Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Juarez street dog finds new life in San Diego as charity ambassador
From The San Diego Union Tribune
By Sandra Dibble
SAN DIEGO - "Pancho is one happy hound. The onetime street dog from Ciudad Juárez moved to San Diego last week, launching into his new life as
goodwill ambassador for charities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His current master, International Community Foundation president Richard Kiy, described him as spunky and good-natured. "He cheers everyone up," Kiy
said. "Pancho represents hope for the border."
Pancho first came to Kiy's attention late last year as the animal walked half the length of the border, from Ciudad Juárez to San Diego.
Pancho was accompanying Tom Fremantle, a British volunteer who spent time in Ciudad Juárez and wanted to raise funds for charities there and bring
positive attention to the border before returning to England.
One of those beneficiaries,Colitas Felices (Happy Tails), rescues abandoned animals. The group's volunteers found Pancho along with two other dogs in
the neighborhood of Los Ojitos. Pancho, now about two years old, is a mix of labrador and golden retriever who had been at Pasitos for six months when
Fremantle selected him.
The duo spent 50 days on a journey that covered more than 1,000 miles and took them to both sides of the border. They reached the Pacific Ocean at
Playas de Tijuana on Dec. 27. Besides raising more than $20,000, the walk served to show that "the border is not such a scary place," Kiy said.
Fremantle, who had promised to return Pancho to Colitas Felices, drove back to Juárez with the dog. But arrangements were soon made to have Pancho
returned to San Diego.
Pancho is now living with Kiy in Carmel Valley along with Kiy's wife, Monica, and their two sons, Derek, 16 and Danny, 13, and dog Bindi. He'll be
spending some days at work with Kiy at the National City-based foundation, to help support Colitas Felices and other groups that carry out projects in
Mexico.
While Pancho doesn't have his own office, Kiy has set him up with a Facebook page. Kiy has also launched Pancho's Frontier Fund, to raise money for
the charities that Freemantle and Pancho supported in the walk.
"We made a commitment to use him as a border ambassador," said Kiy, who plans to have Pancho join him when he visits nonprofits and attend events.
In a message from England, Fremantle said he misses his companion, but is happy with the outcome. "He is a very social, friendly dog, who likes both
people and other dogs, so I think he will suit this new role beautifully. Doing this work, he's also bound to get sneaked the odd bone or biscuit
which he always enjoys!"
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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Also doing duty as a Lifeguard at Imperial Beach?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
From The San Diego Union Tribune
By Sandra Dibble
SAN DIEGO - "Pancho is one happy hound. The onetime street dog from Ciudad Juárez moved to San Diego last week, launching into his new life as
goodwill ambassador for charities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His current master, International Community Foundation president Richard Kiy, described him as spunky and good-natured. "He cheers everyone up," Kiy
said. "Pancho represents hope for the border."
Pancho first came to Kiy's attention late last year as the animal walked half the length of the border, from Ciudad Juárez to San Diego.
Pancho was accompanying Tom Fremantle, a British volunteer who spent time in Ciudad Juárez and wanted to raise funds for charities there and bring
positive attention to the border before returning to England.
One of those beneficiaries,Colitas Felices (Happy Tails), rescues abandoned animals. The group's volunteers found Pancho along with two other dogs in
the neighborhood of Los Ojitos. Pancho, now about two years old, is a mix of labrador and golden retriever who had been at Pasitos for six months when
Fremantle selected him.
The duo spent 50 days on a journey that covered more than 1,000 miles and took them to both sides of the border. They reached the Pacific Ocean at
Playas de Tijuana on Dec. 27. Besides raising more than $20,000, the walk served to show that "the border is not such a scary place," Kiy said.
Fremantle, who had promised to return Pancho to Colitas Felices, drove back to Juárez with the dog. But arrangements were soon made to have Pancho
returned to San Diego.
Pancho is now living with Kiy in Carmel Valley along with Kiy's wife, Monica, and their two sons, Derek, 16 and Danny, 13, and dog Bindi. He'll be
spending some days at work with Kiy at the National City-based foundation, to help support Colitas Felices and other groups that carry out projects in
Mexico.
While Pancho doesn't have his own office, Kiy has set him up with a Facebook page. Kiy has also launched Pancho's Frontier Fund, to raise money for
the charities that Freemantle and Pancho supported in the walk.
"We made a commitment to use him as a border ambassador," said Kiy, who plans to have Pancho join him when he visits nonprofits and attend events.
In a message from England, Fremantle said he misses his companion, but is happy with the outcome. "He is a very social, friendly dog, who likes both
people and other dogs, so I think he will suit this new role beautifully. Doing this work, he's also bound to get sneaked the odd bone or biscuit
which he always enjoys!" |
Bob Durrell
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