via trtworld / Twitter
It’s no secret that Mexico has a stray dog problem. Expert estimate that Mexico has the largest stray dog population in Latin America, between 15 and 18 million. Fortunately, a group of Mexican soldiers are helping to tackle the problem of Los Perritos de Santa Lucia.
In Zumpango de Ocampo, the Mexican army has set up a dog shelter called Los Perritos de Santa Lucia. The goal is to house and help rehabilitate stray dogs
“The goal of the shelter is to give the dogs a temporary home and to adapt them to live with humans and other dogs so that they can be adopted by a family,” said second lieutenant and veterinarian Carla Medellin. at Reuters.
Los Perritos de Santa Lucia is located near the current construction site of the future international airport on the outskirts of Mexico City. The plan fell into place when airport architects noticed an unusual amount of stray dogs roaming the site. Instead of getting rid of the dogs, the Mexican army (which is in charge of the construction site) decided to take a more humane approach.
Los Perritos de Santa Lucia is located in the building of a former kindergarten. The building was adapted using recycled construction materials from the airport site.
Los Perritos de Santa Lucia can accommodate up to 50 dogs. The overall goal of Los Perritos de Santa Lucia is to rehabilitate dogs so that they can safely interact with humans.
“What we are looking to do is give them a better life, a home, above all a lot of love and affection, a family that loves them,” Private Diana Lucia Ramos told EFE. “The right word is recovery,” she continued. “We don’t know what their situation was. They start to trust you and that’s where we start to work with them, to socialize them.
The Mexican military also intends to train dogs to become assistance dogs or even medical alert dogs.
“Dogs can help us as medical alert dogs. They can detect cancer, hypertension, early diabetes or COVID-19, ”airport architect Pamela Diaz told Reuters. “Mainly at the airport, they will allow rapid tests to be carried out. Already, three of the 58 rescued puppies have proved useful. Two went to work in a government agency. The third became a service boy with an autistic child.
The biggest issue right now is how easily it is possible to attach to puppies. “There were times when we were moved to tears because you love them so much,” Private Carlos Daniel Vega told EFE. But in the end, the heartbreak of the separation is worth it.
“They leave very happy, with the hope of being better, of having shelter and food. It’s good because they pass it on, ”he said.
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