OUR MISSION
About SBPA
SBPA San Carlos is a bi-cultural not-for-profit volunteer organization with a decades long history in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico.
The mission of SBPA San Carlos, is to protect animals and to alleviate the suffering created by their uncontrolled population growth. This goal is realized through a multi-faceted program that includes free spay and neuter clinics and certificates; and distribution of educational materials that promote responsible pet ownership.
A Day in the Life of SBPA
Experience Our Mission & Amazing Staff.
Based on a 2021 survey, there are around 60 million dogs & cats in Mexico. An estimated 70% of these animals live on the streets of our communities.
Gwen Bouschor with the SBPA’s Dr. Edgar Espinoza and his surgical team at a weekend spay-and-neuter clinic at their facilities in the Ranchitos in April, 2023.
Gwen Bouschor passed away early on the morning of July 9th at a care home in Tucson, she was 87. Gwen moved to San Carlos with her husband, the late Royal “Bud” Bouschor, following her retirement as an elementary school teacher and was a long-time resident of San Carlos.
Many of you will remember Gwen as the founder of the Sociedad Benéfica para Animales (SBPA) in 1995, which provided free vaccination and spay-and-neuter services for the community, and the Santuario San Carlos, cat & dog sanctuary which re-homed hundreds of abandoned animals over the last three decades throughout Sonora and the southwestern USA. Gwen’s vision was to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in San Carlos through spay and neuter services, education, and compassionate care. In the early years, Gwen was able to sterilize about 300 animals annually.
This story of caring and incredible commitment began here in San Carlos one day when Gwen brought her pets to Manuel and Germaine Ferreira in Villa Hermosa for grooming. She lamented to Manuel the appalling state of stray animals in San Carlos and Guaymas. He told her that it was perhaps her destiny to do something about this.
Gwen consulted with her veterinarian in Tucson, Dr. Ed Kiesel, and he agreed to come down to San Carlos several times a year to trap street dogs and cats and conduct spay-and-neuter surgeries from the back of his SUV. When her house was finished on the Caracol, they even conducted surgeries in her kitchen, laying out patients in her living/dining area for recovery.
As time passed, Gwen’s work evolved into SBPA, Inc., which focused exclusively on prevention through free spay and neuter services, leaving fostering and adoption to other community members. With the help of Caroline Durand, a new board of directors was formed, creating and maintaining SBPA’s status as a U.S. non-profit while strengthening partnerships with its sister organization in Mexico, SBPA San Carlos. The mission of both organizations is to protect animals and alleviate the suffering and disease caused by uncontrolled population growth through free spay and neuter clinics, and educational outreach to promote responsible pet ownership in the community. Over the last 30 years, SBPA has grown from its humble beginnings that Gwen started, to an organization that performs over 5,000 free spay-and-neuter surgeries annually, significantly reducing suffering and promoting a healthier future for animals and people in the region.
Gwen was a tireless warrior for the animals but she was also funny and charming and she won people over.
Gwen is survived by her daughter, Teresa Montoya, and grandsons, Ben and Nick, of Franklin, MA. They want everyone to know how much Gwen loved San Carlos, its people and its animals.
Free Sterilization for Cats and Dogs
Esterilización gratuita para gatos y perros
We seek to protect domestic and feral animals from suffering created by uncontrolled reproduction.
Next Sterilization Clinic
Saturday October 17th – 7:30am – 3pm
Sunday October 18th – 7:30am – 3pm
Registration ends at 1 pm
Sábado 17 de octubre – 7:30 a. m. – 3:00 p. m.
Domingo 18 de octubre – 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
La inscripción finaliza a la 1 p. metro.
The clinic is on a first-come, first-served basis, no appointments available. The first 300 surgeries of each day are free for animals in need and any additional surgery will require a donation of $400 MXN.
Directions to get to the new clinic: Turn right at the top sign where Hambones Insurance and Circle K are.. Pass the old clinic and SIXX and go to the end of the street just after the new OXXO, turn right and exit the asphalt, go two blocks down the crawl path and turn left. the clinic is on the left.
