Saturday, July 11th - We had another wonderful day for helping the animals! With El Niño, heavy storms were predicted--which we did have on Friday--but for clinic day on Saturday, it was overcast but no storm or wind, just a cool refreshing day. But then the following day, Sunday, there was a horrendous rain storm that continued into the night!

Dr. Tello sterilized 51 dogs and cats today. Of the dogs, 15 were female and 3 were male; of the cats, 16 were female and 17 were male. Today's clinic number 169 brings our total to 6,918 sterilized since inception.

Here is the photo album.

This number does not include exams or other types of surgeries Dr. Tello performs on already sterilized animals. Remember the 1.5 hour complicated surgery that Dr. Tello performed at our June clinic on the dog Lucy's badly broken hip? Next month Dr. Tello will remove the pin he inserted during that surgery. Another dog restored to a good quality of life!

Dr. Tello also performed surgery on the leg of a little dog today.

Note: Payments by owners to the clinics are for sterilizations only. When Dr. Tello performs other types of surgeries or treatments, the people pay his very reasonable charges directly to him. I provide the anesthesia, injections of antibiotics, pain medication, antiparasite and multivitamins at no extra charge.

We were sad that the old dog from the street had to be euthanized. Dr. Tello said his hip and leg had been badly broken for many years; and if there was no one to care for him, euthanasia was the kindest act. (Several days ago I had asked if someone could adopt the dog, but no one volunteered.) At least we had fed him well for several days and had given him a bath. Vaya con dios, old doggie.

There are a lot of homeless dogs in Las Perlas. Some people notified us about two females in particular that have puppies after puppies. My employees and I went three times trying to capture these dogs to sterilize them, but they are too feral. We couldn't get within 10 feet of them.😢

People brought their female dog that had been spayed several months ago--I think Narcisa (Dra. Death) did it. The incision would not heal and it was infected. Well, no surprise considering the source. The sutures had been done with fishing line! Dr. Tello removed that horrible plastic and the dog will be fine now.

Our next clinic will be on Saturday, August 8th. We always look forward to each opportunity to reduce the suffering of dogs and cats due to overpopulation.

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My heart-felt thanks to our wonderful volunteers. I love you all!

Natasha Pitti, our excellent registrar
Alcides Quintero (my employee and right-hand man!)
Don Binder - our only non-Panamanian volunteer (Don had already been a volunteer with me                 for many years in the past. Don weighs the animals and injects the anesthesia.)
Jadiel Quintero - (Alcides' 16-year-old son)
Annie Espinosa and Jae Espinosa - (Annie and Jae are the young children of my dear friend,    Leidy Mendoza; they both do an excellent job in the recovery area!
Carlos Guerra, helps with injecting anesthesia and pain and antibiotics medications.
Rodrigo Morales, my other right-hand man. Rodrigo takes care of my dogs during clinic days,         plus he provides transportation to and from the clinic for various clients who need it.

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Thank you to Olinka (Green Highland Restaurant) for a delicious Thai lunch! I provided drinks, fruit, dessert, coffee, and drinks.

Financial report for July 2026: (My actual costs are $25 per cat and $35 per dog.)

Costs:
    $825 - 33 cats @ $25
    $630 - 18 dogs @ $35 each
  $1,455 - Total costs

Income (Many thanks to those who donated!)
       $665 - Paid by owners:
         $40 - Donation by Betsy Barbeau
         $25 - Donation by Olinka (Green Highland Restaurant)    
         $20 - Donation by Bill Landgraf  
       $200 - Donation by Wulf Kroekel (my dear friend of 22 years in Volcan)
           $5 - Donation by Gunter
  *$2,460 - Donation by "anonymous" (see note)
    $3,415 - Total income

*Some wonderful people from the US had visited Panama City and ended up volunteering at a Foundation Spay Panama event. Patricia Chan, Director of Spay Panama, informed the people about my service in Tierras Altas and that I personally finance this important work. They donated $2,500 to me! Thank you, thank you! ($2,460 net; Spay Panama absorbed the Panama bank fees.❤️)

There was an excess of $1,960 for this month. The previous deficit (February through June) was $4,035. Thanks to this month's generous donations, my out-of-pocket deficit has been reduced to $2,075. My heart-felt thanks to everyone!

I do not to have a foundation because the cost would be nearly an additional $1,000 per year; instead I choose to spend that money toward the welfare of animals.

I will appreciate your donations! Dorothy Mae Atwater, Yappy 6361-3235. For donations from a US bank, I will provide my US bank information.  US citizens will receive a receipt for tax deductions.

  

Except for volunteers on clinic days, my two employees and I do everything ourselves with no other help --before and after each clinic. Almost daily work is required to ensure each clinic is successful and well organized. I couldn't accomplish any of this without my two wonderful employees, Rodrigo Morales and Alcides Quintero--and of course our excellent veterinarian, Dr. Andres Tello who operates at each clinic.   
 

My gratitude to everyone who participates in our clinics and to those who have their pets sterilized. Always remember that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Dorothy Atwater, Director of Spay Panama-Chiriqui
6361-3234 Whatsapp - muffiemae@gmail.com

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