Surfers for Strays was started in January of 2017 by Isabel Velasco and Natalie Ritenour when they rescued 7 puppies and their mother, who had been abandoned at a local hot springs in Lagunillas, Guerrero, Mexico. The puppies were being eaten alive by parasites and their mother was severely malnourished.
Working together the women devised a plan to house and care for the animals and raise funds and more importantly, raise awareness to sterilize pets. They gained enough support in the local community to start helping “callajeros”, street animals in the villages of Troncones, Los Llanos, La Saladita and surrounding regions.
With the help of local veterinarians and citizens, they started organizing spay and neuter clinics and a children’s education program on how to treat and care for animals. Visiting surfers and travelers began volunteering and growing the network to foster and adopt animals in the US and Canada. With that momentum and the love and support of key volunteers, Surfers for Strays Inc. was founded in August of 2019 to cover more ground and help more animals escape the cycle of neglect, abuse and abandonment. In 2021, Surfers for Strays adopted out 118 dogs to homes in North America and paid for 1,930 dogs and cats to be spayed and neutered in local communities in Mexico through partnerships with other nonprofits and local as well as international vets.
Location
Surfers for Strays is based out of San Diego, California, United States of America. However, most of our ground work is based in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacán. Our local Headquarters is located in Nuevo Troncones and we have a Rescue Center in Zihuatanejo through our partnership with Jennifer Reyes. Our foster and volunteer network spans Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Mission and Vision
Surfers for Strays is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that reduces the number of stray animals in Mexico through spay and neuter programs and inspires compassion and awareness for the humane treatment of neglected animals through education, rehabilitation and adoption programs.
Adoption Policy
Adoption Process
1. READ PET BIOS: View the profiles of the available dogs (and occasionally cats) that are available for adoption.(You can often find more images of available pets on Instagram.) If you find an animal you are interested in adopting, submit an application right from the dog's profile page . If you don't see the animal you are looking for, fill out the application for an Unlisted or Unknown Dog and it will give you a head start on the adoption process.
2. FILL OUT AN APPLICATION: On the dog's profile, click the 'Adopt' button and fill out the Adoption Application. Our Adoption Application has four parts:
Personal Information
Family
Home
Training
After you submit your completed application, you will receive a confirmation email from support@petstablished.com (Petstablished is the rescue management program we use).
3. PRELIMINARY APPLICATION REVIEW: Once our Adoption Team receives your application, they will review it as quickly as possible. Please remember that we are an all-volunteer organization and doing our best to get back to you as soon as we can!
4. FINAL APPLICATION REVIEW: The Final Application Review includes:
Phone Interview
Virtual Home Check
5. MEET AND GREET: After your application is approved, and if the dog you are interested in adopting is in foster care in your area, you will be invited to do a meet and greet with the dog and foster family. Together we will decide if the perfect match has been made. If the dog you want to adopt is still in Mexico, our Adoptions Team will work with you to find the right match, and then coordinate the transportation and receiving. In special cases, Foster to Adopt may be the best option.
6. ADOPTION AGREEMENT: Once your application has been approved, you will be invited to do a meet and greet to ensure the perfect match has been made. You will be emailed an Adoption Agreement that needs to be completed and returned.
7. ADOPTION DONATION: In order for the adoption to be finalized make your adoption donation to Surfers for Strays. (Payment methods and information will be provided in the Adoption Agreement.)
https://www.surfersforstrays.org/adopt
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David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners.
Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature.
David is based in Salem, MA.
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