PAWS for Change: Help Roaming Dogs in Peru

Although Peru has laws intended to protect abandoned animals, Peru has an estimated 6 million abandoned dogs and cats, and in Cusco alone, nearly 40,000 dogs live on the streets without care, creating serious welfare and public health concerns. In the rural communities surrounding Cusco, this difficult reality stands in stark contrast to the thriving local tourism industry. 

Thanks to your support, the PAWS project can help both abandoned animals and pets belonging to families who cannot afford essential veterinary care. Injuries, illnesses, and uncontrolled breeding contribute to ongoing suffering for animals and create public health concerns for the wider community. 

PAWS is working every day to change that reality. 

Through free mobile veterinary clinics, sterilization campaigns, and compassionate education programs, we are making sustainable and measurable improvements to animal welfare across the Andes. 

From July to September 2025, our mobile clinic delivered direct veterinary care to 912 animals in rural Cusco, support that would otherwise be out of reach for many families. 

Animals treated: 

• 678 dogs 

• 234 cats 

We reached 22 communities located throughout the Sacred Valley and the highland outskirts of Cusco, areas where veterinary services are typically inaccessible due to distance and cost. By bringing free treatment and sterilization directly to these remote populations, we ensure that families and their companion animals receive the care they urgently need, while promoting long-term responsible pet ownership across a broad geographic area. 

Our team treated infections, trauma injuries, parasites, respiratory issues, and other preventable conditions, giving animals a real chance at healthier, happier lives. 

Spay & Neuter: Prevention for a Kinder Future 

Uncontrolled breeding remains one of the most urgent animal welfare challenges in rural Peru. This quarter, we performed: 

• 75 Neuter / spay surgeries 

• 46 dogs 

• 29 cats 

Each procedure is carried out to the highest standards of safety and care, preventing future litters that would be left to struggle in unsafe conditions. With your help, we are addressing the root causes of animal overpopulation with long-term, compassionate solutions. 

Strengthening Knowledge and Community Leadership 

Education and partnerships are key to lasting change. In September, our PAWS team took part in an animal behavior and welfare course organized by the Municipality of Santiago in Cusco. 

This initiative: 

• Strengthened relationships with municipal authorities 

• Showcased Globalteer’s leadership in sterilization and free veterinary services 

• Raised awareness of animal protection laws 

• Encouraged young people to be responsible pet owners and report abuse 

By transforming attitudes today, we are building safer, kinder communities for animals in the future. 

Stories That Show Why This Work Matters 

This quarter, we also assisted urgent cases — including Chiquibum, a young and adored puppy whose owner lacked the resources to treat a severe open leg wound. He underwent surgery and received post-operative care through PAWS. 

Today, Chiquibum is healthy, energetic, and joyfully running on the same leg that once caused him so much pain — a powerful reminder that every life matters. 

Together, We Are Creating a More Compassionate Future 

Your generosity is saving lives, alleviating suffering, and strengthening the bond between people and their animals. Together, we continue to: 

• Provide essential veterinary care where none exists 

• Promoteresponsiblepetownership 

• Reduce animal overpopulation at its source 

• Build a future where all animals are treated with dignity and respect 

Thank you for believing in this mission. Your support brings health, hope, and humanity to animals and families across rural Peru. 

Expanding care across rural Communities 

In recent months, the work Globalteer leads through PAWS has gained even stronger local support. The Municipality of Santiago has now replicated our mobile veterinary clinic model, hiring veterinarians and running ongoing sterilization campaigns using our same operational protocols. We are now working together in a coordinated effort to improve animal welfare and reduce suffering in the region. This recognition and collaboration demonstrate the effectiveness of PAWS’ approach and its growing influence in public welfare initiatives. 

In the Andean communities surrounding Cusco, Peru, street dogs are a common sight—many hungry, injured, or ill. While many of these animals may have owners, it is common practice for them to roam freely, and access to affordable veterinary care is nearly nonexistent in rural areas.

That’s where PAWS steps in.

Our project works to reduce the suffering of roaming dogs and cats and tackle long-term animal welfare issues through a three-pronged approach: education, healthcare, and neuter/spaying. With your support, PAWS is making an immediate difference for thousands of animals—and improving the relationship between people and their pets.

Recent Results: Compassion in Action

In just the last three months, thanks to the generous support of our donors and the tireless work of our mobile veterinary team, we have:

Neutered/spayed 169 animals, reducing future litters and the number of stray animals living in poor conditions.

Provided healthcare to 251 dogs and cats, treating infections, parasites, wounds, and other health issues that would otherwise go unaddressed.

Our mobile veterinary clinic travels directly to rural villages—places where even basic veterinary services are unaffordable or completely unavailable. By offering free, on-site veterinary care and sterilization, we’re ensuring that pets receive the medical attention they need and that the cycle of overpopulation is broken at its root.

Changing Mindsets Through Education

At the heart of PAWS is not just treatment, but transformation. We run community education programs to teach families—especially children—about responsible pet care, the importance of vaccinations and sterilization, and how to treat animals with compassion. Changing attitudes is key to long-term impact, and we're seeing a growing number of families engage positively with our team and commit to caring for their animals more responsibly.

Why This Work Matters

Without intervention, stray dogs and cats often live short, harsh lives. Many suffer from malnutrition, disease, and injury. Worse, overpopulation leads to more suffering, more neglect, and public health risks. Our holistic approach addresses both the symptoms and the causes of this ongoing issue.

With your help, we are treating today’s suffering while preventing tomorrow’s.

Your support gives vulnerable animals in Peru a chance at a healthier, more dignified life—and helps build kinder, more informed communities.

Thank you for standing with us in this vital work.