Elinore helping La Cruz’s Furry Friends and their owners.
Elinore Craig is a force. She’s one of those folks you meet who’s always smiling slipping stories of her greatest passion, animals, into our chats. Elinore defends the wee ones who cannot speak for themselves including daily feeding of the marina cats.
These kittens were born under a rock in 2021. All were trapped and sterilized. The white kitten was adopted into a good home, but her brothers Rocky and P. Err (short for Production Error – he was born with his tail bent in 2 places!) still live on the Malecon.
Elinore and her hubby John moved themselves – and their house – to La Cruz in November 2015. They live on a sailboat called Nakamal; she is their only residence. They chose La Cruz and the Bahia (bay) as the geography provides natural hurricane protection (important when your home is a boat!). They’re so happy they did “La Cruz is a marvelous small town where they feel welcomed by both the national and the ex-pat community.”
Spay and neuter clinics are near and dear to Elinore’s heart. When I asked her about that Elinore told me “Let me set the stage with a little history behind the spay and neuter efforts in La Cruz. The importance of regular spay and neuter was visibly evident! In 2013 a group spearheaded by Dr. Jorge of Pets and Vets, his girlfriend Paulina, and a spirited expat named Dani started fundraising for a spay and neuter clinic. Their motivation was seeing many street animals, underfed and uncared for. The first La Cruz Spay and Neuter Clinic was held in June 2014, in the location that is now an auto parts store on the lateral around the corner from Dr. Jorge’s office. That clinic provided 113 surgeries and the clinics have become regular and much-anticipated events.
Elinore became involved quite by accident she says “Our marina is living proof of what can happen when feral animal populations are left unchecked. Four kittens were abandoned here in 2016; since then, over 20 cats have been trapped, sterilized and relocated as loved pets or working cats. We still have about a dozen that live out there full or part-time and all but one very elusive female have been sterilized. After Dani decided to relocate to Canada, a few of us decided to take on the challenge of continuing this valued and much appreciated service.”
Elinore appreciates the clinics “I really, really enjoy the good feeling we get by providing this service as a gift to the people of La Cruz and surrounding areas. It’s a small exchange to the residents for their continued hospitality towards us. Individual sterilizations are expensive, from 250 pesos for small animals to over 1000 pesos for large dogs. That simply is out of reach for so many residents, especially if they have multiple pets. Knowing that we are helping these families and their pets have better lives is what inspires me. At our first clinic we were completely overwhelmed because we didn’t know if we could raise enough money and we hadn’t ever been involved with the clinic logistics; with long-distance support from Dani and guidance from the Bucerias Paws and Claws group of experts, we muddled through organizing ourselves. With thanks to a tremendous group of donors and volunteers and with support from Peace Animals, we are now able to regularly schedule two annual clinics.”
When asked what she considers her specialty Elinore made me chuckle! “Ha ha Cindy – eating and drinking. We love to go out to small locally owned restaurants – such a pleasant change from the big chain eateries that seem to have over-run so much of the U.S. We also feel that is probably the best way we can support the local economy, which as you know is very dependent on tourism.”
Elinore and John appreciate living in our seaside Mexican Village for many reasons; “Being out at sea in our “house”, away from internet and people, is so peaceful and calm. Sometimes dolphins swim along with us or sea turtles paddle by on their way to a nesting site or we spot a whale spout in the distance. Elinore invites folks to visit. “La Cruz is an absolutely great place to vacation if you don’t want late-night clubbing, bright lights, and European (or Guadalajara) sophistication. If you want a friendly, local, laid-back, chill community with easy access to all that other stuff – this is your spot!”
FREE Peace Animal Spay and Neuter clinic, 21, 22, 23, and 24 September 2022. Hosted by Tree House Bar and sponsored by PEACE Animals. La Cruz at Tree House Bar & Grill.
Registration starts at 8 a.meach day, and capacity is limited so don’t be late! Per Peace policy, each person is limited to 2 animals. After all present are registered, if there is space we can accommodate additional animals.
How can YOU help? If interested in any of the below or if you have questions – email LaCruzSpay@gmail.com
- Make a donation (cash, PayPal or Zelle)
- Donate collars and leashes
- Loan animal crates – drop off and pick up at Tree House Bar & Grill – we can assemble
- Help at the clinic starting at 7 a.m. to set up – bilingual? Help with registration and animal pickup. We expect to run out of big crates early so there will be dogs on leashes that will need “minders” before and after surgery. Carry big, sleeping dogs for short distances (into and out of surgery). We may use cardboard boxes for cats, they will need to be watched to ensure no escapees! Help clean up after the clinic.
- Spread the word or even volunteer to help your favorite security guard, waiter, neighbor, cleaning person, or friend by picking up their animal and bringing it to the clinic, especially if they have to work that day.
Many, many thanks to Alfredo Jiménez and Ortega Gonzalez Marichuy for allowing us to use the beautiful outdoor, covered area at the Tree House Bar for this clinic!
To volunteer at clinics, or to donate to support spay and neuter projects in La Cruz, email LaCruzSpay@gmail.com
Just one of the many varieties of DIY animal carriers that we have seen pass through!
A few of our amazing volunteers at the beautiful Tree House Bar and Grill. And no worries – we cover the tables with plastic sheeting then a layer of towels, and sterilize them when we finish.
