There are zoovolunteering in different countries, but most often women do it. However, there are also men who have devoted their lives to helping homeless animals. One such example is 50-year-old Mexican Edgardo Zúñiga Juárez, nicknamed Salva Perros (The Dog Savior).For 12 years Edgardo has been riding around the country on a tricycle, helping all the stray dogs he meets on the road. He has ridden more than 13,000 miles this way, finding homes for more than 1,000 street dogs.
One day he caught the eye of the American photographer Stuart Williams, and he was so impressed by the encounter that he later made a film about Edgardo, where he described his good deeds.Their encounter took place on Oaxaca Beach in Southern Mexico, not far from the fishing village of Mazunte, famous for its National Big Turtle Park. Stewart saw something unusual: A man was pushing a cart through the heat, and there were dogs, lots of dogs, all around him.
Some were riding on the cart, others were tied to it, others were just running alongside. This strange traveler turned out to be Salva Perros.Edgardo told the photographer that he grew up with dogs and loves them very much. He first worked in the animal rights movement, and then he had the idea of combining his two passions – traveling and caring for stray dogs.
He modified his tricycle a little, loaded it with his belongings and went to places where there were no animal volunteers. Since then, he has picked up stray animals, spayed them and looked for new owners for them. Gradually, many people in the country began to come to his aid. Someone helps him with food or money, someone provides veterinary care, someone is looking for owners for his pets.The good work started by Edgardo revitalized the pet protection movement in Mexico. Now he is known everywhere and people cheerfully welcome his little train, offering lodging and food.