From Zero to Hero
Family for Life
It’s hard to imagine life without Bonita, our spunky little chihuahua. She’s our first dog, and indeed a member of the family. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for her and her well being. Since adopting her, we’ve had her eye operated on to provide her with greater comfort, and had her hip joint removed in a life saving surgery.
We feel like we’ve been through it all in such a short time. Together in a Toyota Corolla we have driven through forests, mountains, jungles, deserts, you name it. Our adventures have taken us between Toronto, south Florida, Sayulita and Prince Edward Island- but that’s a whole other story!
Adopt Over Shop
Adopting a dog is one of the best things we’ve ever done. Bringing a dog into our lives has made us happier and better versions of ourselves. When we were considering bringing a dog into our lives, we decided to volunteer with some local organizations to gain experience in taking care of animals, and confirm that we were truly ready to commit.
During that journey, we saw first hand some pretty tough situations that dogs had been put it in. After witnessing so many desperate dogs in need of help, we felt that adopting was the right path for us.
We also knew we would have to be considerate to ourselves and any dog that we would bring into our lives given our travelling lifestyle. We were working remotely throughout North America and taking on gigs in different cities. The last thing we wanted to do was bring a dog who had already lived a tough life into an uncomfortable situation, so we had to make sure we were ready, and meet the right dog.
Adopting Around Puerto Vallarta
We had no experience owning a dog and the responsibility that comes along with it prior to adopting Bonita, so we volunteered with SayulitAnimals, a non-profit clinic that also helps facilitate adoptions. The network of animal rescues in the PV area is a vast community, including shelters, small organizations, and everyday people who find abandoned dogs and reach out for help.
Facebook and Whatsapp glue the network together. This online community of dedicated dog lovers help dogs find forever homes in Mexico and beyond. The community helps connect dogs and adopters, and with so many people travelling back and forth from Mexico to the US or Canada, there is usually little trouble finding a flight angel (a volunteer that helps deliver adopted dogs to their forever homes).
SayulitAnimals
When we volunteered with SayulitAnimals, we helped take care of a family of dogs. They only have a few spaces for dogs that are typically used to hold rescues that are on their way to forever homes. There was a Chihuahua mix from a farm they named Trixie, and she had just had a litter of puppies. The owners of the farm didn’t have the means to take care of all the new dogs, so they reached out to SayulitAnimals for help. Luckily it didn’t take long before all the puppies and Trixie were adopted.
While the puppies were nursing, volunteers were needed to come in at different times for feedings, changing bedding in the kennels, and just being there to play with them and build a trusting bond between dogs and people. That was our first real experience looking after dogs and helped us learn not only the basics of dog care but also how to network in Facebook groups to find out where we would eventually adopt Bonita.
The Adoption Fair
A Chance Encounter
Nearing the end of our 3-month stay in Sayulita, we kept a close eye the Facebook groups for a little travel-sized Chihuahua that we hoped would fit well into our lives. That’s when we caught wind of an adoption fair happening close to Puerto Vallarta in a town called Valle Dorado.
We left bright and early the next morning to take the bus from Sayulita and had no idea what to expect. We disembarked the bus and crossed a bridge over the highway to town, which was comprised of one main street that had a big mall at the top. At the entrance there stood a modest tent with a couple of tables sponsored by the local pet shop Pet House.
There were approximately ten people who had brought dogs in for adoption, and another twenty people looking to adopt. However, much to our disappointment there were no tiny dogs. We met and spoke with the organizers who were hopeful we could adopt one of the many dogs looking for homes, but very nice and understanding towards our goals. Before leaving the fair, we traded contact info for potential leads on small dogs.
Moments of Doubt
We walked away with the feeling of emptiness, asking ourselves if we should keep holding out for the right dog when there are so many out there that need homes right now. We decided to take a walk and find some lunch, and stumbled upon a restaurant called, Tacos Goyo Bahía de Banderas serving up delicious tacos.
After lunch we headed back to the bus. As we walked past the fair, we could hear someone yelling. We turned around- was it for us? One of the organizers came running towards us shouting, “Chihuahua, Chihuahua!” She caught up to us and excitedly explained that a lady had just arrived with a little tiny one. We looked at each other full of excitement, and hurried back over to the fair with the organizer.
Love At First Sight
Wrapped in a silk scarf and held in the arms of a woman named Mireya, was the little Chihuahua, Bonita. She had been found abandoned and malnourished by a dumpster. Mireya said that Bonita had ran from beneath the dumpster into traffic and was nearly struck when she decided to take her in.
