Street Life is Ruff

Panajachel has a perro problem. There are wild dogs everywhere in Guatemala. Most people here do not consider dogs pets, nor are there resources available to prevent strays from multiplying rapidly. Sadly, the only thing that has prevented them from multiplying faster is that many of them starve to death.
Until now, Carey and I have resisted the urge to adopt one of these pups. Recently, however, we found an organization (Mayan Families) in the town where we live that gives out free, already spayed/neutered and vaccinated dogs to good homes. So...we brought home a very rare breed called the Panajachel Street Terrier (as my father-in-law calls her, without the slightest hint of sarcasm) on Monday. This came about because a) I am away from home a lot traveling with teams, b) Carey doesn't like being home alone (I don't blame her), c) Carey is very convincing, and d) Carey's mom, Linda, and stepdad, Tom (who's like the Dog Whisperer), are visiting and can help train her.
She was found a few months ago on the streets looking starved and scared. We have her right now on a "trial basis," but are hopeful that it will work out. Her name is Ati, after the lake we live on, Lake Atitlan.

By the way, the director of Mayan Families says that they are in desperate need of donations for spaying/neutering (the procedure costs about $20). If you are interested, you can make an online donation through their website (http://www.mayanfamilies.org/) or search for them on Facebook. Be sure to designate the donation for animal welfare. And even if you don't make a donation, check out all the incredible work this organization is doing for Guatemalan families (both human and canine)! Salud y Paz often collaborates with them to find patients and rural towns in need of doctors/dentists.

Be Happy You've Got Yours
I blame Coke. Many rural Guatemalans have lost quite a few of their teeth. When they come into one of our dental clinics for some work, you can see where the soda has literally eaten a whole through the front 2 teeth. Our dentists do what they can for them, which usually means pulling 2-4 teeth. The Salud y Paz record so far for teeth pulled on one patient is 11. Ouch.This denture is called a "placa." They are very common in Guatemala. Once your front 4 teeth have rotted out, you go to a little store to get your placa made. It's popular to get fake gold teeth and stars on the false teeth. It's very strange to see a 16 year-old girl take out her dentures, but I see it a lot. In the picture above, a woman came in with severe ulcers in her mouth b/c her placa was rubbing her gumline. In true rural clinic fashion, we took a metal file and filed down the placa to make it fit. Another happy customer!

Carey and I hope you and your families are well.
Love,
Jay