Pictured is Tayla, our pup. She has an interesting story, a lucky one compared with most dogs in Mexico. This is can be found on an animal rescue site for manzanillo here- http://www.ara-manzanillo.org/adopt/chesty.html

We adopted her shortly after she was hit by a car and had some surgeries to repair the damage to her leg. Now she is a beautiful, mild tempered, ever inquisitive dog. We don't know what breed she is. Here the word for 'mutt' is 'corriente' the spanish word for electircal current. I don't know exactly why they call them that, it relates to electricity and how it is always changing or something... a friend tried explaining it to me once. He failed.

It's a dogs life in Mexico

Many wonder what life would be like in Mexico for their dog. So we thought we’d tell you a little about what its been like for Tayla and us. I've heard it said that Mexico is no place for a dog. And in part that is a true statement. It is hot here, parasites and diseases are common, and people tend to be much less than friendly to the many strays you see in the streets. On the other hand if the dog has a good and loving owner, Mexico is very much a place for dogs! We take our dog to the beach with us and she loves it! She chases the waves in and out, runs with us, and basks in the sun. Life in doggie Manzanillo can be a Paradise if you take good care of your pup, here's how:

Keep a really good eye on your dog.

If they get out, chances are you won’t find them again or they will end up hurt and sick. Keep an especially close eye on your dog if it is a valuable breed as certain nefarious characters will steal these dogs to breed them for their puppy farms. Despite the incredible efforts by many animal conscious residents, there is a lot of scary things for animals to face here if left on their own. Many people here are used to dealing with strays that are sometimes aggressive, thus they tend to be defensive or even mean to an unknown dog. So keep them close by. Getting your dog fixed, as well as any other stray you might see, would benefit the doggie community immensely.

Watch what you feed them

Just like you may get tummy upsets here in Mexico, your dog might too. This is nothing to be overly alarmed about. If your dog is in a controlled environment and you feed it well, there shouldn’t be too many issues. Every now and then our pup gets a little tummy trouble.  We have resolved this by giving her plain yogurt (available at Walmart) with the doggie food for about a week. If more severe problems arrive, many vets are available for very affordable prices.

Manzanillo Vetrinarians

Tayla’s vet is Dr. Alejandro in downtown Centro. He gives a thorough check up including blood work with a return sheet explaining what’s going on in the blood. We were impressed with his manner, ability, and price (under 300 pesos for visit, blood work, and meds). His number is 3143570884. If you speak Spanish, a closer option for you might be the Vet that is tucked neatly into the Las Brisas Circle. It is very popular and busy all the time.  The number there is 3337621. There are a surprising amount of pet stores and vets in this city. So pet accessories are not lacking. We have seen everything from dog outfits, pillows, jeweled collars, and leashes galore. You can make your pup quite comfortable here and lavish all the freaky attention on it that you want.

Adopting

If you have room for other pets, get in contact with one of the many animal activists in the area.  Some little puppy, like our Tayla needs a home. Plus, how many people can say they have a bilingual dog?

In future articles we will discuss what’s involved in bringing a dog in and out of the country legally, as well other helpful hints for keeping your expat pets happy. If you have any questions or ideas, let us know! Until then, keep it cool like a Chihuahua in a pool.

Related posts:

1. Manzanillo Pet Adoption
2. No Kill Animal Shelter Opens In Manzanillo