A Modern-Day Noah's Ark in Mexico: Rescuing Hundreds of Animals from a Hurricane
Ricardo Pimentel made headlines in Mexico by bringing 300 dogs, rabbits, birds, a hedgehog, sheep, and stray cats into his home to save them from a devastating hurricane in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Ricardo Pimentel with some of the dogs he sheltered in his home.In a striking act of kindness, Ricardo Pimentel recently captured the attention of Mexico and beyond by opening his home to 300 dogs and dozens of other animals — including rabbits, birds, a hedgehog, sheep, and stray cats — to protect them from a severe hurricane that hit the Yucatán Peninsula.
To accomplish this, Pimentel cleared out his children's rooms to provide a safe haven for the animals during the storm.
The storm, reported by local news to be one of the most dangerous Mexico has ever faced, brought its challenges. "The smell in the house was... well, it was terrible," Pimentel joked in a later interview. "But it was worth it. It doesn’t matter if the house is messy, it can be cleaned. You can fix or replace broken items. The beauty is seeing these animals, healthy and safe, ready for adoption."
It all started at the beginning of the month.
In a Facebook post, Pimentel invited animal owners to bring their pets to his home. "I trimmed the branches and cleared a lot of space in the house for them," he wrote, striking a chord with thousands.
Soon, the post went viral, and hundreds reached out, asking him to take in their pets as well. In support, people organized donations to provide food and water for the animals.
