Tag Archives: animal welfare

San Miguel de Allende

My “Mother” Was 78 When I Was Born

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By Moose Li, as told to and translated by Micki Voisard—

My name is Moose Li. I’m a rescued Chinese Shar-Pei puppy with wonderful parents. They smell delightfully like salmon oil and sardines. But let’s be honest—my mom was 78 years old when I was born. Living with seniors is quite a lifestyle adjustment, even for a five-month-old puppy like me.

When my family moved from the United States to San Miguel de Allende, I brought my wrinkles while my parents packed the pee pads. Shar-Peis are not exactly known for being marathon runners, but I practice heavy-duty zoomies every day. I also go to weekly training, and my absolute favorite is agility. Yes, me—a bulky, wrinkly puppy—loves hurdles and climbing boulders.

Because of this training, I imagine a human parent as someone who sprints alongside me over the A-frame. My parents don’t do that. They’re in great shape for their age—walking San Miguel’s steep, uneven cobblestones with impressive skill—but they definitely do not run the agility course they created. Instead, my mom relies on hand signals. Poor thing. I also have to bark loudly in a high-pitched voice, since I don’t think either of them can hear very well.

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Sometimes I stare at her while she sits at her computer or reads a book for what feels like hours. Then I catch a glint in her eye. She stands up, closes her computer, and practices her own version of human zoomies with me. Once, I heard her tell a friend that she reminds herself every day that my time on this earth will be far too short.

On our daily walks, I hear other seniors whisper, “Oh, a dog—especially a puppy—is just too much work. That’s why we don’t adopt.” From my point of view, they have it backward—it’s the humans who are a lot of work. I’m constantly reminding my parents to drop their serious faces, stop overthinking, and play tug-of-war. Training a 78-year-old is the real full-time job.

What my older parents lack in speed, they make up for with something a dog could only dream of: time. Because my mom is home most of the day, her schedule revolves around my canine clock. If I want to spend five minutes sniffing a single leaf in Parque Juárez, there’s no rushing.

Humans are funny. They fill their homes with fragile things, yet when I manage to snag one of their treasures, they don’t even bark. They just sigh, trade it for a tasty bone—or one of Dad’s wonderfully smelly old socks—and carry on. At their age, maybe they’re happy to see a few things get shredded. I’m glad to help.

The three of us probably look like an odd match strolling toward the Jardín: two sharply dressed seniors walking a wrinkly ball of kinetic energy. Maybe my mom won’t hurdle park benches with me, but having 78-year-old parents is the ultimate luxury. I get endless love, patience, and time. They get a daily reminder that life is meant to be savored like a marrow bone buried for three months.

My best advice to you older folks? Adopt a dog. We’ll liberate you from your stuff and fill your days with fun. You give us your time and your slow, beautiful pace of life. It’s a pretty wonderful tradeoff.

My name is Moose Li, and I’m a young dog with older parents.

Support Animal Welfare in SMA:
Sociedad Protectora de Animales de San Miguel de Allende (SPA) San Miguel’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, SPA rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes abandoned dogs and cats while also providing low-cost veterinary care, sterilization programs, and humane education. http://www.spasanmiguel.org

Read the article from
our January 2026 issue: https://theeyehuatulco.com/2026/01/03/san-miguels-oldest-no-kill-shelter-the-lifesaving-work-of-the-s-p-a/

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San Miguel de Allende

Para los Animales, For the Animals

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By Sudhir Amembal—

San Miguel de Allende is often celebrated as one of the most beautiful small cities in the world. Its cobblestone streets, well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, and arts scene draw admiration from residents and visitors alike. Just as remarkable is its strong sense of community, reflected in the dedication of both locals and expatriates who support a wide range of not-for-profit organizations.

Yet, behind this beauty lies a sobering reality. The city faces a persistent crisis of stray and abandoned animals, especially dogs. Every day, countless dogs struggle to survive on the streets, exposed to traffic, harsh weather during summer rains and winter nights; and, too often, human indifference. They roam hungry, thirsty, sick, and frightened — their eyes silently pleading for compassion and care. While dogs are the most visible victims, the number of homeless cats continues to grow, though they remain largely unseen.

Fortunately, San Miguel is also home to several animal welfare organizations working tirelessly to change this narrative. These groups rescue, rehabilitate, foster, and rehome abandoned animals, while also conducting sterilization programs that reduce suffering at its source. Their mission balances urgent aid with long-term prevention, offering both rescue and hope.

My own journey in animal welfare began in 1974. After years of involvement in India and the U.S., my wife and I moved to San Miguel in 2000, where I co-founded a local animal welfare organization. After a period away, upon returning, I reconnected with the animal welfare community and quickly recognized the potential for even greater impact through unity and collaboration. That realization led to the creation of Para Los Animales in July of last year.

