The The mission of Compassion Copper Canyon began with Dr. Dawkins and her husband Alan traveling  to Mexico for the 16th annual Caballo Blanco Ultramarathon in March of 2018. The region of the Copper Canyons within the Sierra Madre Occidental is brutally beautiful, difficult to reach, and hard on its inhabitants.  They fell in love with the area and were inspired to help. They returned again in December 2018, this time with their two small children driving 30 hours to get there. They filled the back of their old Ford pick up truck with clothes they and friends donated, children's toys for a Christmas toy drive, and, of course, veterinary supplies. They spent a few days in the mountain area and a few in the canyon. Each place they went, they spread the word so people would know that they had free medications to treat people's pets or street dogs.  With the help of some wonderful local friends and supporters, they even reached some remote towns that only 4 wheel drive could get to and one town that required a strenuous 3 hour hike up a mountain with a guide, Prospero, to reach. When they left the Copper Canyon Region this time they felt that they wanted to do even more and decided to start the process to become a non-profit. They returned again in March 2019 and did a very small spay and neuter trial clinic in the town of Cerocahui.  Since then, we have partnered with other veterinarians and organizations and been back several times each year, conducting spay and neuter clinics and providing basic veterinary care to animals who have no other options.