ALTA VISTA, NAYARIT |
We left in the morning on a small adventure. We were going to see the 5,000-year old petroglyphs of Alta Vista, which are among the oldest in all of Mexico. After going through Bucerías, highway 200 becomes a winding, two-lane road, passing the popular surfing town of Sayulita and a few minutes north, the quiet town of San Pancho. The road then becomes straight and smooth, with a string of colorful fruit stands on the right hand side.
We stopped to buy a five pound bag of sea salt for 30 pesos ($ 2 USD) and some coconuts for their milk and meat. Almost two hours after leaving home, we arrived at the sign that says “Alta Vista,” which is a hillside village between the coastal towns la Peñita and las Varas. The road that slowly rises up the hill is paved and there are no signs indicating where the petroglyphs are. If one goes as far as the dirt road, as we did, the turn-off has been passed. We turned back, and took a rocky dirt road to a cluster of enormous mango trees heavily laden with ripening fruit, parked, walked to a barbwire fence and began our descent to the arroyo,
acres of fruit orchards – mango, guayanaba and papaya – with a view of a
spectacularly beautiful tropical forest on the hills across from us. At the arroyo, which was almost dry, we turned to the right and followed it until we came to the spot where we saw the first petroglyph and where an older gentleman wearing a white baseball cap and carrying a rake approached us. As guardian of the petroglyphs, he collected 20 pesos each from us and advised that there was water further up the boulder-lined trail. A series of signs written on tin in English and Spanish along the path give an interesting history of the area.
After a fifteen or twenty-minute gentle ascent, we arrived at series of rock shelves that the stream flows over, forming pools of water at different levels. It was a hot day, so we took a dip in the deepest pool and stayed for some time, watching butterflies overhead and listening to
the whooshing, wind-like sound the palm fronds made as they brushed up against each other.
PETRÓGLIFOS DE ALTA VISTA |
The Tecoxquines had carved religious symbols into the volcanic rock lining Lapiletas creek in approximately 2300 BC. After the Spaniards arrived in the early 16th century, the Tecoxquines completely disappeared, victims of disease and forced labor. There are more than 2000 carvings covering more than 200 acres in Alta Vista, 70 of which visitors can see without too much trouble. The Huicholes, an indigenous people known as the “healers,” sometimes visit this sacred place to perform ceremonies and leave offerings to their gods.
HUICHOL OFFERINGS AT ALTA VISTA |
For some excellent information and a map, which I wish we had looked at in advance: http://richardlawhorn.com/altavista/pila_del_rey.html
COLONIA LOMA BONITA |
The dirt roads are dusty now, as there has not been any rain for a couple of months. The clinic was in the ample downstairs open-air space of a home belonging to the family of the boyfriend of our vet tech and education director, Leslie Carrachatea. Leslie said she had met a some of the parents of children who had told them about the clinic after being at her school presentation.
DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA – LOMA BONITA |
As in almost every colonia we visit, there were dogs on every street, chained up dogs and dogs well cared for in enclosed spaces. As we had space for five more animals on Thursday, I walked a few blocks knocking on doors asking if there were pets that needed to be sterilized. One nice family had six Chihuahuas and one Pug in a fenced in area and a chained up female Pit Bull. The dogs were all safe, but none were sterilized and he said none would be. An attractive man on his work said he would run back home to get his two dogs, and did. Two pretty young girls living in their squalid family home, managed to catch one of their female cats. They were unable to capture the frantic male, so a kennel was left with them for Friday´s clinic. An unfortunate man missing his front teeth pushed a bicycle around collecting large black bags of plastic. An Australian-mix breed dog chained to the bike panted next to him. She had had a litter a few months before, and even though the man followed me to the clinic, he said he wanted his dog to have more puppies. The man left without letting his dog have a drink of water.
DESGRACIADAMENTE NO QUERÍA ESTERILIZAR SU PERRA – COLONIA LOMA BONITA |
Male cats – 13; Female cats – 26; Male dogs – 24; Female dogs – 43 TOTAL: 106
ANTES DE CIRUGÍA – LOMA BONITA |
ADDENDUM: I failed to note terminated pregnancies at the clinic in San Vicente April 29-May 2:
1 dog with 5 fetuses; 1 dog with 4 fetuses; 1 cat with 3 fetuses
CLÍNICA EN LOMA BONITA |
CLÍNICA EN LOMA BONITA
All pet registration forms with signatures of owners or rescuers are submitted by Dr. Poli to the local department of health, with copies to PEACEAnimals. |
DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS: $1,760.98 USD – Darlene Carucci organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise monies for a memorial clinic for Candace Shaw´s poisoned Weimaraner, Sterling.
