums to see and learn about the different dogs available for adoption. Alana originally inquired about another Mexpup, Stuart but he had already been adopted. Our fantastic co-ordinators suggested they look at Kato (now Wally). Alana and her family had always loved small wire haired dogs so they were excited to meet Wally and once they met him, they just knew he was the dog for them. Wally is described as mild mannered and loving, yet still has some puppy qualities about him. Alana had a hard time pin pointing her favorite thing about Wally, but named a few...! Some of their favorite things about Wally are how much he loves to cuddle and how he always wants to know what his people are doing. They love his cute little brown eyes and his furry paws that are always up in the air when he sleeps. An upside down Wally, yup adorable. Wally is so keen on his people that when they go to get dressed in the morning, he just KNOWS it’s because he’s going for a walk so when they are putting their pants on, he'll jump up in the air and try and bite the bottoms of their pants because he's so excited. However, he makes it difficult to actually put them on! HA too good Wally. Wally gets to go to most places his people go and his favorite is going out to the family farm in Metchosin and going on puppy dates. We are so happy Wally has all of you and a farm to run free and safe on. He will learn in time that a puppy is carefree and a troublemaker and we are so blessed you fell in love as we did. Happy life Wally.

Ginger (formerly CK): Adopted! January 1, 2013

We got a call from the vets. Someone has found a dog that needed help and they took her to our vets. Sabuesos took her in, but needed help and so MexPup got the call. Sabuesos takes such great care of our animals and they do so much to help MexPup that we had to say yes. We tried to find a foster home, but no one was available. We decided that even with the personal challenges we are facing, we had to bring her home. We believe she is about 8 months old and our current focus is getting her stable. She is severely anemic and underweight, so lots of nutritious stuff will be provided over the next days.

Ginger After...

Lori adopted ginger, and they say they’re just thrilled to have her. She's been the perfect addition to the family. Ginger captured Lori and her family’s heart and now they can't imagine life without her. Ginger absolutely loves Lori’s two boys and often sleeps with them at night. Ginger spends her days cuddling, going for walks, and playing with the family. They let her run off leash in a nearby field and she thinks that’s great. She’s goes to doggy daycare every now and then so she can socialize with other dogs. Although she was nervous the first time she went, she seems to now enjoy it. She helps Lori pick the boys up after school, and plays with them in the yard when she gets home. On the weekends the family goes to the park or the beach, and Ginger loves a good run around the park. Unfortunately Ginger's mange has returned so she has had several vet appointments over the last few weeks, but the good news is that she is responding well to the treatment and she’s looking much better! We know that Ginger is loved, and in good hands. We’re so thankful that Ginger has landed in a family that can provide her with the attention and love she has so much yearned for, and so deserves.