by Tracey Gallagher

They are everywhere. Last December, my husband and I pulled into City Market. We spotted him curled up alone on the cold, hard asphalt, a small, broken dog with matted fur. He looked like he was waiting for someone who was never coming back. He was heartbreakingly thin and had a limp. His eyes had a look of hope mixed with defeat.

A friend later told me she'd seen him there that morning, in the same spot. He'd been there all day. I knelt down and held out some kibble we always keep in the car. He hesitated, then crept forward and ate every last piece. Then he drank a full bowl of water like he hadn't seen any in days.

He was gentle, trusting, and clearly used to being loved... once. We named him Little Jay. There in the parking lot I started making phone calls, desperate for a place that could take him. No one had space. So we did what we could; we took him to Pet Vet for the night. There he was treated for dehydration, vaccinated, and cleaned up.

The next day, Joe from Rosey's Wish found him a foster home. Two months there, three more at a rescue, then, finally, joy. Little Jay was adopted by a wonderful woman with a small pack of dogs. He now lives his days by the peaceful lake in Ajijic, safe, loved, home at last.

Little Jay's new home
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If you are in San Miguel for more than a minute, you'll notice them. Stray dogs and cats are everywhere, skinny, injured, sick. You see them limping along sidewalks, scrounging for food in the markets, hiding in the shadows near construction sites. And it's not just in town. Out in the campo, the rural communities of San Miguel, the situation is even worse; with fewer resources, less awareness, and minimal access to veterinary care.

These animals aren't just background scenery. They're sentient beings with stories etched into every scar and flinch. Some were dumped when they grew old or became sick. Others were born into a life of struggle, never knowing a kind touch or a full belly. You'll see mothers nursing litters in abandoned lots, dogs hobbling on broken limbs that never healed, and cats so malnourished their bones are visible through patchy fur. Their plight is not namelessness, but about being unseen. They deserve better. And, in a town known for its beauty and heart, they can have better.

Fortunately, Little Jay's happy ending isn't unique. Thanks to the compassion and determination of people who care, he's not the only stray being helped. Across San Miguel, individuals and organizations are stepping up every single day. Quietly, compassionately, and relentlessly, they're working to rescue, heal, sterilize, and rehome animals just like him.

These animal welfare advocates need your support. Whether you're a resident, a snowbird, or just passing through, there are plenty of ways you can help: volunteer, adopt, donate, or simply spread the word.

Here (alphabetically) is a rundown of the main players in San Miguel's animal welfare scene, what they do, and how you can get involved.

Amigos de Animales

Founded in 2001, Amigos de Animales is a registered U.S. nonprofit (501(c)(3)) and a Mexican Asociación Civil (AC). Their mission is straightforward and powerful: prevent suffering by preventing unwanted litters.

They do this by organizing large-scale, no-fee sterilization clinics in San Miguel's Centro 3–4 times a year. These weekend events typically sterilize 300 to 500 animals. But they don't stop there. The group also runs weekly mobile clinics that travel into the campo, bringing this same service to areas where there is the most need.

What sets them apart is their laser focus: sterilization is all they do, and they do it well. By addressing overpopulation at its root, Amigos de Animales helps reduce the suffering of thousands of animals before it even begins.

www.amigos-sma.org

Amy Gigi Alexander
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Angelitos Sanctuario

Tucked away in the country outside of San Miguel, Angelitos Sanctuario 501(c)(3) is a peaceful haven for donkeys, farm animals, dogs (especially disabled), cats and other creatures who have endured neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Founded by humanitarian Amy Gigi Alexander, this private sanctuary offers a safe, loving, forever home to animals who are often considered “unadoptable” due to age, disability, or trauma.

Many of the residents are seniors or animals with special medical needs, and Angelitos ensures they live out their days with dignity, comfort, and companionship.

The ways you can help Angelitos are donate, fundraise, or be a social media ambassador. Their work is a beautiful reminder that every life matters, no matter how broken.

www.angelitossanctuario.org

The Balam Foundation

Focused exclusively on feline welfare, The Balam Foundation works to rescue, sterilize, and protect stray and feral cats in San Miguel. Their initiatives include Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, free sterilization clinics, foster care, adoption services, and even international cat transport to get deserving kitties into loving homes abroad.