Para Los Animales is a collaborative platform that amplifies the voices and work of seven dedicated partners: Dogs Without Borders Foundation, Esperanza Equina, Fundación México con el Corazón Nutriendo Almas, Lucky Dogs Club House, Rosey’s Wish, The Balam Foundation, and Yo Amo Animalitos SMA. Each operates independently, yet together they have

performed thousands of sterilizations and have rescued and rehomed more than 2,200 animals. Their results are a testament to their compassion and persistence. While six partners focus primarily on dogs and cats, Esperanza Equina provides sanctuary and care for horses in need.

Our mission at Para Los Animales is simple: to support, promote, and fund our partners. We connect them through a private group chat where leaders exchange ideas, coordinate efforts, and share resources. We also host regular meetings that encourage collaboration and strengthen our shared mission. To promote their work, our newsletters highlight each organization through in-depth articles, interviews, and a community directory linking readers directly to our partners’ websites. The widely distributed newsletters strive to create lasting positive change in the lives of animals throughout our community.

We also provide financial assistance to our partners, both through direct funding and by mobilizing community support via our newsletters and website. The feedback we receive from our partners speaks volumes about our impact:
“Thank you for bringing unity and hope to our community.”
“Grateful to be part of a group with a common goal—for the animals.”
“Since PLA came into my life, I’ve enjoyed advocacy work a hundred times more.”

Looking ahead, we will step up our activities to continue to support, promote, and fund our partners as they continually strive to alleviate—and where possible, eliminate—the pain, misery and suffering of the city’s most vulnerable animals: dogs, cats and horses.

You can lend your support by visiting:
http://www.paralosanimales.org, where you will find direct links to each of our partner organizations. We urge you to dig deep into your pockets to provide them with the financial resources they need; for together, we can make San Miguel de Allende not only beautiful in sight, but also in spirit — for every living being who calls it home.

Sudhir Amembal may be contacted at sudhir@amembalandassociates.com

 

San Miguel de Allende

The Year of the Horse

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By Roger D. Jones—

There are moments in history when humanity is asked, softly but unmistakably, to remember what it once knew. The horse has always been one of our greatest teachers.
Before machines carried us forward, horses did. Before modern medicine, they carried the wounded. Before therapy had a name, horses regulated our nervous systems with their presence, rhythm, and breath. Across cultures and continents, the horse has symbolized freedom, endurance, sensitivity, and profound intelligence.

Year of the Horse is an invitation to slow down. To listen. To restore a relationship that has quietly suffered in an age of speed and extraction.
Why 2026 Is the Year of the Horse
In the Chinese lunar calendar, 2026 marks the Year of the Horse, beginning with the Lunar New Year in February. In Chinese tradition, the Horse represents energy, intelligence, loyalty, perseverance, and freedom, as well as a deep sensitivity to environment and leadership. The Horse is not ruled through force—it responds to clarity, trust, and mutual respect. When treated well, it gives everything. When misunderstood or pushed beyond its limits, it suffers quietly.

In places like San Miguel de Allende, where tradition, artistry, and community remain deeply woven into daily life—this symbolism feels especially present. Here, the relationship between humans, animals, and land is not abstract, but lived, observed, and felt.
Edgar Cayce and the Future Role of the Horse
The American mystic and healer Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) spoke of a future in which humanity would need to rebalance—between technology and nature, intellect and intuition, power and compassion. In several readings, Cayce suggested that horses would again become essential not as beasts of labor, but as agents of healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual grounding.

Cayce emphasized that horses respond to the inner condition of humans rather than command alone. In this way, they reveal imbalance without judgment and harmony without words. Whether approached as prophecy or symbolism, his insight aligns with both ancient wisdom and modern science: horses help humans remember how to be whole.

Horses as Healers: Living Examples
Across the world, and increasingly here in central Mexico, equine-assisted healing therapies are offering quiet, powerful support to people navigating emotional and neurological challenges.

Autistic children often experience improved emotional regulation, focus, and nonverbal communication when working with horses, whose calm presence and predictable rhythms provide a sense of safety without verbal interaction.

Veterans and first responders coping with post-traumatic stress frequently find that horses respond to their internal state with honesty and without stigma, helping restore trust, confidence, and nervous-system balance.

Individuals dealing with trauma, grief, or major life transitions often report that time spent with horses creates space for presence, emotional release, and reconnection—especially when traditional talk-based therapies fall short.

These outcomes are not based on force or training tricks, but on relationship, consistency, and respect. The Year of the Horse is not a campaign and not owned by any organization or individual. It belongs to anyone willing to approach horses with humility, patience, and respect. You do not need to own a horse to participate. You only need to care.

Editorial Note
For readers wishing to engage directly with equine rescue and education efforts highlighted in this year-long series, visit http://www.EsperanzaEquina.com.