Isla Animals is made up of volunteers, local residents, medical staff, supporters, visitors, community members and all of you that show up for those that need it the most.

The rescue began informally in 2000. As tourism grew and street dogs were seen as a problem, Isla Animals started offering free spay and neuter services, and rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming puppies. It worked. Within a few years, the wild street dog population had been significantly reduced.

From 2000 to 2013, Alison’s home became the unofficial humane society for Isla Mujeres. The rescue was registered as a non-profit in Colorado in 2009, and in 2015 a shelter space was provided by the local government.

In 2023, that space was reclaimed, and Isla Animals was evicted. With no affordable options left on the island, and rising property costs making relocation impossible, we faced a hard reality: move, or disappear. When one of our directors offered land in Cancún, Oasis was born—not by choice, but by necessity.

The eviction was intended to eliminate Isla Animals and replace our work with a pound—something fundamentally different from what we do. But while buildings stalled, our work didn’t.

Sterilisations, education, deworming campaigns, and years of community involvement have had lasting effects. That’s why the island hasn’t been overrun again. The impact stuck and we continued offering free sterilizations and rescuing dogs when needed.

Alison’s legacy lives on—in the systems she built, the animals saved, and the standards she set. Isla Animals continues to work independently, thanks to raw passion and the belief of many in what we do and what we ca do.

Alison has been recognised for her work with awards and international media coverage, but the real legacy is simpler than that—fewer animals suffering, and a community changed for good.