It is a sad fact that a large number of cats and dogs in Panama do not have a place to call home. Most Panamanian families exist on an income of less than $500 a month, which barely provides food for the household, and does not leave a budget for pet medical care. Even so, some lucky animals will benefit from the meager support of a human family who will occasionally throw out leftovers for a stray. While these animals manage to keep starvation at bay, their human providers can never afford sterilization. And sterilization is necessary if we are to humanely control the over population of animals in our area.

Left unchecked, Humane Society statistics show that a female dog and her off spring can produce 11,000 animals in just one year, while in the same period a female cat and her offspring can produce a staggering 60,000 animals. The problem of animal over-population is one that cannot be ignored.

With the help of Spay Panama , government officials in Gorgona and a group of expat volunteers, efforts have already been made towards controlling the stray animal population in the Pacific beach and mountain area.

However, we need to do more to make a significant dent in this problem. To do that, Spay Panama will be in Gorgona for 2 days in September to perform on the spot spays and neuters for animals that are brought in.

Here’s what you can do to help:

• Bring in an animal that would not normally receive a sterilization.
  
• Donate towards the sterilization of other animals. While Spay Panama will not turn away any animals, they do incur costs for supplies and vets. Their operation runs entirely on donations.
  
• Volunteer to help during the campaign. People are needed to help prep an animal for surgery; to carry sedated animals to and from operating tables; to sanitize tables after surgeries; to clean ears and clip nails of sedated animals; and to pick up people from their homes and bring them back. Contact Shiela Scott at 6656-9929 to find out what you can do.
  
• Spread the word about the campaign to your friends, neighbors and workers.
  

When and Where?

Saturday September 20th
From 8am at Gorgona Casa Communal
Low Cost Sterilizations

Sunday September 21st
From 8am at Gorgona Casa Communal
Free Sterilizations sponsored by Spay The Strays

How to get there:

Take a right at the entrance to Gorgona if you are coming from Coronado.  Take a left if coming from Bejuco. There’s a small shopping plaza on the corner with the Mini Super Gorgona in it.  Go down more than a mile until you see a large Super Mercado Jonathan.  Turn right there.  Then, go down several small intersections (over at least two speed bumps) until you come to an intersection that has signs for three places:  Casa Sin Punto, Rincon Catracho, and La Ruina.  This is 2nd Ave Sur.  Turn left there.  Continue until you see the restaurant Rincon Catracho on your left.  Just past there, on your right is a large light green and brown building (La Ruina).  Take a left at that intersection.  You should see a Super Mercado on your right and then a futbol playing field on your left.  At the end of the futbol field there are three building,  the first one is the Junta Comunal (followed by the Ministerio de Salud).

To book an appointment for a cat or dog, please call:

Mary Rhodes: 6752-5815 (English)
Ligia: 6786-0611 (Spanish)

Click here for pictures from previous campaign