SPCA Puerto Vallarta
March 18, 2022
Volunteer With Animals Abroad in Los Cabos, Mexico
About Los Cabos Humane Society
Los Cabos Humane Society is a privately funded non-profit that’s been serving homeless street dogs and cats since 1992. Since that time, the population in Los Cabos has increased over sixfold.
Needless to say, the full-time employees and volunteers at the humane society stay busy doing their best to support the excess homeless and neglected animals that have resulted from it.
The animals lucky enough to arrive at Los Cabos Humane Society receive veterinary care, vaccinations, dewormer, and are spayed or neutered.
While waiting for their forever homes, the cats enjoy a cage-free life. They have a large suite equipped with a tree to climb, cat swings, and staircases built into the walls, thanks to a volunteer savvy in woodworking.
Meanwhile, the dogs receive lots of love from the staff and volunteers alike. There’s a trail behind the shelter where the dogs get to explore and their human companions can enjoy views of Cabo’s cactus-filled countryside.
One of the biggest missions at Los Cabos Humane Society is to reduce animal overpopulation via their low-cost spay and neuter clinic. Locals can make an appointment and bring their dogs and cats to the clinic, which is open five days a week, and a veterinarian will sterilize the animals.
Furthermore, the shelter works to increase awareness about pet care with the goal of reducing the number of neglected and abused animal cases in Los Cabos.
Since Los Cabos Humane Society doesn’t receive government funding, they rely on private donations. To help with their fundraising efforts, they run Little Paws, a thrift store run by volunteers.
Little Paws sits beside the main shelter, so it’s an excellent place to visit and support if you visit Los Cabos Humane Society in person.
Los Cabos Humane Society’s Contact Details
Address: Padre Nicolás Tamaral S/N, Palmas, 23473 Cabo San Lucas
Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm from Monday – Saturday; 9:00 am – 2:00 pm on Sundays
Email address: [email protected]
English Spoken? Sometimes, as it depends on the employees and volunteers present. If you don’t speak Spanish, download the Google Translate app just in case.
Volunteer Opportunities at Los Cabos Humane Society
Below are the areas where Los Cabos Humane Society needs the most help:
- Dog walking
- Cat socialization
- General cleaning
- Social media management
- Helping with fundraising events
- Taking shifts at Little Paws thrift store
- Taking photos/videos to promote animals for adoption
Los Cabos Humane Society welcomes volunteers with open arms. Whether you’re a tourist wanting to take some time to give back to the community or a longer-term resident, the animals will be thrilled to meet and interact with you.
There are volunteer activities for people with many interests and abilities. If you love being active, the dogs will enjoy walks on the trails and the cats will entertain you by playing with the broom, mop, and garbage bag as you clean their suite. Alternatively, you can opt for lower intensity activities like cuddling with the cats and scratching dog bellies.
If you’re good with people, Little Paws can always use help interacting with customers at the shop and spreading the word about Los Cabos Humane Society. Furthermore, if you have a knack for social media, photography, or videography, volunteering in these fields can help the animals get adopted.
You can also help volunteer from afar, including supporting with managing the shelter’s social media pages and helping with fundraising event planning.
Should you wish to become a volunteer, you can fill out this form. The shelter runs morning and afternoon volunteer shifts seven days a week, so they’ll gladly put you on their schedule. They’re especially in need of help during the summer, as there aren’t as many tourists to volunteer.
For an idea of what to expect when volunteering, check out the beautiful YouTube video that a volunteer put together. If you end up volunteering or visiting the shelter, please leave a review online as it helps Los Cabos Humane Society increase its visibility.
Donate to Los Cabos Humane Society
Los Cabos Humane Society is always in need of the following donations:
- Cat litter
- Puppy food
- Paper towels
- Sterile gauze
- Clorox bleach
- Fabuloso cleaning solution
- Powdered laundry detergent
- Items for Little Paws thrift store
- Recurring monetary donations
- Any item from the shelter’s Amazon wish list
Los Cabos Humane Society appreciates all donations. They’re especially grateful for people who become recurring donors, as it helps them create a more reliable budget to determine how many animals they can spay, neuter, and take into the shelter each month. Even if you only have a couple of dollars to spare every month, it truly makes a difference. You can visit the shelter’s donation page to set up a recurring or one-time donation.
During periods of fewer donations, the shelter sadly has to cut back on how many dogs and cats they receive. The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially challenging for them, given that they couldn’t host the fundraising events that formerly brought in a significant portion of their annual income.
Thankfully, in December 2022, they’ll be hosting their first fundraiser since the pandemic. Paws ‘n Claws will be a golf event and is one of several fundraisers they normally host throughout the year. Furthermore, in celebration of their 30th anniversary this year, they’ll be running a $30 donation campaign.
How to Adopt
Adoptions make the team at Los Cabos Humane Society as happy as the dog or cat who found their forever home. But to ensure that you and your new pet are a good fit for each other, the staff will ask for several details about your home and lifestyle.
They also require the following:
- Pictures or photos of where your pet will live
- Signing an adoption contract
- Proof of address and ID
The shelter welcomes people interested in adopting to drop by during their office hours; there’s no need to make an appointment.
You can also get an idea of the animals currently up for adoption by visiting the cats and dogs on their Facebook page.
What to Do if You Find an Abandoned Animal in Los Cabos
Sadly, there are an estimated 50,000 homeless dogs and cats in Los Cabos. So, it’s likely you’ll encounter street animals during your visit.
That said, there’s a chance that not all of the animals you come across will qualify as strays. It’s common for dog owners to let their dogs roam the neighborhood without a leash or collar, and it’s even more common to encounter cats without collars.
Complicating matters, it’s illegal to remove an animal from private property, including the hotel or Airbnb you might be staying at. So, if you contact Los Cabos Humane Society and they find out the animal is on private property, they legally can’t do anything about it.
Furthermore, because the shelter only has so much space, and depending on the flow of donations, they oftentimes aren’t able to accept new animals. In fact, they currently have a waiting list of over 100 names long with people who wanted to give up their animals because of a move, death in the family, changing their mind about wanting to care for a pet, etc.
When the shelter is able to take in a dog or cat, their priority is animals that are most in need. Therefore, you’re welcome to contact them via email or Facebook with information about the animal you found. If they have the capacity and financial means to receive the animal, they will.
Connect With Los Cabos Humane Society Online
Stay up-to-date on current events at Los Cabos Humane Society by following their website and social media pages.
Leaving Pawprints
Leaving Pawprints connects travelers with animal shelters across the globe for free. We lay the foundation by communicating with the shelters to find out what support they need. If you want to volunteer abroad with animals in Mexico, check out the animal shelters we’ve partnered with to find out how you can help.
