Making a difference one animal at a time is a theme Alison Sawyer Current comes back to time and again in her heartwarming, sobering, and ultimately uplifting novel, “The Dog Lady of Mexico.” Based on Current’s actual experiences, this 2018 work is worth a first or second look, as it shows just how much difference one person can make.
For the protagonist Rose, it all starts when she and her husband, Brad, embark on a month-long honeymoon/working vacation in Mexico on the island of Isla Mujeres. One day while Brad is away, Kat, a fellow American at the condo where the couple are staying, asks Rose to help her with a stray, pregnant kitten. Soon after, Kat seeks Rose’s help again, this time to rescue a group of puppies. It’s not long before Rose becomes dismayed by the large number of wild dogs that roam the island. Often abandoned by their owners and breeding indiscriminately, these animals are forced to forage for whatever food they can find.
