When Compassion Without Borders first began coming to Puerto Peñasco 18 years ago, people sometimes jokingly called it “Perros Peñasco,” reflecting the staggering number of unwanted dogs roaming the streets. Everywhere we looked, animals were struggling with hunger, illness, injury, and neglect.

Nearly two decades later, as November brings a season of gratitude, I find myself reflecting on how far we’ve come and how much there is to be thankful for.

From the beginning, we’ve been committed to helping animals in desperate need. We’ve rescued countless dogs and cats, provided lifesaving medical treatment, and transported them to our Northern California shelter to find loving homes. Today, we’re especially proud of our growing local adoption program, helping animals find families right here in Puerto Peñasco.

But rescue alone cannot solve animal homelessness.

I often compare animal rescue to mopping up water from an overflowing sink. You can keep mopping, saving one animal after another, but until you turn off the faucet, the water keeps coming.

Spay/neuter and access to veterinary care are how we turn off that faucet.

In the past decade alone, we’ve performed more than 50,000 spay/neuter surgeries, preventing countless unwanted litters and addressing the root causes of animal suffering. Accessible veterinary care also helps animals stay healthy and remain with the families who love them.

A milestone in our journey has been opening Home for Hope, our new Puerto Peñasco facility bringing together rescue, sheltering, adoption, and veterinary care. It represents nearly two decades of commitment to this community and our belief that lasting change is possible. We invite you to visit, meet the animals, and see our work firsthand.

This November, I’m deeply grateful for our progress, the growing awareness of animal welfare, and the extraordinary people who make this work possible.

Still, there is much to do.

If you’ve seen the challenges facing animals in Puerto Peñasco, please consider supporting Compassion Without Borders. Your donation helps rescue animals in crisis while funding the spay/neuter and veterinary services that prevent suffering in the first place.

Perhaps the truest expression of gratitude is using what we have to make life better for others.

Together, we can create a more compassionate Puerto Peñasco, one animal and one family at a time.