First I am sorry for intruding on others, happy social media place.
It is my responsibility to share what I have learned.
This is for those that scamper happily to Mexico, or are planning to.
Nothing is as you imagined. Somethings are laughable as the following night kitchen assault of the insectile population. That was simple that coming down the steps, to the multitude scattering as we turned on the lights.
Each of us in hand with a flyswatter, armed and dangerous. We truly could laugh at that wack-a-roach event, which despite our reconstruction of cabinets, still lurked out of sight, till night fell.
Somethings one can accept and even laugh at.
Other assaults, strike out at our very fabric, and penetrate our innocence, chewing away at the trust we have in this world. The following falls into that category.
We endured a pet being murdered, alongside of over 60 others in a mass poisoning, which was funded by the local government. Their hope was to clear the streets of excess animals, and their method was to send an employee out to buy rat poison and chicken. He was very much into his work, and even threw poisoned chicken over a tall wall, where a pregnant dog was. The person went out of his way to kill those who were not on the street.
We lost our beautiful dog.
My remaining dog was traumatized and bounced off the windows/door as his friend went missing in his view. We almost lost that grieving dog, who stopped eating after the fighting to get out to look for his friend subsided. The vet said our grieving dog was unfortunately on the way out, due to his grief. To which we threw a new dog at him again and again to bring him out of it. To this day, that dog that could be left home, and would simply sleep until we return, must now (post poisoning of his friend) have everyone in his sight. He goes crazy if we are not all accounted for.
Our dogs day began beautifully. They with my husband, were hiking 45 mins up on the mountain. A day like any other in what we considered to be our paradise. Our dogs were enjoying all, as usual. Then that deed of planting baited chicken found one of our dogs. He was beautiful, and in fact was the little dirty pawed 65 pound dog that I included in a prior photo. We never let them off leash until high up in the mountains, and then they would splash in the waterfall, and just enjoy life.
That day my husband phoned me. He was with the hiking group 45 mins up, and said something is wrong. The dog was not standing properly, and then began to shake. He carried down that 65 lb convulsing beautiful soul. I met him at the bottom of the mountain with the car, and the dog was so much in pain, that he was banging off the sides of the entire back seat, my trying to reassure him, vomit everywhere, for the 15 min drive to the vet. He was sedated and later died.
I learned later that this the beginning of the latest poisonings. Latest? Yes, this happens regularly in the Lake Chapala Mexico area, the vet explained. That anyone should die like that was unimaginable. Yet that is what continued for months. I stopped counting at 65 dogs. We later learned that Pueblo Magico was the desired outcome, which required clearing the streets of dogs. Somehow to make matters worse, the employee that was giving poison and chicken, he really got off on his job, even going up into the mountains. There is a special place in hell for people like that.
When it was acknowledged that a Chapala government employee had done the poisonings, nothing was done about this. Not to his superiors who gave him such instructions, nor to the man committing the poisonings.
It appears that there is much less respect for animals and their wellbeing in Mexico. Many people there have been taught that only humans have souls, therefore killing dogs/cats is not wrong. They after all are lesser, and without a soul. That is putting it politely. If you dig around, you will find the living conditions to be shocking. Horses, donkeys, and pets suffer often.
Many in our expat community, took off out of the area after their dog was murdered. One woman left immediately and couldn’t even stand to speak with others except to say that she will always be scarred by what happened to her beloved dog.
Expats know about these things. Many have watched this cycle over the years and no one ever warned us. No one will. That is why voices like mine are so important. It is important to know all about where you are planning to move. The good and the bad.
Let’s speak of the medical care. We were never warned of that either. We were told the best doctors are in Guadalajara and also lakeside. Yet, since my husbands medical missed diagnosis for cancer, I have heard several others were missed cancer diagnosis opportunities also. They went on, much like my husband, to being diagnosed in a later cancerous stage in the US.
There is a belief that to be in another country, we must not say anything negative of the circumstances. We must not be the Ugly American or Canadian. We must sing the praises of the care we receive, and turn a blind eye.
We sold our home in Mexico and returned to the US. It is too late for two of our dogs. One was poisoned and the other misdiagnosed. The misdiagnosed was young. Very. Those two are dead. It was too late for my husband.
As we returned, we found out both my husband and remaining dog both received inadequate medical treatment, and yes even the dog was misdiagnosed. We found out a doctor that urged me to get emergency surgery (I declined his advice and went for a US opinion), was straight out lying, and what he saw wasn’t even there. The US doctor said a medical student would have known that, so this specialist was indeed lying. It was further explained that the surgery that was recommended would have changed my life for the worse, for all my remaining years.
Those friends who remained there in the years since we left, some have experienced their own hardships. They initially turned their heads when I warned them, as we departed from Mexico. They later phoned to say “You were right. We wish we listened.” There were deaths, due to poor medical care.
So, to all who are listening and still in Mexico:
Do all your medical care NOB in the US or Canada. That includes reviews of your pets as well.
Keep your fur family members close. This is not a safe environment for them. Dogs were poisoned simply in walking down the street on leash. There were some rather potent poisons that appeared small on little bits of food left on the street.
If we had known, three of my family members (2 dogs/1 Human) would not have suffered as they have.
My job here is done. If I help one person to become aware, then this has served well.
Lady of the Lake / Lake Chapala Mexico 