The Mexican Connection - The Motel Tijuana (Hoarders)

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated ~ Mahatma Gandhi

View photo gallery from Motel Tijuana - caution, these images are disturbing...

What Is Motel Tijuana?

Motel Tijuana was named by Laura Sandavol who runs Animal Advocates in Southern California and periodically crosses the border into Tijuana, Mexico, an extremely poverty-ridden town, and ventures to a private home of a hoarder named Don Juanito. Already unfortunate dogs, become immediately more unfortunate when Don Juanito find the the homeless starving dogs on the streets and takes them back to his home.

Being a hoarder, Don Juanito thinks he is helping dogs, however, hoarders have personality disorders that are hard to comprehend. Hoarders are highly negligent and all pets in their care suffer immensely. The dogs he takes off the streets already have it bad, but nothing compared to what awaits them behind closed doors of his residence. Most of these angels come in not too bad of shape, and end up slowly deteriorating.

Don Juanito's captive dogs are often tied up, not fed and and water is not readily available, even in extreme heat. Basically, they are slowly starved to death. The captives have no comforts and nothing but concrete, filthy dirt or plastic dirty kennels to lay in. They have no way to get out of the searing sun and heat, or get warm in the winter. Their lowered immune system triggers mange and the dogs lose their fur little by little. With their bones protruding due to starvation, they become more cold than an average dog left outside in cold weather. The dogs try to find some comfort with each other, and huddle together in dilapidated plastic dog crates usually until the last day of their life. Shock, due to Post Traumatic Stress sets in. Basically it's extreme depression. The hoarder rarely, if ever, allows Laura to take any of the dogs. One of her trips where she tried to remove some dogs, he allowed her and a small team to humanely euthanize the dogs in the worst and most sad shape. Of course, these are the ones R-mar and Laura both want to save, however, there is no one to take them, not enough foster homes, not enough people that will come forward to open their homes to a rescue dog or to donate financially to get them vetted and across the border to California to a sanctuary, fosterer, and forever home.

Most these dogs have never known a good day in their life, not one day without suffering or a human being kind to them. They are all so sweet, gentle, curious and affectionate dogs, until, they are near death, at that point, they are highly traumatized and show little expression. They could be saved from this heartbreaking life and could be wonderful and loving pets, if more people helped. Many of these dogs are purebreds, which is common in Mexico due to breeding for profit. Mexicans are no different than N. Americans that often want a status 'purebred' and/or puppy only, hence, breeders exploit this situation for profit.

There few to no laws here in Canada, or most places in the world, to protect animals from cruelty, and Tijuana is one of the worst.

The photos below are truly shocking environment most for most Canadians, since Canadians and Americans travel abroad to Mexico for holidays and rarely go to Mexican pounds, hoarders, or dumping grounds. It does not mean they don't exist, because they do. Here are pictures showing a day Laura went to Don Juanito's to convince him to end the suffering of the dogs in the most terribly starved conditions. Wouldn't you instead Loved to save one of these dogs and given it a home or temporary sanctuary?? So would Laura, and any of us at R-mar. However, there are not enough donations, funding, or foster care to help save the lives of these dogs without help.

Laura Sandoval does take a few with her, from what we all call The Hell Hole, and take them to foster homes at Mexican volunteer foster homes. These fosterers nurse the dogs back to health, show them they are loved. Laura's group pays for vet care and returns at a later date to pick up the dogs and take them back across the Californian border, into another foster home, until the are ready for adoption in the U.S. and to transport a lucky few to Canada. People need to be more compassionate and open their homes to a foster dog, rather than look at it like it is a bother, leaving fostering to others. Foster help is needed. Dogs and cats are completely depended on humans, and some humans we work with feel compelled to help, which we are very grateful.

What You Can Do?

1. You can foster a pet or two. If no one fosters or adopts, they can't be saved. The rescuers need help. An individual, a family, or a company, can sponsor or adopt a dog, a few dogs, or even an entire Tijuana dog pound.
2. You can volunteer and fill out a volunteer application and view positions currently posted.
3. You can donate financially. With funding, it is unlimited what Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue can do to help the lonely hungry dogs and cats. Our staff and group of volunteers work whole-heartedly to save animals from suffering here in Canada and around the world.
4. You can foster, please fill out a foster form. You can ask responsible friends and family to also foster.
5. You can organize a fundraiser.
6. You can donate Airmiles.
7. You can transport a street dog/puppy back with you while on holiday in impoverished country.
8. You can donate veterinary care in Calgary or Vancouver.
9. You can build dog houses for the dogs freezing in winter on Canadian Reserves that have owners and are homeless.
10. And for those of you that have more money than others, you can donate land and/or facility in Vancouver or Tijuana for a sanctuary/rescue/adoption center.