Baja Animal Sanctuary

Welcome to the Baja Animal Sanctuary in Rosarito Mexico, a no kill shelter that helps stray dogs and cats in the Tijuana and Rosarito areas.

In a land south of San Diego far far away lies a special place of love, hope, and understanding. It is a land of unlimited love and compassion where everyone is accepted and everyone is loved. It is a land where the lesson and message of unconditional love is taught, and if you are lucky can focus on this subtle and yet powerful message, you will fulfill every wish and dream you can ever have, knowingly or unknowingly.

Story by Hanuman Das
Photos by Sean Callahan

This is the road which leads to the Baja Animal Sanctuary, 3 miles east from downtown Rosarito Mexico.
It is here that you can enter a magical world of love, compassion, and understanding. It is here, if you are careful, that you can learn life's greatest lesson of unconditional love. Here however, it is real and pure. This lesson is given without words, it is done through actions, which include lots of kisses and happy smiling faces.
Come with us now and visit this place.

Map and Directions to the Baja Animal Sanctuary.

Welcome to The Baja Animal Sanctuary

The Baja Animal Sanctuary Guardian Angel, President, and Founder, Sunny Benedict

The Baja Animal Sanctuary, which resides in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, just 25 miles south of the San Ysidro border, was founded in March of 1997 by American Sunny Benedict. Sunny, working in Real Estate in Rosarito Beach at the time, would see the local animals, mangy and starving, roaming the streets in search of a kind stranger who might pat them on the head, or toss them a morsel of food. She knew that she had to do something! BAS was the result. With $180.00 in initial donations she began the Baja Animal Sanctuary.

The sanctuary, the only no-kill shelter in northern Mexico, provides a safe haven for dogs and cats in need. They receive food, medical care, and love for as long as they need. The sanctuary averages close to 400 canine residents and 75 feline residents at any given time. Because we are a no-kill facility, animals that can not be adopted are allowed to stay. Dogs and cats are euthanized only in cases of extreme illness.

BAS was officially incorporated in the year 2000 and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions. BAS receives no assistance from the Mexican government. We survive entirely from contributions from concerned animal lovers.

* At the end of this pictoral are all the links and information for donations and adoptions.

I love you Tyson!

Tyson is one of the many wonderful stories of love. This animal has been through so much that I will spare the flood of tears here telling it, but I can say that the true beauty is that despite all he has been through, look how loving and happy he is here. He was so happy to have some company and attention, and especially the treats that we brought down with us on our visit>
Tyson is the Dam Basi, or elder stateperson for the dogs being close to 15 years old. All the dogs there respect Tyson and intuitively know his story and background.
Here he curiously looks at the camera for the picture.

I went there and instantly fell in love with Tyson. His weathered face says so much, and his loving heart says even more. This is a physical manifestation of unconditional love that everyone should respect with folded palms. The doors of heaven easily can be entered by people who do very good deeds and are pious, but the ticket to Kingdom of God can only be paid by pure unconditional love. If you can ever love like Tyson has despite all the years of horrble abuse, then you will know and begin to gather a very small taste of that one Love that is written about in every scripture. It is that Love that a million tongues, with a million voices could never express in words. How is it possible that a dog who has been through so much can instantly be so happy to see anyone friendly and willing to pet him?
How is it possible that this creature would love anyone regardless of skin color, creed, physical looks, or ability?
Do you see now how loveless we all are really?

Do you love like this unconditionally, or do you still think your life here has some other meaning?
Wake up dear soul, there never was, nor will there ever will be anything else on this plane of existense that matters. When you are willing to learn that lesson and fully surrender to that Love, then you too can enter the loving plane of existance that is the basis and goal of every religion.

Where some people may see an old beat up dog, what I see is a pure and loving soul who has been through so much, but has not surrendered to any other agenda but still continuing to trust and love.

Baja Animal Sanctuary

Welcome to a Land of Love and Miracles