MEXIMUTT OF THE MONTH

Papi: The Face of Hope
Papi is not the sort of dog to be overlooked. Besides being undeniably adorable, he is also full of spunk and life, demanding your instant attention and adoration. He has been this way since the moment he was rescued out of an overcrowded animal control center in Juarez, Mexico.

Local volunteer, Alma Gabilondo, was strolling by the cages in the animal control center while helping to oversee the city’s humane euthanasia program. As she walked past Papi’s large cage, which was filled with over 30 dogs of all sizes, little Papi instantly made eye contact with her. He was at the back of the cage, but once he had her attention he navigated his way across a sea of dogs to get right up front and greet Alma. It was no easy feat, as the cage was tightly crowded and many of the dogs were fearful, some aggressive, and almost all much larger than Papi. But, carefully and confidently, Papi cleared a path from back to front and soon was trying to lick Alma through the cage.

She says he greeted her with a look of “Finally, you’re here. What took you so long?”. There was no uncertainty in his expression. His little tail never stopped wagging and he remained fixated on her until she opened the cage and selected him for our international rescue program – saving him just moments before he was to be euthanized.

First impressions are rarely wrong and Papi’s character remained true to his initial presentation. He charmed everyone he met within moments of meeting them with his self assured strut and outgoing enthusiasm. His funny little Chihuahua x Pug physique and silly face only added to his allure. On the long drive back from Juarez to California, where Papi was to be adopted out, Papi refused to be confined to a kennel in the van – demanding to be held in our laps for the entire duration of the trip. He cheered us on with every passing mile and stared out of the front window with all the eagerness and hope one little 10 pound dog could possibly muster.

Once back in California, Papi was adopted out through Small Dog Rescue who found him a home where he is the center of attention, much to his liking. His new mom appreciates every little nuance of his character and tells us he is the love of her life.

To us, Papi is a refreshing reminder of strength of spirit and hope. He never gave up, even when he was within minutes of being euthanized. He searched for a way out, finally found it, and met every new adventure with wide eyed enthusiasm and a zest for life that is hard to forget and impossible not to be moved by.

Papi, while absolutely unique in so many ways, represents so many animals we have had the good fortune to rescue in Mexico. These dogs, despite their tragic backgrounds of neglect, cruelty, and homelessness, never give up the hope and faith that someday, somehow, they will find love and a home where they are safe. All of us at Compassion without Borders are 100% committed to making these sweet dogs' dreams come true, one at a time. Their hope is our own and their dreams our responsibility.

Help us to save more dogs just like Papi! For just $100.00 you can sponsor a rescue dog from Mexico and help to save his or her life! We'll send you the photo and story of your rescue dog and you will literally have enabled us to save that animal from certain death in Mexico.