At the Humane Society of Ventura County, our compassion for animal welfare extends beyond county borders. Members of our shelter's Clinic team recently showcased just how far their dedication goes when they journeyed to Loreto, Mexico—Ventura's official sister city—to provide essential spay and neuter services to animals owned by low-income community members, some of whom traveled from an hour away!

The idea for the trip started earlier this year, when HSVC Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Christina Sisk, visited Loreto with friends in 2025. While in town, she noticed a stand run by a small, local rescue group, Animalandia. After speaking with their volunteers, Dr. Sisk heard firsthand how difficult it is for pets in the community to access spay/neuter services. Most animals arrive at their facility abandoned, and dogs are often housed together in shared spaces rather than kennels. Local veterinary resources are limited in such rural communities, and many animals can only be fixed when volunteer veterinarians from the U.S. or Canada come to help. Seeing this need, Dr. Sisk quickly realized she had an opportunity to help animals in need in Ventura's beloved sister city.

With the help of longtime Animalandia volunteer Deb Stuart, plans began to take shape for HSVC's first-ever international rescue effort. Deb coordinated logistics and personally picked up the team at the airport once they touched down on Saturday, November 15th. The team, including Veterinary Assistants Gaby Goldberg, Cristina Pena, and Sam Velasquez, then met Lucy Gonzalez, the woman who operates the Animalandia shelter. Though she does not speak English, her dedication to the animals was clear from the very beginning. Our team also met volunteers from Canada. These animal-loving snowbirds spend their winters in Baja and play a vital role in supporting Animalandia.

After a tour of the facility, our team immediately got to work preparing for the week ahead. Unsurprisingly, conditions were challenging: no surgical lights, no sharps containers, and older, often unreliable equipment. Beyond these challenges, they also combatted occasional gas leaks, power outages, and machine malfunctions. To top it off, there was the added challenge of a language barrier. Though many of our team speak Spanish, they often had to think on their feet to troubleshoot, leaning on one another for support.

As the first day of surgeries approached, staff were joined by Dr. Sheddy, a veterinarian who travels by boat along the coastal regions of Mexico to provide care to local animals. With an ambitious goal of 25 free surgeries per day, 100 animals total, our team got to work. Despite countless hurdles, the team not only met their goal—they exceeded it, completing 27 surgeries on Thursday alone!

"I asked a lot of our team. They had to travel to an unknown place, with not great conditions—it was very stressful. I'm very proud of them. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else with me," said Dr. Sisk.

Most animals receiving care were female dogs, which often require more time-intensive and complex procedures. Many adult dogs also presented bleeding disorders common in tick-exposed animals in Mexico. Animalandia volunteers managed recovery outside the clinic (above, center), while HSVC's staff handled prep and surgery.

At the end of their grueling week, our Clinic team took in the sights of Loreto and even enjoyed a snorkel excursion. A much-deserved reward after a job well done! We could not be prouder of Dr. Sisk and her team. Together, they made a difference not only in the lives of the 100 animals they fixed, but also in the lives of the residents of Loreto. Their work helped combat pet overpopulation in the city and helped make room for more animals to be housed safely in shelters and more pets to be placed in forever homes. A big shoutout also goes to Deb and the entire Animalandia team for hosting us and making this life-changing trip possible!

During the team's first day, they met a young 7-month-old female dog who had recently been abandoned at the shelter. After arranging X-rays with a local veterinarian, our team discovered the pup, affectionately deemed Baja by staff, had a diaphragmatic hernia and a fractured left leg. Her injuries were consistent with being struck by a car and required major surgical intervention—care she likely would not receive in Mexico.

Knowing this, Dr. Sisk and her team made a life-altering decision to bring Baja to the United States with them so she could receive the care she desperately needed. Sam, Gaby, and Cristina took turns carting their new furry travel buddy around the airport, and Baja relished in her new passenger princess role. Baja made a particularly strong impression on Sam, who volunteered to foster the pint-sized pup as she awaited surgery back at our shelter. While she still has a long road to recovery, we know this tiny but mighty girl is up for the challenge. Her first surgery is scheduled for Thursday, December 11th. Stay tuned for more Baja updates!