Anita's Animals is a small cat and dog sanctuary located on a hill above the town of San Juan Cosala, by Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

Anita's is open 7 days a week, from 9 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 6 PM and closed from 2PM – 4 PM.

It is strongly suggested that you not just show up and bring an animal, but, please contact Anita and talk with her about your situation prior to arriving.

You need to talk with her to make sure that she is there to accept an animal and, also has available room and can accept the animal. She sometimes is unable to accept an animal due to lack of accommodations or other special circumstances. It is wise to make an appointment [day and time] to make sure that Anita will be there when you arrive.

If  the animal is  sick or injured it is best that the animal be first  brought a Vet who can provide appropriate care to the animal.  Then after the animal has been deemed by the Vet to be healthy, arrangements can then be discussed between the involved parties to set up an agreed upon plan to move the animal from the Vet’s office to Anita’s Animals.

On any given day, there are 90 - 100 kittens and cats and 75 – 85 puppies and dogs in residence. This number is higher during “puppy & kitten season”.

The animal sanctuary is not a fancy place, but it is a safe haven providing love and caring for those cats and dogs that are brought to Anita. The cats and dogs live in a communal family type of housing arrangement, and not in individual cages or runs, with the exception of baby kittens, young puppies, pregnant mothers, and sick or wounded animals.

Anita believes in cat and dog over population control solely via spaying and neutering. However, in most cases [when space is available] she will not turn away a pregnant cat or dog that is very close to delivering her young. The rescued mother will have a safe place to have her babies and not be in harm's way. Anita will say the mothers at the correct time, so they will not perpetuate more unwanted off-spring.

Anita's Animals is a 'No-Kill' rescue facility. On occasion an animal may be brought to the sanctuary that is not totally healthy, and that cat/dog will be then brought to a Veterinarian for proper care prior to its inclusion into the sanctuary. Anita does not pick and choose only the pretty and cute animals to rescue. She sees the animal as “equals” regardless of their external beauty or not, and provides care for all of them equally. A cat or dog that comes to Anita's Animals will be cared for until a loving 'forever home' and family is found for them.

When an animal arrives and does not have a vaccination record with it, the animal must be vaccinated before it can join the general population of cats and dogs. It is a series of two vaccinations that costs 400 pesos. Until the cat/dog has completed their vaccination series, they will remain in designated segregated areas.

The daily cost of caring for a healthy cat / dog is 21.4 pesos per day [ per animal ] .

Obviously, an injured or ill animal increases this amount of daily money for its needed care until animal it fully recovers.

The ability for Anita to be able to continue her on-going rescue work is dependent on donations. It is hoped and appreciated that when someone brings an animal for Anita to take in, they would also will make a donation to help pay for the care of that animal.

This is the only website endorsed by Anita Strehlow.
If you would like to contact Anita, please use our contact form.