Meet Stella

It seems I have always had more than one animal that shares my space. There was a time for a few months after Devon passed away that my house was void of any four-legged friends. I thought that the time had come for me to live alone. I couldn’t do it. My house was empty and sad. First came a black cat who hung around for a while but he did not stay. I searched and searched to no avail. Then came a little kitten who also did not stay too long. I tried to get her back inside but she was having none of it. Then came Lucy, I watched her come into this world and took her under my wing when she was 6 weeks old. Then came Seven, my baby boy who has been beside me now for just over 4 years. Then came Lucy’s mum and her sister.  We were one big happy family. It was possible to take all 4 with me but not practical. The 3 cats have a fabulous home with my friend Ruth and I can see from her pictures they are very happy. Sure do miss them though.

It was not long after I arrived in Tepoztlan this little kitten who looked so frail was crying at my window. She came right in and made herself at home. Seven was not concerned at all having lived with cats all his life and immediately accepted her into his fold.  But she had a collar so she must belong to someone. I put a notice in a group on Facebook and found out that she belonged to a young girl who was staying next door!! This little one made frequent visits and was welcomed every time.

I then saw a picture of a little dog that was found wandering the highway between Tepoztlan and Cuernavaca who needed a home. I was smitten, took her in and named her Stella. She too has one blue eye and one brown eye, wall eye. Well what a journey this has been since she arrived. Lovely, she came with fleas. Fleas. I hate fleas. They have thankfully all gone for now but the season is knocking on the door and I am keeping a close eye on any invasion. Seven was not that impressed with this feisty little girl but within a couple of weeks they couldn’t stop playing. Another reason for my move, I needed more garden space for the two to romp and play. That was fine until Stella found the escape route through the broken fence on the street. I cannot count how many times I chased and caught her. This was not cool. One day upon returning home, I let the dogs out and before I could bat an eye, she was gone. I searched til dark but could not find her. I was sad but what could I do?

The next morning I see that I have been tagged on Facebook with a dog that has been found. It was Stella!! I immediately got in touch and guess what? Stella had escaped from her also! She had travelled across town close to where I used to live. Was she looking for the old house or maybe looking for Elmer’s dogs? I was ready to trek up there and start looking but deep inside I did not think that would work. Then another lady posted Stella’s picture saying she had found her in the morning. Luckily she was confined and could not escape again. I went by taxi to pick her up but as taxis here are unlikely to take a dog on board, we walked home. An hour later we arrived and she was greeted by Seven and my neighbours dogs all wondering where she had been. She was exhausted and slept for 24 hours.

My question is once a street dog is she always going to be a street dog? One thing I knew for sure was that she needed to be spayed right away. It was Saturday and first thing Monday morning I paid a visit to my vet, told him the story and said it is time. She nor I can wait 2 more months. It has to be done now. The next day she was walked to the vet and had the big op. Hopefully this will calm her down. Now to get the fence fixed. And life will be good again. Until then she is chained. It is not something that I like to do but I will not be chasing her all over town again.

One thing I have been blown away with is the cost. With all her shots and the spay it comes to just over $100Canadian. In Canada I would be looking at closer to $1000. That being said, I understand why there are so many strays and so many animals that have not been sterilized here in Mexico. $100 to me is an incredible deal but to most here that is a lot of money. Most vets here have campaigns that offer ridiculously cheap spay/neuter weeks, I wish more people would take advantage. But as I have learned Mexico’s animals are only just beginning to get a voice. It will be some time before the general public accept responsibility for the animals in their homes.  If she escapes again and I cannot find her at least she will not be producing more unwanted dogs on the street.

For now she is safe with Seven and I. I do hope it remains that way. And of course it is only Seven that is on the bed, he will not let her up!