If you are the type of person that likes to do hands on work with the animals at the shelter, we can always use help walking and bathing dogs, playing with either dogs and/or cats, socializing those with that special need, etc. If you have medical skills also, you can assist our vets in a variety of ways, from administering treatments to helping in the surgery room. If you have a particular skill or talent, we can see how to put it to work to better the shelter operation or facilities, or simply to make our animals happy. .

Foster homes are a critical part of a successful adoption program. It is a very important transition stage for some animals that will be adopted abroad, or that require more personalized care to be ready for their new home. Sometimes we desperately need foster homes when we get litters of kittens or puppies that require frequent feedings, and a lot more attention than our already busy staff at the shelter can provide. Also convalescing or otherwise fragile animals benefit from the dedicated attention of an individual or a family until we find them a permanent home.

People that help with this are providing a very important service to us and great opportunities to animals. If you would like to be a foster parent please contact us.

Some people cannot provide a home to an animal, but can still help them find a good home. Such is the case of our loyal friends Sally and Tim Higgins, from Wisconsin, who have adopted two dogs from our shelter and after that have helped find homes for several others in their community. They have also escorted cats and dogs to new homes in the US. We send them photos of our dogs and they in turn promote them through a network of dog loving people.

Another hero of ours is Marc Grenier, from New Hampshire, who visits Cozumel several times a year and takes back up to 6 puppies at a time! Marc likes to take the skinniest ones and work his magic on them. After a few weeks of Mark´s treatment, animals have gained weight and look great. He then finds good homes for them in New Hampshire. The white puppy on our homepage is Bella, one he just had to keep.

If you live in an area where dog and cat overpopulation is not a problem, maybe you could help too!

We have had many situations in which people visiting the Island fall in love with a particular stray dog or cat. They will be determined to save the animal's life and very willing to take it home to the US or Canada. This can also happen with people that visit the shelter, and once they are home they cannot stop thinking about those sweet eyes, or that wagging tail, or those funny ears. They want to be the ones to provide them with the good life and love that they need, and they will; but they need a bit of our help. Traveling with an animal overseas is not difficult or even costly, but shipping one is VERY expensive and can get extremely complicated, as it involves customs broker fees, kenneling services, etc.

So, we are always looking for friends who can escort that lucky dog or cat to their new home abroad. If you have it in your heart to help with this step, we will make it easy for you. Our volunteer Andrea will take care of all the details such as paperwork, booking the animal with the airline, and assistance at the airport in Cozumel. All you have to be is the person attached to that animal, and you will truly be giving that critter an opportunity of a great life.

All escorts have reported nothing but good experiences and all say they would do it again. To be an escort truly is helping save an animal's life!

Miscelaneous:

• Dog and cat treats
• Dog collars (with hard plastic clasp) and leashes, small and medium sizes. We do need sturdy collars please! Great collars available on line at good prices at: www.dog.com
• Cat collars
• Dog toys (King wobblers are great, check http://www.kongcompany.com/)
• Cat toys and scratch posts.
• Gentle Leaders (training dog-collars
• Medicated shampoo for dogs and/cats
• Frontline flea and tick prevention medicine
• Office supplies: pens, paper-clips, scissors, markers, etc.
• Old towels, pillow-cases and soft fleece blankets.
• Cat soft-beds
• Sherpa-bags (soft-sided kennels for traveling)
• Kennels

Medical materials

• Absorbable sutures, mostly sizes 2-0 and 3-0, although occasionally we do use 0-0 and 4-0. PDS and VICRYL are preferred.
• Sterile surgical gloves sizes 6.5, 7 and 7.5
• Shielded IV catheters: sizes 20, 22, 24
• Fluoresceine strips
• Schimmer tests
• Diagnostic tests: heart-worm, parvovirus, feline leukemia
• Test tubes for blood samples: purple (EDTA) and red tops
• Diff-quick stain
• Coban dressing
• Gauze

Medications

• De-worming medications: fenbendazole, praziquantel, milbemax (for cats) or any broad-spectrum de-wormer.
• Heart-worm preventative
• Antibiotics (not expired please, or they will not be allowed in the country). We can use a variety of them, but our TOP priority is DOXICYCLINE
• Immiticide (treatment for heart-worm
• Isofluorane

Books

• Hematology
• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology

Equipment

• Microscope slides and covers
• Flexible thermometers
• SpO2 monitoring
• Electric scalpel blade
• Ophthalmoscope
• Orthopedic pins, mostly 3mm. Orthopedic plates of various sizes
• Orthopedic drill.
• Osteotome
• Flexon wire
• Flexible/digital thermometers

Other useful equipment

• Cord-less drill
• Motorola T500 walkabout walky-talky. They help us communicate with the staff within the premises. Can’t yell loud enough when dogs are barking!
• Cat traps: We prefer this brand as it is the most humane: http://www.animal-traps.com/animal-trap-cats-tc.html
• KURANDA beds for dogs. Our dogs love these! Check http://kuranda.com/humane/ They offer a substantial discount when you purchase for registered shelters. Cat beds are good too!

Stuff that you can buy at our local grocery store

• Purina cat chow for kittens. Blue bag with pink on it and says: GATITOS
• Canned food for dogs and cats, preferably PURINA brands
• Bleach, powdered detergent, dish soap, floor cleaner, paper towels, fabric softener
• Shampoo for dogs
• Chewes for dogs

If you are in the market for a new furry family member, please check our dogs and cats sections on the front page. We have very limited options for finding good permanent homes here in Cozumel. Some of our animals, especially our adult cats, have lived at the shelter for years. Whether you live in Cozumel or not, check out our 100% ISLAND CRITTERS, and contact us if you would like further information on adoption procedures.

If you don't live here, we can help you get your new friend home. A dog or a cat can travel with you depending on the airline. There are no quarantine requirements and all you need is a health certificate which our vet can provide. If for some reason your pet can´t travel with you, we can request for help to escort the dog/cat to your home.

we appreciate small and big donations with gratitude. The more we grow, the more funds we require. The cost of the shelter operation averages $10,000 per month, between food, medical supplies and materials, maintenance, promotion, utilities, office supplies and staff salaries. Less than 50% of this cost is covered by veterinary services offered at the clinic; to cover the rest we depend entirely on donations and ongoing fund raising activities, such as events and sales of T´shirts with our logo.

You can donate to the Humane Society via our Paypal link here on our web page. If you are not comfortable with using paypal and would like to donate from abroad, you can write a check made out to: The Humane Society of Cozumel and mail it our good friend in the USA Robert:

Friends of the Cozumel Humane Society
c/o Robert Ramirez
2169 Winding Creek Dr S
Grapevine, TX 76051
817 251 8077

Kennel sponsors are individuals, families or businesses that make a commitment to support to our shelter for a whole year. Their name and/or logo is colorfully painted on the wall of a kennel, which not only let's us express recognition to our supporters but also makes the overall looks of the shelter more cheerful. We have now 19 kennel sponsors, some of whom give their contribution monthly or annually, and some who support us with services rather than cash. The minimum in cash for one year is $350 usd.