In 2024, Street Dog Love partnered with Ester y Liza to hold monthly sterilization (spay/neuter) clinics in Sisal, Yucatan, Mexico (population approximately 1,800). Sisal is a small, isolated Mexican community with limited resources that is located about 45 miles northwest of Merida. A wide array of fragile wildlife inhabits the beaches, mangroves and coastal water of Sisal, including flamingos, herons, egrets and many other migratory birds. Sea turtles of various species lay eggs along the coast. Unfortunately, the street dog and cat population in Sisal is believed to now exceed the human population. Thus, the goal of the Sisal project is to reduce the homeless dog and cat population (thereby improving their quality of life), which will also serve to protect wildlife from being preyed upon for food by the dogs and cats. We funded sterilization surgeries for more than 1,000 dogs and cats in Sisal in 2024 and hope to make it an annual project.
2025 update: We have continued to work with Ester y Liza, funding an additional 450 sterilization surgeries in Sisal and the nearby communities of Celestun and Chelem. Following a chance encounter while waiting for a veterinary appointment, we also worked with the small community of Ek’ Balam in 2025 to help spay/neuter the homeless dogs that live at the Ek’ Balam ruins as well as dogs and cats in the nearby pueblo. More than 60 animals have been sterilized so far in Ek’ Balam with funding from Street Dog Love.