You can bring any cat or dog for free surgery, male or female, provided it meets the guidelines
- If potentially pregnant, the vets can evaluate and determine if they can be fixed at that time.
- Please, no food or water 8 hours before surgery.
- We ask that cats be crated or secured in some other manner and that dogs be on a leash. This is to protect both your furry friend and others as there will be many around. If you don’t have access to transport, you can create one using black vegetable boxes tied together, a laundry basket with air holes, or a cardboard box with air holes.
- Minimum age 3 months.
- No breastfeeding mothers.
Visit Our Clinic
Av. F, Ranchito Campestre, 85506 San Carlos, Son., Mexico
The Veterinary Team
We appreciate our extraordinary veterinary team’s skill and dedication. These wonderful people work long, hard hours performing spay and neuter surgeries to help in reducing the uncontrolled dog and cat population in the area.
MVZ Edgar Espinoza
Veterinarian
EMVZ Roberto del Cid
Veterinarian
EMVZ Sebastian Leyva
Veterinarian
MVZ Julián García
Associate Veterinarian
Eng. Edgar Espinoza
Veterinary Technician
MVZ Elena Martinez
Associate Veterinarian
C. Fausto Servín
Veterinary Technician
C. Manuel Cruz
Veterinary Technician
Debbie Reid – Clinic Manager
SBPA San Carlos is a Mexican registered non-profit located in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. SBPA San Carlos provides free spay & neuter clinics to San Carlos and surrounding communities to control the proliferation of stray dogs and cats and create a healthier community for humans and animals alike. SBPA San Carlos holds fundraising events, operates a bookstore and solicits donations from local residents and visitors in San Carlos. SBPA San Carlos has a sister organization, SBPA Services, Inc., based in Tucson, AZ that operates as a 5013c non-profit corporation in the US. SBPA Services, Inc. main function is generating donations through various channels in the US to support the operations of its sister organization in Mexico.
How Can You Support Us?
*** SBPA 2026 Summer Donation Challenge ***
A very generous SBPA donor has thrown down a challenge to our supporters and the community at large. The challenge is this donor will match all donations through the months of July & August up to $15,000 USD ($262,250 MX) to help the SBPA control the overpopulation and suffering of animals in our community. Your tax-deductible donation, will help us achieve our goal and provide enough funds to pay for medical supplies, antibiotics, anesthesia and veterinary fees for almost 700 animals! Are you up for the challenge? Tax information for US donation: SBPA Services, Inc. Tax ID# 42-1553270
Online
THROUGH PAYPAL
Click the button below and choose the amount you wish to contribute.
*Amount in US Dollars.
Cash
IN AN ENVELOPE
Deliver an envelope, pesos or dollars accepted, to the
SBPA bookstore in the marina behind Barracuda Bob’s Restaurant, or to the VIVE Real Estate office in Plaza Iberri, behind Arco Gas Station.
Postal Mail
IN TUCSON, AZ
American or Canadian check:
SPBA Services Inc.
Attn: Jonni Diane Rogers
4647 Holly Rose Drive
Green Valley, Arizona 85622
Deposit
IN CONVENIENCE STORE
Request a Paynet Service Payment
Reference No.: 9392083
Your support is what makes the difference!
Impact of Your Generous Donations
30
Years of Service
60,000+
Free Sterilizations
Click to see the stunning impact of these sterilizations!
SBPA Board
Many residents of the San Carlos and Guaymas area volunteer their time to help SBPA’s spay and neuter clinics and fundraising events run smoothly. A special mention goes to these fantastic people. Our board is here to support our volunteers and insure SBPA’s mission is met today and tomorrow! If you have any questions or concerns regarding the operations of SBPA San Carlos please contact the board at board@sbpamx.org
Additional Roles & Responsibilities
- Spay & Neuter Clinic Manager – Debbie Reid
- Board Events Coordinator – Jim O’Rourke
- Board Donations Coordinator – Nancy Cunningham
- Board Volunteer Coordinator – Derelyn Howard
- Bookstore Manager – Lorie Brown
