BY FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ
Closing in on 30 years of community service, longtime Todos Santos Pet Rescuer, Angelique Schornstein, founder of the non-profit rescue group Amigos de Los Animales de Todos Santos, (Friends of the Animals) suffered a devastating loss when a malfunctioning generator caught fire in her clinic storage area, Nearly a total loss, the inferno destroyed medical equipment, medications, pet food, small and large pet crates, oxygen tanks, stainless steel surgery tables, two automobiles and countless vital pet rescue tools, furniture and other related equipment.
Angelique arrived in Todos Santos in 1990 and by 1992 began rescuing animals and facilitating spay-neuter clinics because the need was great. Since then her little clinic has spayed or neutered an estimated 12,000 cats and dogs.
During Angelique's first year in TS, dogs roamed the streets in packs. They were mangy and malnourished. Soldiers would drive around twice a year to kill them as a means of animal control. According to Schornstein, "because of poverty, lack of knowledge and just not caring," that is what was done. "I never saw any dog leashed unless it was a little foo-foo dog."
The mass killings prompted the caring woman from America to start her first spay/neuter clinic in 1994. She went out and cruised around town until she rounded up 16 stray cats. A veterinarian friend of hers from the U.S. spayed and neutered the animals in the home of Schornstein’s boyfriend and worked directly on the kitchen countertop.
"I asked him if he had like-minded vets from the States, and he said, “Yes”. From then on, The Amigos of the Animals has worked to improve the lives of dogs and cats in the Todos Santos area, which encompasses nearby Pescadero and El Cerritos. Now the Amigos de Animals free clinic events are held every November and March, with hundreds of dogs and cats spayed and neutered at every event.
Her efforts to educate people about getting their pets spayed/neutered have slowly started getting through to the Todos Santos community. ''It can be very difficult to relay the message that male dogs do not lose their manliness when neutered,'' she said. ''I tell them about STDs and how the dog will be much healthier when neutered.''
Among the vets donating services for her clinic events were Lee Pearson, DVM, and Francois Gauthier, DVM, both of New Hampshire, and John Kuck, DVM, who flew in from Colorado where he owns his own veterinary hospital in Basalt. Dr. Kuck has been to these clinics multiple times and said there is typically a core group of vets who fly down to donate their services. They pay their way to fly to Mexico, where they are offered a place to stay along with meals.
"We can accommodate maybe 60 animals a day depending on the number of doctors we have," Kuck said in a 2015 interview.
"We do have local vets that come and help including Dr. Rafael Franzoni from La Paz," Kuck added. Fliers are posted and someone drives around with a loudspeaker to announce the free clinic, which is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. "it's nice to see these dogs who come from tough circumstances go home and live great lives."
Schornstein echoed the success of her small clinic. "I can definitely tell you that the health of animals coming into clinics now is 100 percent better than it was even 10 years ago,'' she said.
And now, her devastated clinic needs aid. ''I'm reaching out with a heavy heart, asking for help during an unimaginably difficult time. In this hour of need. I turn to our community friends and kindhearted strangers to help alleviate our financial burden and get us back to our pet rescue commitment. The costs associated with replacing 28 years of equipment, medication, transport kennels, oxygen tanks, food, and countless other items are enormous. By contributing to this cause, you are offering more than financial support. You are giving me hope, love and the invaluable peace of mind that comes from knowing we are not alone,'' implored Angelique. “With the help from our friends near and far, neighbors, strangers and dog lovers, we will rebuild!”
Dollar donations may be sent via Venmo @Ruth-Bjorklund, PayPal bajakitties@yahoo.com and Zelle bajakitties@yahoo.com. Locals and Tourists are welcome to drop by The Amigos of the Animals charred, but still standing clinic with new or used kennels, meds, collars/leashes, pet food, dollar donations, floor fans, and ceiling fans.