They also support a local cat sanctuary, where rescued cats can recover and live safely while waiting to be adopted. Whether you want to volunteer, foster, adopt, donate, or help transport cats, there are many ways to pitch in.

www.balamfoundation.org

Monika Ganey
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Dogs Without Borders Foundation (DWBF)

DWBF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that targets one of San Miguel's most pressing animal issues: street dog overpopulation. Working primarily in the low-income neighborhoods, this organization focuses on the sterilize-and-release model to help control the street dog population in a humane targeted way.

What makes their work uniquely challenging is the post-operative care period. After sterilization, each dog needs about five days of recovery before it can be safely released. DWBF relies on temporary fosters and volunteers to make this happen, people willing to provide a safe space for a few days while the dogs heal.

If you have space in your home or heart, even for just a week, you can make a meaningful difference.

www.dogswithoutbordersfoundation.org

Marissa Peña
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Lucky Dogs Clubhouse

Lucky Dogs Clubhouse is the only animal shelter in San Miguel that holds both a U.S. 501(c)(3) status and a Mexican AC designation. Their mission is to rescue, shelter, and find loving homes for both dogs and cats.

In partnership with Petco Mexico, Lucky Dogs hosts frequent adoption events, where many of their successful adoptions take place. What makes Lucky Dogs truly special is their shelter environment: after intake and assessment, dogs are free to roam in large, secure indoor/outdoor spaces with their pack. This freedom gives them a chance to recover, socialize, and thrive while they await adoption.

Volunteers, especially dog walkers, are always needed. Even an hour a week can dramatically improve a dog's well-being.

www.luckydogsclubhouse.org

Patitas de Humanidad

Patitas de Humanidad A.C. is a Mexican nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of stray dogs and cats. Their work goes beyond individual animals. They're also tackling systemic issues like animal abuse, neglect, and public awareness.

They organize adoption events, pet food drives, and creative educational campaigns, such as painting murals around the city that promote compassion and respect for animals. In early 2025, they assisted in a high-profile case of alleged animal cruelty, coordinating care and working with local authorities and professionals to intervene.

www.facebook.com/SMAanimalesayuda

Pro Canino de San Miguel

Pro Canino de San Miguel de Allende A.C. has been making a profound impact on animal welfare since 2012. Founded and operated by Rosa Maria Rangel, this dedicated organization focuses on the rescue, sterilization, and adoption of both dogs and cats throughout the community. Over the years, they have successfully found loving homes for more than 500 dogs. Pro Canino also steps in to cover medical treatment and provide medication for injured street animals, ensuring they receive the care they need. Their compassion extends further through donations of pet food to families in need and by regularly leaving food out for stray animals across San Miguel, offering a lifeline to many who would otherwise go hungry. Going forward, Pro Canino is working in collaboration with other organizations to host community sterilization events, expanding their efforts to reduce the stray animal population.

www.facebook.com/ProCaninoSanMiguel

Rosey's Wish

Rosey's Wish is a non-profit holding both 501(c)(3) and Mexican A.C. status. New but mighty, this team has a mobile sterilization clinic on wheels, a rolling hospital dedicated to reaching underserved communities around San Miguel.

They focus on free spay/neuter services, with their mobile model allowing them to go deep into the campos. Their fully equipped bus provides a safe, clean environment for the surgeries to take place.

They are actively seeking volunteers and donors to help expand their reach and grow the number of clinic days. By preventing unwanted litters before they're born, Rosey's Wish is tackling suffering before it begins.

www.roseyswish.org

Santuario Felino Rey Ashoka – San Miguel de Allende

One of the most enduring rescue efforts in town is Santuario Felino Rey Ashoka, founded by Lola Cortina. For over 24 years Rey Ashoka has cared for newborn kittens around the clock, nursed sick and elderly animals and found loving homes for 1,600 cats, 50 dogs, 4 guinea pigs, 2 birds and 1 turtle.

In 2023, due to medical reasons, Lola relinquished her larger shelter to another organization and now continues to care for 30 animals in a smaller sanctuary.