She had been taking care of her for a month or so, but with her family and other dogs in the house, she was not able to take care of her forever. Although in rough shape, she was so sweet and pretty that Mireya decided to name her Bonita.
Mireya set Bonita on the ground as we approached and she scurried over to Caslon. As soon as Caslon picked her up, she immediately started licking her all over her face. The organizer and Mireya were both taken aback because they said she had barked at everyone else that day. It was love at first sight.
Little Known, Dark Past
What had happened to this poor pup we wondered? Her eye was swollen and watering like she had just been struck in the face. She appeared malnourished and crookedly misshapen. There were stitches still in place from a recent visit to the vet where she received vaccines and was also spayed.
We have imagined ridiculous scenarios for her origin story, like having survived hardships and violence, as the victim or antagonist… but all we know for sure is that Bonita is taking her past the the grave with her. And what could it matter to us, or to her for that matter. Like said before, it was love at first sight, and today would mark the first day of the rest of our lives.
A Solemn Commitment
It was a long time ago now, but I recall the process for applying to adopt a dog in Canada to be a difficult and lengthy process. For this reason, we now found ourselves in a world of other questions as to how this was all going to work. The organizer who was helping to facilitate the adoptions must have been as confused as we when we began to ask documents and next steps from our end, because she responded, “… so do you want the dog?” Right. You can take the kids out of Canada but you can’t take Canada out of the kids.
We did have one form to sign, and it was short and sweet. It actually was reminiscent of a wedding ceremony where the organizer took the place of the officiant, and asked us questions to sign off on such as:
“…will you unconditionally love this dog?
…do you have the means to take care of this dog, and will you be there for her in the good times and bad? …
…will you bring her into a loving and safe home?“
After the papers were signed and all was said and done, we took a commemorative photo in front of their event poster and thanked everyone involved for their help. We were gifted a bag of dry food, and made a donation to their foundation.
Buen Viaje
Since Bonita was recently spayed, we took a walk around the corner to the vet along with the organizer and Mireya to find out when we could return to have her stitches removed. We were also pointed to the direction of the local pet shop so we could buy her a bed and some toys.
It was finally time to part ways, so Mireya gave Bonita one last squeeze, and bid us farewell as we took the little gremlin on her first walk! We’ll never forget how excitedly her little bug legs scurried along as she zig-zagged every which way sniffing this and that.
Before we split ways, we did exchange contacts with Mireya. I couldn’t help but notice she was a little sad to give up the dog she had rescued. I was clear they had a bond. From time to time to this day, she’ll message us to check in, or I’ll send a photo to let her know she is ok.
Welcoming Bonita Home
After retrieving the goods, we hopped back on the bus to Sayulita with Bonita on our laps. We were worried that she might be frightened to be carried off with strangers, but she was very calm as we bounced through Bucerías and beyond during rush hour.
We made it back to Sayulita together safely and welcomed her to Casa Rosa. After Bonita completed a thorough inspection, she hopped right into the new bed we had just bought, and quietly made herself at home. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in our lives and travels.
Bringing A Dog Back From Mexico
Logistics
Whether you’re travelling to Canada or the US, by air or by road, it’s important to have the right documentation. You can find all the necessary information on these two websites, tailored to your specific needs:
These resources are incredibly helpful. Depending on factors such as your dog’s age and whether you’re bringing your own dog back or importing a dog for adoption as a flight angel (considered commercial in Canada), slightly different regulations may apply. The decision tree guides you until criteria have been met. The website will then provide you with all the necessary documentation.
People often wonder and ask us about the difficulty and cost of bringing a dog back home. While we always carry a bundle of paperwork detailing Bonita’s complete medical history when we travel with her, truth be told, the process is quite straightforward. As long as your dog appears healthy and has an up-to-date rabies shot that can be verified with medical records, you can travel freely through Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
At the US border you might be asked to sign a document declaring your dog is in good health, but it’s not a common requirement. There’s also a travel document that a veterinarian in Mexico can provide for your dog, declaring it is in good health. However, I’ve never been asked for this at the US or Canadian border, but I have had to provide this when flying locally in Mexico. In any case, it’s always advisable to double-check with your airline for any specific documents they may require.
Final Thoughts
Adopting a dog in Mexico and bringing them back home is a journey you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Our experience connected us with other animal lovers, and took us behind the scenes to where the heroes are that dedicate their lives to helping abandoned dogs.
Logistically, adopting a dog is simpler than you think. The real challenge is preparing yourself mentally to achieve what I think will be one of the best endeavours you will ever embark upon. The decision to adopt is a chance to change a life and be changed in return.
Good luck on your adoption journey, we would love to hear your story too! Thanks for reading and safe travels.
~Stay wavy~
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