The story of Alvaro Perez and the
cats and dogs of Progresso, Mexico
After a swim in the sea I walked back to my hotel in the lovely town of Progreso, Mexico, and the sun beat down mercilessly. I turned down a quiet street and passed a small shop with a man and a boy playing dominos, I stopped by to have a look at what he was selling. With that small decision I ended up having a wonderfully interesting afternoon chatting to possibly the sweetest person I’ve ever met. It reminded me why I loved travelling so much.
Alvaro was a local to Progreso but had been in the USA for the last 23 years, he recently brought his youngest son back with him to Mexico to live. Now back in Progreso Alvaro had started a travel and tour company, was a real estate consultant, and also had the shop we were sitting in where I was buying a few gifts for friends. I felt a little lazy after hearing all this! As we spoke more, it was his work for a particular group which caught my attention. Alvaro calls himself a ‘vigilante’ working for an organization dedicated to stray animals. The group was called the ‘Proteccion de Perros y Gatos’.
Mexico, like many other countries, has a multitude of unregistered dogs and cats that wander the streets, eat garbage, dodge cars and get ‘friendly’ with one another. The scenes of unwanted puppies or dead dogs by the side of the road is constant in many countries – one thing that always bothered me when travelling, making me wish I could adopt them all and take them home with me.. Here was a man whose love for animals had led him to become part of a group fixing these issues in his home town. I was inspired and wanted to know more.
Progreso is not far from the state capital of Merida and a few hours from Cancun. Though small it is quite popular with locals and tourists, and one of its claims to fame is having the longest industrial pier in the world. It fades off into the distance as you look out to sea and is quite a sight.
While Merida, like other big cities in Mexico, already has a large registered organization set up to capture, house, de-sex and control the animal populations, smaller places like Progreso do not have anything. Peoples mentality to animals differs from say, Australia, where you can be fined for not cleaning up after your dog – let alone have unregistered animals wondering around. Currently the local municipal government for Progreso are in charge and they pick up strays, but often just drop them away from town, which doesn’t solve much.
Alvaro told me that his organization aims to convince the local government, as well as individual pet owners, to take more responsibility for cats and dogs.
The group is formally constructed with a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary, some of them Mexicans like Alvaro and others American and Canadian that call Progreso home. When cruise ships dock at the pier they ask for donations from tourists and as the group saves more and more money they are preparing to get the organization up and running.
Alvaro Perez
The organization plans to open a building in town dedicated to housing stray animals, and to get veterinary students to donate their time and skills to de-sex or provide any medical attention needed for sick animals. These services would also be open to the general public and their pets, hopefully for free. Their group are always in touch with the Merida organisation and this communication is mutually benifical when it comes to gathering data and swapping ideas.
The more I spoke to Alvaro the more passionate he became and I wished I wasn’t just stopping by for a few days before moving on.
What the group also want to do is educate the public, have mandatory registration for animals, and have laws passed to fine people for lost animals or ones not de-sexed. As it stands the government does not want any new legislation as they say the people are too poor to deal with fines.
Currently the group need to get permits, more donations and more willing people to take part. Public market appearances and raffles are planned for the future to attain more exposure.
As the afternoon heat refused to go away, I bought a bookmark and bracelet from Alvaros shop, donated some money for the dogs and cats cause, and we chatted some more. It was sad to leave as I had made a lovely friend, learnt a lot and become thoroughly inspired. It only strengthened my love of Mexico and I resolved to return soon and find out how he was going with all his ventures, particularly the dogs and cats. An unsuspecting Sunday had turned into one of the favourite highlights of my adventures and it gave me a spring in my step as I thought about the next place I was to go and who I’d meet there.
Alvaro and the group are out to make a difference, it is free to join them and they need more help.
If you are travelling through that side of Mexico, stop by Progreso – it has great seafood and a street fiesta every Sunday. Get in touch with Alvaro for some tours, he has a wealth of knowledge and will inspire you. He may even give you a honey sweet as a treat. (I can’t get enough of them now).
Alternatively if you cannot make it there but are interested in giving their organization more exposure or donating in any way, the contact details are:
Proteccion de Perros y Gatos a.c.
Jose Alvaro Perez, vigilante
Cel: 999 994 8525
Apartado Postal No. 30, 97320 Progreso, Yucatin, MEXICO
For information regarding Alvaro’s tour company and real estate venture you can email him or call using the number listed above.
About the Author
Milli Vukovic is a freelance photographer currently in Croatia, but is just as likely to be in Morocco this time next week. Backpacking around the world in search of the weird and wonderful, Milli is always on the look out for a the perfect shot, an amazing beach and the worlds best laksa. You can follow Milli on twitter or read her travel blog.
Milli@sanchezjalapeno.com
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s a great story! People like Alvaro are so inspiring
A well written, touching story, Milli and a very interesting read. It’s hard to imagine things ( anything and everything) being so different than in our country when you don’t travel overseas, so it’s good to read a story once in awhile that enlightens.
Thanks for the good read!
Nice post had great time reading it . thanks a lot.
I really like your writing style, great info , appreciate it for putting up : D.
Thanks, I’ve enjoyed reading this article!