We’d like to take a minute to share with you the success of our most recent spay and neuter clinic held in the community of Guisquiliapa, Nicaragua, located in the municipality of Jinotepe last week on March 22, 2020. This was our second time servicing this community and on this occasion 85 dogs and 55 cats were spayed or neutered, free of charge to the families of this rural community.

According to our program facilitators, approximately 70% of the animal population in this community were fixed in just one day. Because of the success of several of our previous clinics, many of the 170 human attendees to this most recent clinic expressed greater confidence in the Global Strays program. Today, the practice of spay/neuter is becoming more accepted throughout Jinotepe, where Global Strays’ program is focused. We strongly believe that spay/neuter programs are the most effective method to prevent overpopulation and abandonment of thousands of dogs and cats.  

During the clinic, our facilitators assured pet owners that there is still zero evidence that pets can be carriers of the COVID-19, a widespread fear in Nicaragua. Our facilitators encouraged the community not to abandon their pets for this reason and advised them how to better care for pets in general.

Regretfully, in light of the rapidly developing COVID-19 crisis, we will be temporarily suspending future clinics in an effort to protect the health of the communities we work with. We hope to get the clinics back up and running when the time is right, especially since this most recent clinic was so successful.

Although these clinics will not be running, Global Strays continues to support our partner organizations’ animal shelters monthly with basic necessities including dog and cat food, salaries for caretakers, construction materials, veterinarian care for sick or injured animals, and much more.

Our partners and the stray animals they care for need us now more than ever; and we are grateful, as always, for your support!

Warmly,

Elizabeth Shafiroff

President