Hi Global Strays Partner,

I wanted to share a story with you to shine a light on one of our valuable team members and an inspirational teenager.

Since 2017, Global Strays has been supporting the animal shelter Rescatando Huellas, run by Mabia Espinoza, in the rural region of Jinotepe, Nicaragua. Our partnership with Mabia was initially limited to funding for her shelter. Inspired by Mabia’s unwavering passion and dedication to the animals in her care, we welcomed her onto team Global Strays in 2019. She now works as our program facilitator organizing educational, veterinary, and sterilization clinics free of charge to economically disadvantaged pet owners within the communities surrounding her shelter. 

Mabia is proud and grateful to work for Global Strays because this work has resulted in powerful, positive changes in her community. She says, “These past few years, we have seen significant changes in peoples' behavior towards animals. Previously, people mistreated their pets, did not give them freedom to move around, and deprived them of food.” Since the sterilization and educational clinics, families’ attitudes have evolved significantly with respect to the care and handling of their pets. 

Additionally, Mabia feels great hope that her work with Global Strays will have a long-lasting impact on her community, because there is great youth engagement in the clinics she facilitates. An especially striking example of this is a thirteen-year old boy named Maynor that has been a frequent attendee of the clinics. Although Maynor arrived at his first clinic as a very shy boy with difficulty expressing his feelings or conversing with others, he had a clear special connection with his animals.

Mabia tells us: “During this past year, the clinics have allowed Maynor to utilize his love for animals to develop a greater sense of responsibility for his community and awareness of how to humanely treat pets.” He now has the tools and resources to back up his passion for animals, which will allow him to share his new knowledge about animal welfare with his community. 

Mabia thanks Global Strays and its donors “for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great team which is helping to transform hundreds of lives here in the district of Carazo, a little piece of our beloved Nicaragua.” She hopes that with your continued support Global Strays can replicate the success of this program in many more underserved communities worldwide. 

Due to these ongoing clinics, Mabia’s ties to her community continue to strengthen, encouraging change in the mindset of pet-owners. We are so grateful to have this passionate, hard working animal-lover on our team.

Warmly,

Liz Shafiroff & The Global Strays Team