Coco´s Animal Welfare New Clinic: Meeting the Needs of the Community

Averaging 20 sterilizations a day, Coco’s Animal Welfare has hit their limit in the current space in the Las Flores neighborhood. With so much more work to do, it is time for a larger clinic. The new space is centrally located in Playa del Carmen and better equipped than the current space to take on the needs of our communities.

What made you want to take on the challenge of expanding and relocating Coco’s?

We started off filling a hole in rescue, providing assistance to people who rescue animals, providing sterilizing and low-cost vaccines, but the demand for help has become too big for the current building. We support all rescue groups and shelters in the area and the poorer communities. It is frustrating to run out of room when you can see there is still so much more that needs to be done. How can you turn a blind eye? You have to do more. Playa del Carmen is the fastest growing city in Latin America, and with that comes more animals in need.

Being a nonprofit organization, how were you able to take on such a major project?

A very generous woman who knows the work Coco’s does, donated the property, and with help from IFAW (International Federation of Animal Welfare) and The Dog Trust, plus our own fundraising and supporters, we are able to make this happen. We still need to raise $30,000 USD to purchase medical equipment.

What is the most exciting thing about this new clinic?

This new facility is built with expansion in mind, with room to grow. The clinic is being built to international standards and high-quality protocols to ensure strict procedures in dealing with infections and disease control.  

There will be enough space for all aspects of treatment, plus the multipurpose room to continue with the education program, a garden area in which to hold monthly adoption fairs and bazaars to raise funds. We have incorporated suites in the facility which will be used to house volunteer veterinarians or veterinary students looking to fulfill the mandatory six-month social service portion of their education. It is a win-win situation,

How can people donate to this amazing project?

We have a few fundraising projects on the go. We are offering memorial engraved tags to be displayed in the new clinic with a donation of $60 or $300 USD.

Also available for larger donations, have your family name, company name or beloved pet’s name engraved on a plaque and displayed in one of these areas:

• CAW Community Caregiver – Donate $5000 USD and sponsor one of six rooms used for recovery and housing of rescued or medically treated cats and dogs.
• CAW Community Healer – Donate $10,000 USD displayed in our Surgery Room.
• CAW Community Educator – Donate $15,000 USD and have your donor name highlighted on our Multipurpose and Education room.
• CAW Community Green Friend – Donate $15,000 USD displayed in our garden area, the Adoption and Events Patio/Garden.
• CAW Community Hero – Donate $20,000 USD to be displayed in the reception area, the focal point of all CAW.

You can subscribe to be a monthly supporter of CAW or sponsor a specific dog or cat’s treatment. Just follow CAW on Facebook to keep up to date on the tireless work being accomplished.

Come out and support us on March 12th as we celebrate our 7th anniversary at The Blue Parrot. Enjoy an open bar from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., canapes, silent auction, and great music. Tickets are $250 pesos or $300 at the door.

Please contact us if you have a business and are able to donate a prize for our silent auction. Your generous support is needed to help us continue our work in our community and the surrounding area. Facebook/Coco’s Animal Welfare Playa del Carmen or www.cocosanimalwelfare.org.

Coco’s Animal Welfare (CAW) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to alleviate the suffering of animals through education, clinic services, arranging foster and adoption of unwanted cats and dogs. support for rescue groups and shelters, organizing and participating in mass sterilization campaigns, community outreach and so much more.