Bringing vital spay/neuter services and compassionate care to the animals and people of Lake Chapala
If You Ask Me What Inspired Tails of Mexico, I’ll Tell You You’re Asking the Wrong Question. the Real Question Is Who. and That Who Is an Incredible Woman Named Dee Mistrik.
Back in 2014, Dee Had a Vision. She Believed That by Mobilizing a Team of Dedicated Volunteers, We Could Make a Real Difference for the Cats and Dogs in the Municipality of Jocotepec. While She Had the Heart and Connections to Rescue Dogs and Find Them New Homes, She Knew in Her Soul That Rescue Alone Was Not the Ultimate Solution. She Understood That the Only Way to Truly Reduce the Suffering We Were Seeing Was to Stop It at Its Source: Through Sterilization. Dee Was an Amazing Woman, Driven by a Profound Passion to Be a Voice for Those Who Had none.
By the Time I Became Deeply Involved, Dee Had Already Laid an Impressive Foundation, Having Completed 18 Sterilization Clinics and an Astounding 1,850 Sterilizations. but She Knew That for This Mission to Grow and Reach Its Full Potential, It Needed Fresh Energy and New Ideas.
In 2019, After My Own Experiences in Dog Rescue, I Came to the Same Powerful Realization That Dee Had Years Before. I Saw With Absolute Clarity That Sterilization Was the Key to Solving the Heartbreaking Problem of Overpopulation. We Were Simply Never Going to Adopt Our Way Out of This Crisis; Prevention Was the Only Answer. It Was at This Pivotal Moment That Dee Passed the Reins to Me, Telling Me With Her Full Confidence and Blessing To… “Put My Stamp on it.”
This Responsibility Resonated Deeply With Me. Having Visited Mexico Since 1969, I Had Carried With Me the Enduring Images of Suffering—Not Just of Cats and Dogs, but of So Many Animals. Those Memories Never Left Me, and When the Opportunity Arose to Step Up and Help Create a Real, Lasting Difference, I Knew I Could Not Let It Pass By.
So, We Began a Large Reorganization, Building on the Solid Foundation Dee Had Built and Holding Fast to the Belief That a Committed Team Could Change the Lives of Local Animals. We Expanded Our Vision Far Beyond Sterilization. We Added Vaccination Events, a Food Program, and Began Giving Out Collars, Leashes, and Engraved Tags at All Our Events. We Launched Adoption Support, Formalized Our Cat Trapping Efforts, and Built an Education Program. With Every New Program We Add, I Am Reminded That the True Heroes of This Story Are Not Me or Dee—They Are the Many Volunteers Who Give Their Hearts to Tails of Mexico, the Countless Donors Whose Generosity Allows Us to Do This Work, and the Families Who Entrust Us With Their Beloved Pets and Are Eager to Learn How to Care for Them better.
Today, I Am So Proud to Say That We Have Completed 48 Clinics and Have Sterilized Over 11,500 Animals. and We Are Not Done. We Continue to Grow and Evolve Each and Every year.
Our Promise Is to Keep Growing, to Keep Expanding, and to Freely Share the Knowledge We Have Learned With Other Groups Who Share Our Mission. Because Together, We Will Continue to Make a Difference in the Lives of Mexican Families and Their Four-Legged Family members.
With Gratitude,
-Susan
Our work is focused on the vibrant, hardworking communities surrounding Lake Chapala. We partner with low-income families in the municipalities of Jocotepec, Chapala and surrounding villages to provide services that would otherwise be out of reach, creating healthier and safer environments for both animals and people.
From busy Chapala streets to remote Potrerrillos, we bring vital sterilization and vaccination services where they’re needed most.
Beyond the Surgery, Every Animal Receives Compassionate,
Hands-on Care.
Every number represents a life changed, a family helped, and a future generation of suffering prevented.
Story: “The Martinez family in [Town Name] adored their dog, Canela, but worried constantly. They couldn’t afford to have her sterilized and knew another litter of puppies would be impossible for them to care for. When our free clinic came to their village, they were first in line. ‘It was a huge weight off our shoulders,’ said Mrs. Martinez. ‘Knowing Canela is safe and healthy, and that we won’t have to worry—it means everything.’
Keeping your community clean and green, one pickup at a time for a healthier tomorrow for a clean earth & clear future.
