For over 20 years, Isla Animals has been a constant in the chaos—rescuing, healing, and advocating for stray animals across Isla Mujeres and beyond. What started in 2001 as a simple mission to spay and neuter street dogs has grown into something much bigger: a full-blown, grassroots rescue that’s helped tens of thousands of animals find safety and love.

But in 2023, everything changed. We were evicted from the shelter space we had poured years of work into. No warning, no backup plan, just a deadline. And that could have been the end.

Instead, it was the beginning.

We built Isla Animals Oasis from scratch—not just a building, but a whole life. In the jungle. With no trash pickup. No water delivery. Just dirt, dogs, and determination. We laid the bricks ourselves. Painted the walls. Slept beside the dogs. Hauled water. Laughed. Cried. Got bit. Got up again.

It’s more than a shelter. It’s our home.

As we celebrated the second anniversary of the Oasis, we spent a week sharing what it really means to live this life. No filters, no fluff. We talked about burnout. About barking at 2am. About the emotional weight of watching a stray walk away. About holding the ones who finally let us in. It’s not always cute—but it’s always worth it.

This place exists because we refused to quit. And because people—friends, followers, total strangers—stood up and said, “We’ve got you.” That’s what keeps the lights on, the food bowls full, and the doors open.

Two years of the Oasis. Over two decades of rescue. And we’re just getting started.