Long-Timer Love 🥰  

Larry and Soccer Find Their Furever Homes

Larry and Soccer became the unofficial faces of Surfers for Strays after spending nearly a decade combined at our shelter in search of their forever homes. As two special-needs pups, their paths to happiness were uniquely challenging.

Meanwhile, in Troncones, a dedicated volunteer named Carina was preparing to return to Germany after months of service with us. During her time here, she formed a special connection with Soccer. Recognizing that she might be Soccer’s only chance for a forever home, Carina made the heartfelt decision to bring him to Germany. Soccer is thriving in his new life, filled with joy and love alongside his person! 

We are overjoyed that the stars finally aligned for these two long-timers. We hope their stories inspire others to consider that your next best friend may look or behave differently, but special needs pups are just as wonderful and deserving. 

After consulting with veterinarians in the U.S. and Mexico we determined that FHO surgery was likely necessary to alleviate both dogs’ long-term pain. While this procedure can be transformative, it is also highly invasive, risky and requires extensive months of physiotherapy. This procedure often requires two separate surgeries, one for each hip, spaced 6-12 months apart.  Unfortunately, this lengthy recovery process would make adoption unlikely in the near future. 

Upon an examination and review of Jack and Griffin’s medical histories, Dr. Guadarrama was confident they were excellent candidates for stem cell injections. This innovative therapy has shown promising results in both humans and dogs in recent years. The therapy involves extracting stem cells from donor tissue and injecting them into damaged tissue to promote regeneration and repair. While stem cell treatment won’t cure Jack or Griffin’s underlying conditions, it aims to provide significant pain relief and offers several advantages over surgery. It is non-invasive, requires minimal/no recovery time, allows dogs to avoid long-term pain medication (which can lead to various negative side effects), and can be administered to both hips simultaneously! 

Our HopeQuarters coordinator, Sandrine, rented a car and embarked on a two-day journey to Toluca, where both dogs received their first treatments. We are now focusing on strengthening their muscles through daily walks. This is great training for walks with their future furever families, as Jack and Griffin are ready to continue their healing journeys with supportive families by their sides! In the meantime, Dr. Guadarrama has recommended platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to continue to enhance their mobility and wellbeing. This treatment involves injecting PRP at the injury site to support the sustained release of growth factors. While research on PRP and stem cell therapy in dogs is still emerging, we are hopeful and excited about the potential benefits for Jack, Griffin, and other pups in need! 

For the animals in Troncones and the surrounding areas, each day is another opportunity for us to provide the care they need and deserve, but we can't do it without you. Your generosity allows us to continue to show up for the many animals who rely on us every day. 

As Giving Tuesday approaches on December 3, we invite you to consider making a special gift to our shelter. 

This global day of giving is the perfect opportunity to show your support and make a meaningful impact. Whether it’s a donation of money, supplies, or your time as a remote volunteer,  every contribution helps us create a brighter future for these animals. 

Together, we can make this holiday season one of hope and joy for the pets who need us most. Thank you for being part of our family and for giving back to the animals who depend on us. From all of us at Surfers for Strays, we wish you a joyful and thankful holiday season!