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“STERLING” – LA PERRA ENVENENADA |
Total amount raised was $2,050. GoFundMe keeps 7.9% plus $.30 per donation. The clinic will take place at Candace´s, who is a board member of PEACEAnimals.
Hadene Klassnik – $100 USD
Pam Lock – $100 USD
Chris Vietor very generously hosted drinks, taquitos and three fantastic groups of musicians to play for a small benefit at his wonderful terraced penthouse on the beach Friday night. Guests stayed until midnight and donated a total of 12,300 pesos. This money will pay for the sterilization of approximately 42 cats and dogs.
Kelsie Macray – $319 USD – which represents $1.00 for every dog collar or leash sold by her company. All accessories are handmade in Los Angeles – www.beastandbabe.com The $1.00 is what it costs PEACEAnimals to treat every cat and dog for ticks, fleas, parasites and mange, if present. Thanks to Kelsie, 319 dogs and cats have been treated this past quarter.
DR. POLI – LOMA BONITA |
The mission of PEACEAnimals is to prevent the suffering of animals. We reduce, but do not eliminate, the suffering of animals by sterilizing approximately 4,000 cats and dogs annually. Many thousands of kittens and puppies are born here every year, and an enormous number are born to starve, become diseased, injured or killed by vehicles and often become victims of abandonment and abuse. Please contact any or all of the animal rescue organizations if you need help for an animal or would like to adopt one. That list is on our website on the “resource” tab.
EDUCATION PROGRAM! Leslie Caratachea, our new vet tech and education director, visited the José María Morelos y Pavon school in the colonia of Loma Bonita on Monday in advance of our clinic. Leslie presented a program regarding treatment of pets, wild animals and the environment to a total of 137 children. Our expectation is not only that the children bring in family pets, but that they teach their parents and siblings what the have learned. Thank you to the school´s principal, Liliana Oseguera, for giving us permission to visit.
GATA RECUPERANDOSE DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA – LOMA BONITA |
http://gooddog.pw/my-account/
RESCUED AND NEED HOMES:
Three months ago Fernando Verduzco rescued a starving five-month old male Boxer from the streets. The beautiful dog has been brought back to health and needs a great home. Please contact Fernando via Facebook if interested.
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BOXER 8 MESES DE EDAD RESCATADO Y PARA ADOPCIÓN |
“Ganache,” the young male tuxedo cat I found on the street is now being fostered at Puro Gato. This is a great cat. Please contact Puro Gato via FB if interested. Puro Gato also has 23 young kittens at the shelter that need homes.
To donate to PEACEAnimals clinics, please click on this link. http://bit.ly/1cWY0lP
SMILEAMAZON– When ordering on Amazon, if you click on the following link you can designate PEACEAnimals as a recipient of Amazon´s donation of 0.5% of some of your purchases. http://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-3726038
13-16 – Calle Mar Blanco # 475 Colonia Palmar de Aramara
Home of Candace Shaw- memorial clinic for her dog Sterling, who was poisoned in a nearby park
Directions: Cruise Ship Marina /Sam’s/Walmart right on Prisciliano Sanchez at
1st traffic light right on Oceano Pacifico, go 4 blocks pass the IMSS hospital & at the park on the left, turn right on Mar Blanco, 1/2 block down on the right #475
20-23 -Colonia Coapinole – address and directions TBA
27-30 – Colonia Volcanes – at the local community center where free English and computer classes are given. Megan Jane Shelton, who organizes and teaches this program, requested this clinic and will secure donations of lunches and funds to cover the extra gas and driving time for the vet team.
Please “like” PEACEAnimals on FaceBook.
PLEASE DONATE KENNELS. WE DON´T HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP ALL THE DOGS IN. |
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NIÑA CON UNA DE SUS GATOS EN LOMA BONITA. LA LLEVÓ PARA ESTERILIZAR. |
Thank you for your interest and support.
LINEA DESIGNADA PARA DIRECIÓNES EN ESPAÑOL DE LAS CLÍNICAS CADA SEMANA: (322) 113 3955
http://gooddog.pw/my-account/
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