From Grief to Action

Jaime Hernandez with Penelope

Meet Jaime Hernandez, one of Panama’s most passionate animal rescuers. What began with heartbreak has turned into a mission to protect the voiceless — one adoption, one rescue, one scar at a time.

A Tense Start at the Stand

As we approach the stand of Corazón con Huellas in the El Dorado mall, we spot what looks like a heated exchange between Jaime and a woman interested in adopting a cat. Through rapid hand gestures we see him trying to make a point come across, but cannot hear what it is from a distance. Once the conversation ends Jaime finds us and tells us the lady didn't meet the requirements for adoption of the cat but she didn't seem to understand. "I'd rather have the cat come home with me again tonight than to cry over her for being with someone I don't think would take proper care for her."

"I couldn't save Chicho, but I can save other animals."

Jaime, 27 years old, started his journey as an animal rescuer 3 years ago after losing his own rescue dog, Chicho. With tears in his eyes he recounts the story of how he adopted Chicho and took care of him for 17 months when he suddenly took very ill. Despite urgent care Chicho couldn't be saved unfortunately. Struck with grief Jaime was invited to volunteer for a weekend with Corazon con Huellas, an 18 year old organization that rescues an average of 200 animals per year. Jaime has been volunteering with them ever since and sees it as a calling. "I couldn't save Chicho, but I can save other animals.

It has been a wild adventure, which sees his weekends split between adoption events at malls and neuterings at Spay, which is a requirement for rescued street animals in Panama. During his busiest weekend he picked up over 80 dogs from the street to be neutered in a mass neutering event organized by Spay, where a total of 1500 animals were treated in total. He currently has 5 dogs at home, but had difficulty setting limits at first. "At one point shortly after I started I had 18 animals at my house in Guna Nega," he tells us with a big smile on his face. "But it was simply too much, which I have to remind myself of regularly." When we ask him if the rescues go wrong sometimes he shows us his hands and feet which are covered in scars from bite marks. "It's part of the job," he tells us.

You can't save all of them though, as Jaime tells us about a dog in which they discovered a big tumor during the first medical check after they picked him up. "Sadly, there was no way to save his life, but at least he didn't die alone and with an empty stomach, so we were still able to help in some way".

The Rescue That Rescued Him

Passion from head to toe

When Jaime first started volunteering he was introverted and shy. "I didn't even like ordering food at a fast food restaurant because I'd have to talk to the person behind the counter," but his time helping Corazon con Huellas really helped him come out of his shell. As he talks with us he speaks with confidence in his posture and voice, and uses his signature passionate hand gestures to conveys us his experiences. And its not just animals he meets on the streets, but he will also ring the bell at homes to ask about animals spotted in the neighborhoods or if he sees an animal being mistreated by a human. "I saw a pitbull tied on a chain recently. Three days I passed and saw him without food so I fed him myself. When I spoke to the owner he told me the dog was there to protect his land. When I went back another time the dog was missing. According to the neighbors the man had given the dog away, potentially out of fear of getting reported to the authorities." However, in the organization's experience local laws and authorities often fall short in protecting animals against abuse.

"At one point shortly after I started I had 18 animals at my house."

Adoption Discrimination

A big part of his time goes to attending the adoption events in the attempt to find the animals a new home. Potential adopters do need to meet a strict set of rules first; which include having a fenced-off garden or safe apartment, of which they will want to see photo evidence, being 23+ years old, and making sure every member of the household agrees with the adoption. Most adopters prefer a puppy, which find a new home within a month on average, whilst adult dogs can take months - or in some cases a literal lifetime. "There is also discrimination towards color, with people prefering light colored pets," Jaime adds. There are over a dozen rescue organizations in Panama, which rescue more than a thousand animals from the streets per year.

“What stood out most in our conversation with Jaime was his unwavering passion. Every word, every gesture, radiates commitment. ‘I want these animals to be better off than me, treated with love and care,’ he tells us — and you believe him.”

You can find Jaime's Instagram here, and Corazon con Huellas here. You can donate to their cause through a yappy to 6338-1081 and of course you can also visit their adoption events or volunteer to help them out.