By Megan Gabel—
The Sociedad Protectora de Animales de San Miguel de Allende, A.C. is the oldest no-kill shelter for cats and dogs in San Miguel de Allende. Since 1980, we have provided food, care, and a safe place for stray, abandoned, and homeless animals. Today, we are home to 35 dogs and 20 cats. Our volunteers and staff offer daily love, attention, and support to every animal in our care.
We have a lower-cost in-house clinic with a full-time veterinarian who provides medical care to our shelter animals as well as pets belonging to others in the community. The clinic is open to the public and offers puppy, kitten, and adult wellness packages to keep veterinary costs manageable.
As a no-kill shelter, the S.P.A. is committed to finding homes for all of our animals, no matter how long it takes. We encourage adoptions through a very reasonable all-inclusive adoption fee. Our adoption fee is only 600 pesos, far less than the out-of-pocket costs we incur for tests at intake alone. When we are able to accept an animal, we request a donation to help defray expenses. We are mindful that when a shelter animal is adopted, it saves two lives: the animal who goes home and the one who now has space to come in.
We warmly welcome volunteers and value their help socializing cats and dogs and taking dogs for walks. The feedback we receive from volunteers is extremely positive—they enjoy their time at the S.P.A. and are complimentary about our animals and facilities. The best way to arrange a volunteer visit is to write to info@spasanmiguel.org, so we can exchange information and schedule an interview.
Our adoption process is simple. We encourage potential adopters to explore our website (www.spasanmiguel.org) in advance to see the animals currently available. It’s helpful for us to know who caught their eye and which animals they’re most interested in meeting. Upon arrival, we begin with a brief interview to learn more about the potential adopters and what kind of life they can offer a cat or dog. We also ask what qualities they’re looking for—small, medium, or large dog; male or female; preferred age range; preferred energy level. We know our animals well and can guide adopters toward the best match. Cat adopters are then invited into the cattery, where our adoptions/volunteers coordinator helps them meet potential companions.
For dog adoptions, potential adopters sit in the Jardín, where staff bring out dogs that match their preferences. After each meeting, we ask a few questions to determine whether we’re heading in the right direction. The only time constraint is feeding time, around 1:30 p.m., when dogs are far more interested in their food than in greeting new people. Adoption hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Once a cat or dog is chosen, the next step is payment of the adoption fee, an optional adoption kit (250 pesos), and an exit exam by our veterinarian. A mandatory free two-week follow-up visit is scheduled, and our Adoption Return Policy is signed.
Although we are not a rescue organization, we do work with rescuers. Maria and Yaba are examples of dogs taken in through rescue partnerships. We frequently receive Facebook messages about abandoned or mistreated animals, with people asking us to send someone out to help. As much as we would like to, the S.P.A. cannot directly intervene—we lack the personnel, finances, and, in some cases, legal authority. Space, particularly for dogs, is extremely limited, and we cannot create room when we are full.
We accept animals from rescuers and Canine Control when space allows. Beyond space, we must also consider health, adoptability, and temperament. Before admitting any animal, our veterinarian performs a thorough exam, including parvo and distemper tests for all dogs. We cannot accept feral cats, and we must assess each animal’s level of socialization before making a final decision.
Mocha and Bonnie are examples of stray dogs now safe at the S.P.A. and waiting for forever homes. Lucky and Jazmin were saved from near-certain death at Canine Control. Litters of homeless kittens—like Ollie, Diego, Zara, and Darcy—have found refuge and warmth with us.
If you encounter abandoned puppies or kittens, we can guide you. It’s a difficult situation—walking away is painful. If you choose to rescue an animal, that animal becomes your responsibility. Call us, and we will let you know if we can take one or more of the animals or offer alternatives. Even when we are full, we can add your rescues to our waiting list.
The S.P.A. is a private non-profit organization. Donations are our only source of income. We receive no government support. Our major annual fundraiser is the Pet Food Money Bank, launched each May to raise the funds needed to feed our shelter animals for the year. Thanks to our generous supporters, we have reached our goal every year since 2015.
Our clinic provides top-quality veterinary services, led by our excellent full-time veterinarian, Dr. Omar Córdova. We offer routine care (checkups and vaccinations), diagnostics, x-rays, lab work, sterilizations, other surgeries, and emergency care. The clinic is open Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., and until 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays (our discount days). Adoption hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
We are located at Los Pinos 7, near the bus station. Phone: 415-152-6124
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Visit our website for a map: http://www.spasanmiguel.org
Stop by—we’d love to meet you!