Lukeville Port of Entry closure affects food supply operations at Rocky Point dog shelter
The closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry has had ramifications for all kinds of businesses in or near Rocky Point, including a local dog shelter.
Barb’s Dog Rescue in Puerto Peñasco is struggling to care for almost 500 shelter dogs.
The shelter has a hard time receiving food and supplies, as it can no longer rely on the generosity of tourists traveling to Rocky Point.
Gina Benner with the shelter says the closure has disrupted the flow of food coming into the shelter as the number of tourists has been limited.
“We have thousands of people who over the years when they’re traveling to Rocky Point have made it a habit to stop at the Why Not Travel Store, pick up a bag of dog food and then drop it off on their way into town and it’s been a beautiful thing,” she said.
Benner also says the shelter isn’t accepting any more dogs, but it also can’t adopt any out.
“I’ve been going to Rocky Point for 35 years and I have just — it never even dawned on me that a border crossing could close in both directions. It’s just — it’s really, really gut-wrenching,” she said.
Amazon doesn’t make over-the-border deliveries, so Benner says the shelter is looking at the possibility of having food and supplies flown in. The shutdown also prevents people from picking up food located in Yuma.
