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Carla Shaw hasn't added a story.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for stopping by. I’m a British animal rescuer, and environmental writer, project developer, we are currently in Mexico working to get paperwork organized for my five rescue pets- Here, I am raising funds to cover their paperwork, health certificates and travel costs, to fly back to the EU with me. I am an independent animal rescuer and the current animals I have rescued and tried to rehome when they were first rescued by me but since there is no response I end up becoming the forever mum.
I have been a writer for 18 years specializing in health politics and environmental issues, with a background in rainforest protection, ecological solutions, and wildlife conservation. Over the past 18 years, my work has taken me across Latin America, including Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Unfortunately, the last 4 years my website and social media platforms have been hijacked and censored. My news website URL was redirected to a gambling site, in an attempt to stop people finding my article links and discrediting my work, causing me to lose a loyal readership of 81k in 2023, along with a significant loss of income. Rebuilding a readership takes years and its even harder with being deplatformed from facebook. This makes it harder to make ends meet without my usual networks and platforms.
Since I was a child, I have loved nature and been an animal rescuer, I have ADHD, dyslexia and aspergers and my pets are my therapy animals, they help reduce my anxiety and overwhelm in stressful times. I’ve been deeply committed to Amazon conservation efforts and have worked to rescue abandoned animals during my travels, always striving to find loving homes for those in need. One special dog I rescued from Ecuador now has a home in the UK, while others found new families across Europe. In total, I’ve had the privilege of rescuing and rehoming over a hundred animals in Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico. While I don’t run a formal animal refuge, many of these rescues become part of my family when no other homes are available.
Six years ago, life took an unexpected turn when I lost my husband. Seeking stability, I moved to Europe with hopes of securing a permanent visa, but the pandemic, cancel culture, and severe censorship targeting independent journalists and writers on most social platforms, along with the complexities of Brexit, (in that time I paid a lawyer in Spain to help me get my visa before Brexit, instead he kept the funds and did nothing), then the pandemic hit which left me in a difficult position during the Covid years. Unable to return to the UK due to strict travel restrictions, I reluctantly ended up in Mexico.
As a lone female in Mexico, I continue to face significant challenges with exploitative landlords, who just want a quick turn over to keep people's deposits. The last one stole everything I own, not just furniture, jewellery and I lost all personal documents, art, everything I own. I made a report but doubt I will see justice here in Mexico. I have recently had the same treatment and this has happened 6 times, I really don't have the funds to keep paying deposits as you never get them back in this country, not is it possible to rehome pets in a country that already faces overwhelming animal abandonment and cruelty. The only option is for us to leave asap.
The instability I’ve faced, combined with the traumatic stress I’ve endured, has significantly worsened my heart and kidney health. I now have pericarditis and specialized care isn’t available here in Mexico. I urgently need to return to Europe, both for my pets safety and so I can get everything checked up and seen to for my health. The disruption of Covid and Brexit have been extremely difficult - I’ve felt like a kind of Antevasin in a perpetual state of living between the border of two worlds, of truth and lies and without a country for a very long time.
Despite these ongoing challenges, even when we were illegally pushed out this week and had everything I own stolen, I have managed to keep my pets safe from harm so far. We just need support to fly them out of here now. Thank you for all your support to help us stay safe.
My focus continues to be on safely relocating us to Europe, where animal welfare resources and safe housing are more accessible.
With your support, I hope to raise $3,700 to cover essential travel and relocation costs. Ideally, reaching $5,000 would ensure additional expenses for my pets and me to settle safely in Europe. Renting with pets is safer in the EU as there are more regulations to protect tenants and I plan to arrange a driver to help us transport the animals safely from the airport to our new home.
Here’s a breakdown of our expenses:
- Vaccination Package for 5 pets: $500
- Health Certificates for 5 pets: $150
- Microchips for 2 pets: $300 (3 already have chips from Europe; 2 new Mexican rescues need them)
- Two large dog travel crates: $500
- Flights for 5 pets: UPDATE- based on 2025, Estimated $500 per pet, its now twice what it was in 2021 with air france they charge 400 euros per pet either in cabin or hold, KLM charge 500 per pet or 600 euros or dollars, Lufthansa 450 per pet, ( will vary depending on airline carrier, its not possible to fly with all in one flight now)
- Flight for me: $700 to $2000( will vary depending on airline carrier and month)
Total: be around 5000 USD ( will depend on month we can go, airline carrier and prices for flights)
**Update**
17/05/25
This is how much I love my animals. At 8pm last night, the airline asked me to call back at 2 a.m. to check if there was space in the hold for my pets. I did. Still no confirmation. Then they told me to call again at 4:30 a.m.—still nothing. Now they want me to call again at 6 a.m. And this is after trying the same thing the night before, when the confirmation didn’t go through. I had to redo the booking at 8pm last night.
