Texas Retiree Finds Purpose Volunteering in Puerto Vallarta

Shashanda Trujillo remembers names, brings extra bandages, and stays late to finish paperwork at animal clinics across Puerto Vallarta. But what makes this Texas retiree truly remarkable isn't what she does; it's how she's figured out how to keep doing it.

Trujillo moved to Puerto Vallarta on Christmas Day 2021, leaving Dallas behind for a coastal Mexican city where time moves differently. Before retiring, she supported charities financially but never had enough hours to volunteer. "When I knew I was coming to Mexico, I saw it as a golden opportunity because finally, I would have more time," she said.

That gift of time became the foundation of her new life. She divides her days among RISE, Vallarta Cares, Friends of Puerto Vallarta Animals, and the Cuale Spay Neuter Clinics, helping with everything from free spay and neuter surgeries to connecting neighbors with essential services.

Her philosophy is disarmingly simple. "Sometimes the need seems endless, but if we all do just a little, it goes a long way," Trujillo explained. It's not about dramatic rescues or sweeping acts; it's the thousand tiny things that make life kinder.

But Trujillo learned something crucial in her first year abroad. When she started, she volunteered six days a week, eager and perhaps a little overzealous. "I can't do it all, at least not all at once," she realized.

That revelation changed everything. She built self-care into her volunteer calendar: days off, yoga, walks, reading, travel, and time with friends. "I incorporated these things to ensure I could be the best version of myself while supporting others," she said.

Sunny's Take

What Trujillo really understands is that sustainable giving requires protecting your own well-being. "Being shown love and care changes lives, not only that of the receiver but also the giver," she said. Her dual focus on animal welfare and community support creates a full-bodied contribution that touches both furry and human neighbors.

Puerto Vallarta itself feeds her work. "It is a place where time slows down, and occasionally even stands still," Trujillo said. "I feel healthier and more grounded than ever before." After long clinic shifts, she watches sunsets that are never the same but always beautiful.

Her message to anyone hesitant about volunteering is wonderfully freeing: help "in any capacity that you can." It's permission to plug in where you fit, whether lifting heavy boxes or offering quiet company. No heroics required, just presence and commitment.

Trujillo has become one of those quietly indispensable people whose presence makes everything hum a little more gently.