The Little White Dog that Sparked a Movement
It was a seemingly ordinary day in Cancun, Mexico when Diana Webster’s life took an unexpected turn. As she strolled along the sun-drenched streets, a small, scrawny white dog caught her eye. Malnourished and clearly in distress, the poor creature approached Diana, nuzzling her hand in a silent plea for help.
“She was telling me in her own way, ‘See how I’m suffering? Please find a way to help me and the millions of other dogs like me,'” Diana recalls, her voice thick with emotion. That heartbreaking encounter lit a fire within her, sparking a lifelong mission to improve the lives of strays around the world.
Humane Advisor: Connecting Tourists and Businesses to Save Strays
Determined to make a difference, Diana founded Humane Advisor, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and finding solutions for the plight of stray animals at popular tourist destinations. “I wanted to let tourists know how they can help strays because there was no information available about what to do when I met that little white dog,” she explains.
Through Humane Advisor, Diana began connecting with animal advocates and business leaders, sharing stories of dedication and heartbreak. She interviewed individuals like Ricardo Pimentel, who operates the Tierra de Animales sanctuary near Cancun, and Sue Silva of Playa Animal Rescue in Playa del Carmen – unsung heroes who have saved hundreds of animals in the Yucatan region.
“Raising awareness and educating people on the challenges and the solutions is crucial for change to happen,” Diana emphasizes. “And very importantly, I wanted to offer tourist destinations, hotels, and resorts some ideas about what they could do to help too.”
To that end, she created the Hotel and Resort Guide to Feral and Stray Management, a resource that is now being referenced by major tour operators and hotel chains in Europe. The guide provides practical solutions and best practices for addressing the stray animal crisis in a humane and responsible way.
The Economic Impact of Stray Animals on Tourism
As Diana delved deeper into the issue, she uncovered striking data that could no longer be ignored by the tourism industry. In a 2013 survey funded by the Humane Research Council, a startling 34% of tourists reported being upset by the sight of stray cats and dogs during their vacations. Even more concerning, a whopping 41% said they were less likely to return to destinations with visible stray populations.
“Travel businesses need to know that their customers care about animals at tourist destinations,” Diana asserts. “Especially because the survey showed that seeing stray cats and dogs could have a substantial economic impact on tourism.”
Determined to bring this data to the attention of industry leaders, Diana launched a campaign urging travel companies to partner with local animal welfare groups. The goal? To provide resources for sterilization programs, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and educational initiatives that could transform the lives of strays.
A Glimmer of Hope: Partnerships and Progress
Diana’s tireless efforts have already begun to pay off, with several exciting new programs emerging from her outreach. While the initial response from US-based travel companies has been somewhat tepid, non-European counterparts have been surprisingly receptive to her proposals.
“It would be great if a tourism industry leader or leaders would step forward to champion this campaign,” Diana muses. “Someone high-profile like Richard Branson or influential like TripAdvisor President Stephen Kaufer could get the attention of the tourism industry to get on board for helping strays. That would be awesome.”
One recent success story is Humane Advisor’s partnership with AdventureWomen, a tour operator that now includes visits to animal welfare groups in their itineraries at destinations like Tanzania, Uganda, and Bhutan. “The program is also now going to be offered to tour operators at many other tourist destinations around the world,” Diana proudly announces.
The Power of Individual Action
While progress can sometimes feel painfully slow, Diana remains steadfast in her belief that individual action can make a world of difference. She encourages anyone who has encountered a stray animal during their travels to share their story, both with Humane Advisor and on social media.
“Sharing your story could inspire other people to get involved and help,” she says. “Keep the outrage going. There are mass killings of strays like Sochi happening at nearly every major international sporting event and routinely at your favorite tourist destination.”
Diana is quick to point out that the problem is not limited to developing countries. “Heck, we euthanize millions of healthy stray dogs here in the US every year,” she laments. “Use your buying power and let any business that you patronize know that you will vote with your wallet by buying from companies that are committed to animal welfare. Share your commitment with your network of family, friends, and colleagues. Get animal welfare on every business agenda. Start now because one person really can make a difference. Your voice could be the tipping point for saving strays.”
Overcoming Misconceptions and Inspiring Change
Diana is no stranger to the misconception that people in the developing world have “bigger problems” than worrying about animal suffering. However, her experiences volunteering at spay-neuter clinics in Mexico have shown her a different reality.
“Hundreds of local people in some of the poorest neighborhoods would wait for hours in the hot sun to bring their beloved family pets or the village dog for surgery,” she recounts. “It’s obvious they want their animals to be cared for along with their families because not only do they love their pets, but also because strays present health and safety issues for communities.”
This dedication to animal welfare, even in the face of significant personal hardship, is a testament to the universal compassion that Diana hopes to cultivate through her work. By inspiring tourists and businesses alike to take action, she believes the tide can turn for millions of stray animals around the world.
A Lifelong Commitment to Saving Strays
Diana’s passion for animal welfare is deeply rooted in her own professional background. After two decades in the airline industry, where she honed her skills in sales and marketing, she decided to pursue a new path – becoming an attorney with the goal of advocating for animal rights.
“It’s been an amazing journey from the first few blogs I wrote sharing my personal experience with that little white dog in Cancun,” Diana reflects. “I’ve had the honor of interviewing many dedicated animal advocates and business people, and my website and blog has received thousands of views from visitors located in nearly 100 countries. It’s clear that there are a lot of people out there who have had experiences like mine with a stray that deeply affected them, not only just at the time of the encounter, but also long after they returned home from their vacations.”
As Diana continues her relentless crusade to improve the lives of stray animals, she remains convinced that with persistence and the power of collective action, a brighter future is within reach. “If every tourist that cared about animals told their airline, hotel, tour operator, and favorite travel review sites that tourism needed to step up and support saving animals, it could change the world for strays,” she declares.
The little white dog in Cancun may be long gone, but its legacy lives on through the tireless efforts of Diana Webster and the Humane Advisor movement. Together, they are proving that even the smallest of creatures can inspire the mightiest of transformations.
