Many of you will remember sweet Alexis from our last international rescue trip. Alexis was found matted and unkempt on the streets of Mexico, but those days of hardship and despair are far, far behind him now.

Tino’s adopter travelled over 1,000 miles to find him and has shared her journey with us down below. Read her heartwarming tale of why she chose a Meximutt and how the dogs of Mexico have touched her heart and changed her life.

Tino is one lucky dog!

*Note{Alexis was accidentally listed as a female on the website back in May, but is actually a male dog}

Many years ago, my husband and I found a starving dog by the roadside in Baja California. We brought her home, nursed her back to health and, for the next 15 years, our Dulce was the perfect companion. She was calm, intelligent, and devoted to us. When she died, we knew we wanted another dog from Mexico - not just to honor her memory by helping another Mexican dog - but for selfish reasons, as well. There is something really special about Mexican street dogs. The ones that survive are extremely intelligent. They find their own food, avoid being hit by cars, get along with other animals, and learn to approach humans in a respectful manner. They are unbelievably easy to train.

Since road trips in Mexico are not as safe as they once were, we wondered if we would be the lucky enough to find another dog like Dulce. In June, on the CWOB website, there was news of the latest rescue and lots of pictures. What a wonderful group of potential "best friends"! I learned that most of the smaller dogs would be placed for adoption by Small Dog Rescue in Chico California. Chico is almost 500 from my home in Salem, Oregon but the pictures of those adorable dogs were more than I could resist. I filled out an adoption application and, on July 3rd, I made the long, hot drive south. In Chico, I met five of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen. I thought I wanted a female until I looked into the soft brown eyes of a male poodle-terrier mix. That night I brought him to the motel with me and he was the perfect roommate. (He didn't potty in the room as street dogs instinctively don't "soil their nest".) It didn't take long to realize we had lucked out again. Here was another wonderful "callejeo". We named him Valentino -"Tino" for short - because he is such a lover.

Tino is a great guy! He is calm but playful. He tolerates our 2 cats and has made many friends at the dog park. He is quiet but will give a warning bark when strangers approach the house. Four weeks ago, we started basic obedience classes and he is the star of the class. Even the trainers are amazed at how quickly he learns. He charms everyone with his sweet nature and being adorable doesn't hurt either. Although he weighs only 20 lbs., he is a sturdy fellow who has gone on two mile walks and beggged for more. He loves car rides. He was well-behaved at the dog groomers and immerged looking more handsome than any purebred canine.

We cannot say enough good things about Mexican rescue dogs and about Compassion Without Borders. So many animals in Mexico live terrible lives. When given the chance to be part of a family, they will reward you in ways you never imagined possible. Several people have asked me how they can adopt a dog like Tino and I tell them about Compassion Without Borders. Thank you CWOB for Tino and for all the great work you do.

Dianne Harrison
Richard Oman
Salem, Oregon