I’ve been awake all night just trying to get a simple confirmation. After more than a week of calls to different airlines, and spending yesterday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the phone—I’ve never faced so many hurdles just trying to fly with my pets from any country except Mx.
Air France and KLM both messed me around for two days. Their agents gave me wrong information that led me to cancel a ticket after purchase because they didn’t even know that two pet crates weren’t allowed in the hold from Mexico. That mistake cost me half of the travel fund raised, which I now have to wait 7 to 21 days to be refunded which makes things more difficult and means I definitely have to leave two pets here and arrange to either come back for them or for them to be brought to me.
I really hope this other airline pulls through and confirms space for the two pet crates. I’ll try to get a bit more rest before calling them again at 6 a.m., as instructed.
**UPDATE**
10/05/25
Thank you to everyone who has been extremely supportive and kind, we are at our goal. Thanks to your support.
All donations have helped us to get here, I still need to cover things as what I estimated before was before I learned about the double inflation costs of pet travel fees now. We are almost there, checking flight costs and logistics now. Immense gratitude. -
***Dog travel boxes 150 USD each
***Cost of travel from where we are to Mexico city airport via road is 4000 to 6000 pesos (300 USD)
***Cost of collection from destination airport in Europe to temporary location. (500 USD)
***Any other donations left over will go to finding a new place to live in Europe.
09/05/25
Still need to reach our goal, we are a little over half way. Its proving challenging finding good flight prices, is more expensive this month as we go into summer season.
I cannot cover two flights at once right now and all the other fees for two dog travel boxes, their travel fees for flying, ( which seem to have doubled since we last flew in 2021, its now around 450 to 500 euros or dollars per pet in cabin or hold to Europe from Mexico with Airfrance and KLM and Lufthansa quotes Therefore, it seems I am only going to be able to afford to fly with half the pets and have to leave half here temporarily and come back for them afterwards. Since 2021 prices are so much more for pet travel. We are still very short. Please share this link in all your social media networks and help us reach our goal, even if some people donate a few dollars, it will be so important in helping us get there. Thank you
**UPDATE**
06/05/25
Thank you to everyone that has contributed and been so generous and supporting the possible travel of all my furbabies at once, we are doing the paperwork and soon will hopefully have the funds to pay for two flights in one go so all my pets can come on the same flight with me and I do not have to return for any or leave any with a pet sitter. Its looking possible to do this because of the incredible support and kindness you have shown. Thank you
March 2025
**The fifth vet I consulted, Dr. Estrada, he is the best I found, and the first out of all vets that just told me I can only take three pets on my passport and flight, I am glad he told me this as we could have had a nasty surprise if we had done everything before knowing then two of my fur babies not be able to go at the airport on day of departure. Therefore, now the other two rescues need a second traveler escort—meaning I have to pay for someone to fly with me to put the rest of the pets in their name just for the flight. That’s on top of the cash we’re scrambling to raise, so we need to reach the 5k target now. ** Below vet fees in Mexican Pesos **
Any donations beyond this goal would greatly help cover our goal. I’ll be posting updates with VET receipts from the clinic and other expenses to keep you updated on our progress.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to our goal. By supporting us, you’re not only ensuring the safety of these five precious animals who have come to rely on me, but you’re also helping me keep my furry family together and us to be in a safer environment.
As a token of my gratitude, I’d love to offer you a painting of your own pets, or even thank you with a free kindle copy of one of my books. Or give you some free hypnotherapy or mindset coaching sessions. Let me know and I will oblidge. So, if you’re a pet lover, feel free to send me a photo of your pet, and I’ll create a custom art piece in their honor as a special thank you. Just leave a message with your donation to let me know.
Thank you so much for your kindness, compassion, and support and most of all for helping me to continue rescuing and caring for my furry friends, I have rescued probably close to a hundred cats and dogs in Latin America, I usually pay for their sterilization and organize their adoptions , some have gone to homes in the US or UK forever homes, but the ones I have, I am their forever home. Together, we can give these animals the life and love they deserve.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Carla, Honi, Canela, Mittens, Alfonzo, Tofu.
follow my pets journey on Instagram
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