It was the beginning of October, and Hurricane Delta was poised to approach dangerously close to Cancún, Mexico. A man named Ricardo Pimentel found himself with limited choices, and the little time remaining was swiftly escaping him.
Dogs needed to be rescued.
Ricardo oversees Tierra de Animales, an animal sanctuary located just outside Cancún. For more than nine years, he has cared for over 500 animals, including dogs, feral cats, chickens, horses, turkeys, sheep, pigs, cows, and donkeys.
The shelter was spacious, but nothing was sturdy enough to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. So, what action does this animal enthusiast take? He invites all the animals into his home for a sleepover!
“We have two bedrooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom available for volunteers who wish to come and assist us with everything that needs to be done,” Pimentel remarked. “We decided to bring nearly all the dogs indoors, simply because we don’t completely trust the shelters we have as they aren’t hurricane-resistant.”
Bringing 300 dogs inside proved to be a challenging endeavor. It took five hours for Pimentel and his volunteers to usher all the animals inside. Two at a time, on leashes, the dogs made their way into the house. Some pups had to be carried in because they were unfamiliar with walking on a leash.
“We had to bring them in on leash two by two,” Pimentel mentioned. “Some were frightened or didn’t understand how to walk on a leash, so we had to carry them inside, but ultimately, it was worthwhile because they are all secure.”
Ricardo’s home isn’t particularly small, yet any residence feels cramped with 300 dogs. Fortunately, they didn’t create as much chaos as one might expect. Everyone appeared to coexist harmoniously.
It appeared as though the dogs understood there was a mutual threat looming. They remained composed, patiently awaiting the storm’s conclusion.
The adversity brought everyone together.
“They were actually very well-behaved throughout the night,” he stated.
blob:https://www.facebook.com/5e455942-158c-498d-96ca-7919b2d1cbf5
When the hurricane reached the sanctuary, it had weakened to a Category 2 storm. Nevertheless, the winds caused some damage to the premises.
“The following morning after the hurricane passed, we had to undertake numerous repairs and clear all [the animals’] areas of debris and branches,” Pimentel shared. “Thus, they remained inside the house until 5 or 6 p.m. the next day.”
“Certainly, there was a terrible odor in the house, and they damaged a few items, but there’s nothing to lament,” he continued. “I would do it another million times if required.”
Pimentel is currently reconstructing the sanctuary, aspiring to render it hurricane-resistant. His ten acres of refuge provides a second opportunity for all stray animals in need of assistance.
Saving one dog at a time will create an impact.