Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best Non-Profit
PAWS
PETS OF AQUIRRE WELFARE SHELTER
JOHN MULY (PRESIDENT) AND VALERIE JOHNSON
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
Will Rogers
In past years it was a common sight to see sick or injured dogs all along the streets of Que-
pos. But as Jimmy Buffet says, “If life gives you limes, make margaritas.” And that is ex-
actly what John Muhly, President of the non-profit group PAWS (Pets of Aguirre Welfare
Shelter) is doing with the dedicated efforts of Board Members Valerie Phillips, Holly Mey-
ers, Eduardo Locatelli and Jack Wozniak.
As John recalls: “Having lived in Key West for 32 years, I was immersed in a commu-
nity that cares as much for our companion animals as we do for our human counterparts.
Some of my most pleasant memories of Key West are from the early 80s. Dogs belonging to
celebrities and non-celebs alike regularly brought their owners to Dog Beach next to Louie's
Back Yard. Cheeseburger, a Yellow Lab and his owner, Jimmy Buffet, would arrive in their
dinghy. We'd all play in the crystal blue Caribbean waters and languish for hours on end in
the shade of overhanging coconut palms.”
And back in present-day in Manuel Antonio . . .
“It's spa day,” John laughs, talking about one of the frequent spay/neuter clinics that the
group offers around the region.
Board member Valerie Johnson explains, “Approximately every six weeks we have a
low-cost spay and neutering clinic, which is widely advertised. Two local vets offer their
services at a nominal fee for each procedure, and charge us only their wholesale prices for
medicines, sutures and anaesthesia. While the animals are sleeping we completely groom
them. It's a total makeover - we clean their teeth, their ears, clip their nails, brush them -
they're like new! We teach pet owners how to care for their animals as well.”
