Victim of drug violence that cut off both of his front legs, an old Mexican dog competes for the title of pet of the year awarded by American pet lovers.
This is the story that Patricia Ruiz shares to promote the work of her life, the Milagros Caninos shelter, installed in the south of Mexico City. With its two leather prostheses, Pay de Limón is the star of the sanctuary that houses some 400 dogs and 89 cats near the area of ??the Xochimilco canals, the last pre-Hispanic heritage of the city.
The story of Pay de Limón has been told dozens of times by the creator of the hostel, who describes herself as an activist and writer.
“Milagros Caninos received a call 14 years ago in which they told her that a dog’s front legs had been cut off and that they had been thrown into a garbage can,” she recalls. Pay de Limón was able to benefit from some leather prostheses made in Virginia, United States.
The animal with light fur and bleached by the passing of the years, so far is leading the “America’s Favorite Pet” contest (the favorite pet of the United States). Voting closes this Thursday, February 16. The prize is $5,000 and the cover of Dogster Magazine.
“He is a hero! He is not spiteful. His life is an example of courage and always moving forward,” say the organizers.
“Milagros Caninos only receives dogs in extreme situations. Dogs with cancer, without legs, blind, deaf, burned, tortured, paralyzed, raped, drugged, beaten with an axe, mutilated…”, says Ruiz.
Among the other inmates victims of mistreatment, the presence of Strawberry stands out, who suffered an ax blow that destroyed her snout. Strawberry benefited from the world’s first dog reconstructive surgery, with nasal turbinates and implants, Ruiz says.
She explains that she opened her Milagros Caninos shelter after the death of her own dog. “He died of suffocation while I was sleeping. From there I said to myself: I will help all the dogs that are suffering.”
In 18 years, Milagros Caninos received between 3,000 and 4,000 dogs, according to its founder. The shelter employs 23 people, including three veterinarians who also care for dogs with cancer, disabled dogs…
In total, the shelter consumes four tons of croquettes per month. His monthly spending reaches up to 700,000 pesos per month (35,000 dollars). For its financing, the hostel launches calls for contributions on its website.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
