Sun, Sand, and Snips! How PETA Latino’s 4-Day Spay-a-Thon Changed Lives in Cancún
While spring breakers packed the sandy beaches of Cancún, PETA Latino spent the week saving lives in underserved communities of Quintana Roo, Mexico. During our 16th spay/neuter clinic in Cancún, we sterilized a total of 485 cats and dogs, provided veterinary care, food, vaccinations, education to guardians, and more.
In a first-time collaboration with the state of Quintana Roo’s Secretariat of Ecology and the Environment, PETA Latino’s free, four-day fixing spree brought critical care to animals who need it most—and helped curb the critical animal companion overpopulation crisis that causes countless cats and dogs to suffer on the streets.
Guardians lined up with their cats and dogs for free spay/neuter surgeries, eager to give their companions a chance at healthier, more comfortable lives. Among them was a beloved feline named Merry Christmas, whose guardian was incredibly grateful to the team.
We also sterilized several street dogs, including this pup who wandered into the clinic and enthusiastically soaked up attention from the staff.
Educating guardians is another crucial part of this work. During intake, a staff member saw a cat whose legs had been wrapped in tape to restrain him during transport. The team immediately stepped in to explain why this method can cause fear and harm, and offered guidance on safer, more humane ways to handle and transport animals to the clinic.
In the recovery area, our team went all in—administering vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and mange treatment; cleaning ears, trimming nails, shaving down painfully matted fur, tending to incisions, removing ticks, and so much more to help every animal heal in comfort.
During the clinic, we met with the secretary himself, Oscar Rebora, who spent time on site engaging directly with the team.
The team also visited the “zona irregular”—or informal settlement that has developed without full urban planning or complete infrastructure—neighborhood of Santa Cecilia, where a kind resident introduced us to animals in need of assistance.
A potbellied pig who was living in a small space with no real shelter was provided with a brand new shelter where he can rest comfortably, along with a freshly cleaned and expanded enclosure that he shares with a chicken.
The team also set up a sturdy new doghouse for two dogs, Max and Negro, and provided them with flea and tick prevention to help relieve them from discomfort caused by parasites.
Another doghouse was provided to Athena, a homeless dog currently undergoing treatment for a contagious tumor.
Curbing Companion Animal Homelessness, One Clinic at a Time
Free and low-cost spay/neuter clinics play a critical role in reducing companion animal overpopulation and homelessness, particularly in underserved communities where access to veterinary care is limited. Without intervention, countless cats and dogs are born into lives of hardship on the streets, where they face starvation, disease, traffic injuries, and cruelty from humans. Sterilization helps break this cycle at its source, preventing future generations of animals from being born into a world that cannot support them.
For years, PETA Latino has been working on the ground across communities in Quintana Roo and beyond, providing care to thousands of animals in need at no cost to guardians. This sustained effort has helped raise greater awareness of the issue at the local level. Most recently, Governor Mara Lezama launched mobile spay/neuter clinics, where we held this latest event. The initiative expands access to these essential services and brings them directly to residents and the animals who need them most.
Support PETA’s Work Around the Globe
PETA’s vital spay/neuter clinics wouldn’t be possible without caring supporters like you. You can help bolster our work in Mexico and elsewhere by giving to the Global Compassion Fund today.
