Día de Muertos—Remembering Our Pets at The Rainbow Bridge

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT BIT.LY/GOPAW

❤️ Introduction ❤️

There are roughly 40 million dogs and 25 million cats in Mexico—and a staggering 70% of them live on the streets. Of these, only 15% will ever see a veterinarian in their lifetime.

In Oaxaca, where over 61% of the population lives in poverty and nearly 23% in extreme poverty, the situation is even more dire. To make matters worse, many veterinarians are forced to abandon the field due to unsustainable wages and inadequate training, leaving vast regions with little to no access to veterinary services. This deepens the crisis—both for animals who continue to suffer needlessly, and for communities facing the public health threats that come with unmanaged stray populations. Rates of injury and disease run high, while hopes for consistent care run low.

Global Outreach Programs for Animal Welfare is here to change this. Through complimentary sterilization, vaccination, parasite control, public health education, community workshops, youth-based programming and advanced surgical training for local veterinarians, we’re working to close the gap—improving lives not just for animals, but for the people who live alongside them.

Join us for the ***second part ***of our series of social evenings celebrating the vibrant culture, music, and cuisine of Oaxaca, Mexico—all for a wonderful, community-driven cause. A Night in Oaxaca is a cultural fundraiser that pays tribute to dia de muertos, a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2 to honor and remember deceased loved ones through a reunion of family and friends. The holiday is a celebration of life, not mourning, and includes traditions like building altars, decorating graves, and sharing stories and food with the spirits of the departed. Hosted at Luna Jewelry Co in Lewis Center, OH on November 22nd at 6:00PM, the event is designed to highlight the beauty of Oaxacan traditions while raising critical funds for life-saving animal welfare programs in the region. *We encourage you to bring a photo or personal item to remember a pet you would like to honor. *

🌟 What to Expect 🌟

• Traditionally-inspired Ofrenda, or altar, to remember lost pets. We encourage visitors to bring an item to place at the ofrenda in memory of a pet they would like to honor.
• Authentic Mezcal Tasting, Sourced Directly from Oaxaca
• Traditional Oaxacan Appetizers - Vegetarian Option Available
• Fine Jewelry Auction, made possible by Luna Jewelry Co.
• Informational Presentation: Animal Rescue, Culture & More
• Raffles and Giveaways

❤️ Who It Benefits ❤️
All proceeds support our new international outreach program, Global Outreach Programs for Animal Welfare – México (GOPAW), a nonprofit delivering:

• Free sterilization, vaccination and parasite-treatment clinics in underserved communities
• Public health workshops to prevent zoonotic disease and animal-related injuries Youth-focused educational programs to cultivate the next generation of animal advocates
• High-level veterinary surgical training and stable employment for local new-graduate veterinarians and veterinary professionals
• Data collection and reporting to promote continued aid in the region

Read more about the program at www.go-paw.org.

🎟️ Come hungry, come festive, and come ready to make a difference. This is more than just a night out—it’s a celebration with purpose. Families, friends, animal lovers and cultural enthusiasts are all welcome!

🙌 Get Involved Want your impact to go even further? Consider a sponsorship or donation. Visit our sponsorship page to learn more or our donation page to make a charitable donation.

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MISSION STATEMENT

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Global Outreach Programs for Animal Welfare - México (GOPAW - México) is dedicated to enhancing the lives of animals and improving public health in Mexico's underserved communities through our comprehensive and complimentary veterinary services. Our mission is to administer vital care and educational programs that advance animal welfare and community health. We provide essential services such as complimentary sterilization, vaccinations, and parasite control, each designed to address and mitigate the spread of preventable diseases and zoonotic risks. Furthermore, our efforts in permanent animal identification and extensive data collection on animal health and zoonotic diseases aim to inform and elevate public health initiatives. By offering these services at no cost, we ensure accessibility and effectiveness in our interventions, promoting a healthier future for both animals and humans in vulnerable areas.

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OBJECTIVES

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Global Outreach Programs for Animal Welfare - México (GOPAW - México) aims to provide accessible veterinary care to vulnerable areas of Mexico through a comprehensive suite of services. Our objectives are as follows:

• To administer complimentary sterilization procedures for cats and dogs in underserved communities, reducing overpopulation and improving animal welfare.
• To deliver complimentary core vaccination services, safeguarding against common and preventable diseases among the local canine and feline populations.
• To implement complimentary deworming and ectoparasite control programs, mitigating the spread of parasitic infections and enhancing overall animal health while minimizing zoonotic risk.
• To offer accessible pet care education to community members, fostering understanding and compliance with veterinary recommendations, thereby positively impacting herd health and local animal welfare.
• To facilitate permanent identification (such as microchipping or ear notching) of sterilized animals, enabling effective data collection for research purposes and long-term tracking.
• To conduct comprehensive data collection on zoonotic diseases, including stool sample analysis to determine prevalence rates and identify common intestinal parasites among the studied animal population.
• To gather data on prevalent ailments such as transmissible venereal tumors, heartworm disease, and miscellaneous injuries, providing insights into pressing veterinary needs in the target regions.

The overarching goal of this data collection effort is to raise awareness of public health risks and advocate for increased grant funding to support larger-scale projects aimed at improving the health and welfare of animal populations in underserved areas of Mexico.

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SPONSORSHIPS

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Interested in contributing towards our mission? Sponsoring GOPAW is a powerful way to support sustainable, community-driven animal welfare. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can get involved by contributing to specific campaign days, sponsoring surgical equipment or veterinary training, or providing general support to help us expand access to care. Sponsors receive recognition on our website, social media, and printed materials, and have the opportunity to directly impact the lives of animals and families in underserved communities. Please reach out to **[hello@go-paw.org ](mailto:hello@go-paw.org)**if you have any questions.