Saturday, August 8th - We had another beautiful day for our Spay/Panama-Chiriqui clinic #170. Dr. Tello sterilized 60 dogs and cats. Of the dogs, 16 were female and 8 were male; of the cats, 28 were female and 8 were male. This includes two female very wild feral cats that we trapped.  We had an especially long day because there were a lot of big female dogs. Today's clinic  brings our total to  6,978 sterilized since inception. (In addition, Dr. Tello performed exams and other types of surgeries on already sterilized animals.)

I always remember when I first began my Spay/Panama-Chiriqui clinics in March of 2006. Dr. Tello worked with me from the beginning. Most Panamanians had never thought of sterilizing their animals...even if there HAD been a veterinarian here to do it. So I began the "education process." For many months, I walked the streets of Volcan, talking with people, handing out literature about the benefits of sterilization, and trying to schedule appointments. It was a years-long process of education, but I am gratified that little by little, more and more Panamanians came to realize that animals need love, proper food and water, shelter from the sun and rain....and sterilization!

Without all the hard work and persistence through the years, beginning in 2006, would there still be dozens of starving and mange-ridden dogs roaming the streets of Volcan ?

For those who don't know the statistics:

*In 7 years a female cat and her off springs can be the source of 420,000 kittens. 
*In 6 years a female dog and her off springs can be the source of 67,000 puppies

We will have sterilized over 7,000 animals by the end next month's clinic! My heart-felt gratitude to Dr. Andres Tello and to all the volunteers, both previous and current, without whom none of our success would have been possible.

Here is the photo album.

Our next clinic will be on Saturday, September 12th. We always look forward to each opportunity to reduce the suffering of dogs and cats due to overpopulation.

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My heart-felt thanks to our wonderful volunteers. I love you all!

Natasha Pitti, our excellent registrar
Alcides Quintero (my employee and right-hand man!)
Don Binder - our only non-Panamanian volunteer (Don had already been a volunteer with me         for many years in the past. Don weighs the animals and injects the anesthesia.)
Jadiel Quintero - (Alcides' 16-year-old son)
Annie Espinosa and Jae Espinosa - (Annie and Jae are the young children of my dear
    friend, Leidy Mendoza; they both do an excellent job in the recovery area!
Ana Gonzales - a new volunteer who learned various tasks today and did a great job!
Nidia Duran - performed various tasks
Veronica Salas - a previous volunteer with us; Veronica is on a short vacation after 
   completing her first year of veterinary university in Hungary. She will return to Budapest in
   September. Veronica says that her experience at my clinics helped her to get a full
   scholarship!
Rodrigo Morales, my other right-hand man. Rodrigo takes care of my dogs during clinic days,
    plus he provides transportation to and from the clinic for numerous clients who need it. 
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Thank you to Bill Landgraf who (for the second time) provided a delicious lunch! (See pictures in the photo album.) And to Betsy Barbeau for dessert. I provided drinks, a fruit salad, and coffee.

"Anonymous" donated a dog crate and bed, plus various other things for dogs. Thank you!

Financial report for August 2026: (My actual costs are $25 per cat and $35 per dog.)

Costs:
    $900- 36 cats @ $25
    $840 - 24 dogs @ $35 each
  $1,740 - Total costs

Income: (Many thanks to those who donated!)
       $ 730 - Paid by owners:
       $   20 - Donation by Jenna Luche-Thayer
       $   10 - Donation by Ivis Merlo
       $     5 - Donation by April Cabre
       $   20 - Donation by Pat Kolenchuk
       $ 785 - Total income

My out-of pocket-expenses this month were $955. Added to the previous deficit of $2,075, the current deficit is $3,030.

I do not to have a foundation because the governmental cost would be nearly an additional $1,000 per year; instead I choose to spend that money to help Panamanians with the welfare of animals.

I will appreciate your donations! Dorothy Atwater, Yappy 6361-3235. For donations from a US bank, I will provide my US bank information.  US citizens will receive a receipt for tax deductions.

  

My two wonderful employees, Alcides Quintero and Rodrigo Morales, are key to our success. The three of us alone do everything before and after each clinic. Almost daily work is required to ensure each clinic is successful and well organized.  And our excellent veterinarian who operates at each clinic, Dr. Andres Tello, who is the best veterinarian I have ever known.
 

My gratitude to everyone who participates in our clinics and to those who have their pets sterilized. Always remember that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Dorothy Atwater, Director of Spay/Panama-Chiriqui
6361-3234 Whatsapp - muffiemae@gmail.com

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