Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The Centro de Acopio is the city run animal shelter. This is the last stop for many street dogs and cats. This is the place where they are housed and looked after by a dedicated team of regular volunteers, two vets, staff, and vacationing volunteers.

A non-profit organization maintained by local animal lovers, each week El Centro de Acopio Animal takes in about 150 homeless, hungry, and affection-starved dogs and cats that are just waiting to be adopted. The pound has been no-kill for several years, and supporters are just trying to make life better for these former street animals.

"We need more volunteers to help socialize the animals," says David Rohde, a dedicated Acopio volunteer. "The animals get so excited to go for walks, get petted and are so appreciative of the attention by the people willing to spend a little time with them." Most animals come from the streets and need to get used to positive human contact so they make good adoption candidates. This takes time and effort. "It is a very rewarding experience," says David. "Most of these dogs and cats have never known human kindness and this is an opportunity to show them that and get them ready for loving homes."

The Sweet Travel organization makes an effort to volunteer at various organizations when they visit a city. Their group brought leashes, collars and simple medical supplies to the Acopio on their recent visit. They cleaned kennels, the cat compound and helped out at the facility and its animals for almost four hours. The staff really appreciates the time and effort these women made while on their Puerto Vallarta vacation.

"I walked a dog, I fed a dog, I sat and chilled with a dog, it's all about the dog. It has been a great day," says Sarah Clark, Sweet Travel volunteer, "I think the staff is doing a really great job with the animals that they have and it seems that they could use donations of any kind." The group emphasizes donating time, funds and basic needs.

While on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Sarah urges people to volunteer some time at the Acopio because you can give back to a community that needs the assistance and get to know the dogs and cats at the Acopio while you are at it. Who knows? You might even adopt one!

If you're interested in volunteering at the Puerto Vallarta animal shelter, a caravan meets under the big trees in the Costco parking lot at 9 am on Wednesdays and 9:30 am on Saturdays. They will drive you to the facility and bring you back between three and four hours later. Get to know the only city run animal shelter in the Banderas Bay area.

To learn more about Puerto Vallarta's Centro de Acopio, visit the Friends of PV Animals or the Official Centro de Acopio pages on Facebook, or send an email to adriana(at)adrianariestra.com.