It’s been more than five years since Guadalajara municipal officials evicted Lawrence Gerard and his 90 rescued dogs from his rented colonial-style house on Calle Libertad across from the U.S. Consulate General.
Gerard’s landlord had finally lost patience with multiple complaints about the smell and noise and took the former New York priest to court.
As he packed up to move out, Gerard told the Reporter that he felt like killing himself.
After further disputes with landlords and neighbors in other parts of the city, Gerard finally found a home more to his liking: a sizable property in a quiet and unfashionable southwestern suburb of the city. Despite having only a smallish house, the corner-lot property has a huge yard dotted with fruit trees for shade, as well as an unused tennis court, ideal for allowing the dogs to roam freely.
And the extra space is vital because Gerard’s canine entourage has doubled in size: he’s now caring for around 180 dogs.
Gerard’s 20-year labor of caring for a small part of the city’s unwanted dog population has consumed every penny of his income. He reckons his monthly expenses now total around 4,000 dollars. Nearly a quarter of this goes on rent, while a large sum is earmarked for three helpers who come in at least six hours a day, seven days a week to keep the place clean.
After purchasing mountains of dog food and paying for vaccinations, veterinarian’s fees, tips for garbage collectors and other costs, Gerard doesn’t have a dime to spend on his own needs.
Not that it seems to matter much to Gerard, who says his life is devoted to his dogs.
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