PARTNERSHIP FOR CHANGE: YAQUI ANIMAL RESCUE AND DONNA NORTH VET SCIENCE PROGRAM CONFRONT THE VALLEY’S STRAY CRISIS

By Alyssa Cerroni

The Rio Grande Valley is home to one of the largest populations of stray animals in the nation. With millions of animals roaming our streets, performing high-volume sterilizations has become a top priority for Yaqui Animal Rescue.

Yaqui Animal Rescue has worked tirelessly to promote sterilization as the most effective solution for animal population issues. To further address this problem, Yaqui Animal Rescue and Donna North High School formed a partnership.

In early 2024, Yaqui Animal Rescue collaborated with the Donna North Veterinary Science Program to discuss the establishment of a mobile clinic designed to serve underserved communities. This clinic would offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, wellness exams, vaccinations, and microchipping services to families in need. Donna North High School and Yaqui Animal Rescue secured the necessary medical equipment for spay and neuter procedures and began recruiting veterinarians and veterinary technicians to perform the surgeries. This partnership turned the vision of creating a clinic for mass sterilization surgeries into a reality.

By transforming their clinic into educational spaces, Yaqui Animal Rescue and Donna North High School created a career pipeline for students pursuing veterinary careers. Students gain hands-on experience shadowing veterinarians, graduating as Certified Veterinary Assistants with the qualifications to apply to veterinary school. Most importantly, the partnership demonstrated a broader value -- not only are they helping animals, but they're strengthening the future veterinary workforce and serving underserved communities.

Since April 2025, Yaqui Animal Rescue and Donna North High School have hosted three clinics, serving 235 pets. Their most recent clinic, held September 27–28, brought in five veterinarians and ten veterinary technicians from across the country to provide care for 200 pets.

Yaqui Animal Rescue needs support to develop their clinic and expand services for more animals and families. You can help by becoming a clinic sponsor or by making a donation to Yaqui Animal Rescue today. For more information, please visit www.yaquianimalrescue.com.