Their Sponsor Cat Program helps support the long-term care of senior and sick cats for $500 per month, providing food, medicine, and veterinary care.

santuariofelino@gmail.com or WhatsApp 415 101 0840

S.P.A. - Sociedad Protectora de Animales de SMA, A.C.

The S.P.A. is a long-standing, nonprofit animal shelter dedicated to the care and adoption of cats and dogs. Since 1980, the S.P.A. has provided a safe haven for as many as 100 animals at a time, offering food, shelter, medical care, and love until they find their forever home.

They also run a lower-cost veterinary clinic on-site and frequently accept animals from the government-run Control Canino facility. Welcoming both locals and tourists, the S.P.A. encourages volunteer participation, making it a meaningful stop for animal lovers visiting San Miguel.

www.spasanmiguel.org

Yo Amo Animalitos SMA

This passionate, all-volunteer group dedicate their time and hearts to caring for impounded dogs. Operating out of the City's Control Canino facility, these volunteers provide essential services such as feeding, socializing, medical care, sterilization, fostering, adoption and most importantly, love. Their primary mission is to prevent the unnecessary euthanization of healthy, adoptable dogs.

Through the power of social media and community outreach they work tirelessly to find loving homes for as many dogs as possible. Since its founding three years ago by Crystal Calderoni Yo Amo Animalitos SMA has made significant physical improvements to the facility, enhancing both housing and creating play areas to ensure a better quality of life for the dogs. Their ongoing dream is to further develop the space into a clean, safe, and comfortable haven for every animal in their care. They are proof that even in the most challenging settings, compassion can prevail.

www.facebook.com/groups/yoheartanimalitos or IG @yo.heart.animalito

Independent Rescuers Making a Huge Impact

San Miguel is home to a quiet but powerful network of individual animal rescuers, people who operate out of their homes, often with limited funds and no institutional backing. Two of these dedicated animal lovers are: Jessica from Escuchemos el Eco de su Voz, who shares touching stories on Facebook of the dogs and cats she rescues, fosters, and rehomes, locally and internationally. Sandra Echeverría, who cares for around 30 animals in her home, many of them sick, abandoned, or abused. She provides medical care and rehabilitation while working tirelessly to find them new families.

These and many other individuals are the beating heart of the rescue community. Without fanfare or funding, they change lives every day. Supporting them, even with something as small as a bag of kibble or a Facebook share, can go a long way.

Final Thoughts: How You Can Help

If you love animals and live in or visit San Miguel, the need is impossible to ignore, and so is the opportunity to help. Volunteer: Walk a dog or help at a clinic. Adopt or foster: Give a second chance to a stray in need. Donate: Every peso counts. Spread the word: awareness saves lives.

With so many groups doing vital work, the hardest part is choosing where to start. Pick one that speaks to you. Reach out. Get involved. The animals, and the people who love them, will thank you.

Thanks to those who provided information and insights for this article: Michael Friedman (Amigos de Animales), Amy Gigi Alexander (Angelitos Sanctuario), Phaedra Barratt (The Balam Foundation), Monika Ganey (Dogs Without Borders Foundation), Doug Meier (Lucky Dogs Clubhouse), Rosa Maria Rangel (Pro Canino de San Miguel de Allende A.C.), Donna Lynes Miller (Rosey's Wish), Lola Cortina (Santuario Felino Rey Ashoka – San Miguel de Allende), Megan Gable (S.P.A. San Miguel), Cotton Wilson (Yo Amo Animalitos SMA), Jessica Princess Pea, and Sandra Echeverría.

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Tracey Gallagher spent years in the New Zealand Police, rising through the ranks to become a detective and later a senior police prosecutor, heading the Prosecution Service for her area. Along the way, she saw the best and worst of human nature—often in the same day. The cases that hit hardest involved domestic violence, child abuse, and the mistreatment of animals, and they've fueled her mission ever since: to shine a light where others might look away. But her instinct to protect the vulnerable started much earlier.

"Wherever I've lived, I've sought out ways to get involved—especially in places like Costa Rica and now Mexico, where the need is much greater than in more developed countries. For me, giving back means helping the animals—because it's my passion. My dream is to take in every dog in need and run a huge sanctuary. It would be absolutely crazy, but my heart would be full."

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