PAWS for Change: Help Roaming Dogs in Peru

During our years working in Cusco, Peru, we’ve seen better laws and more talk from local authorities about animal welfare. But on the streets of Cusco and in the surrounding mountain villages, the reality hasn't changed much yet. Thousands of dogs and cats are still struggling to survive on their own. In rural communities, this is even tougher because a vet clinic isn't just expensive, it’s usually non-existent.

Because of your support, PAWS (Peru Animal Welfare Society) is able to step into that gap. We aren't just treating "stray" animals; we are helping families who love their pets, but cannot afford or access basic care. Whether it’s an injury, a preventable disease, or the cycle of uncontrolled breeding, we are on the road every day working to turn things around.

From October to December, our mobile clinic reached 369 animals in the most isolated corners of Cusco, animals that otherwise would have suffered in silence.

Total animals treated: 369

• 269 Dogs

• 100 Cats

Our team provided everything from basic check-ups and vitamins to emergency care. For many of these families, we are the only vet they will see all year. The mobile clinic isn't just a vehicle; it’s a lifeline for many roaming dogs and cats.

Neutering Campaigns: Stopping the Cycle

If we want to solve animal suffering in Peru, we have to talk about overpopulation. It is one of the biggest challenges we face. This quarter, we took our campaigns to 8 different communities, focusing on reducing future abandonment at the source.

Between October and December, we successfully neutered 125 animals:

• 65 Cats | 60 Dogs

Of the total 125 animal neutered, 77 are female and 48 are males. Each surgery follows strict safety and hygiene protocols. By focusing on these 125 procedures, we aren't just helping 125 animals; we are preventing thousands of future births into a life of hunger, illness, and neglect. It’s the most effective way to build a stable, healthy animal population in the Andes.

Osito’s Journey: 

Every now and then, we meet a dog that reminds us why every mile on the road is worth it. This quarter, that was Osito.

Osito is a senior dog, probably between 9 and 11 years old, who spent his life on the streets. When we found him, he was in a lot of pain, suffering from paraphimosis (a condition where he couldn't retract his penis), which causes severe swelling and tissue damage. As if that wasn't enough, he also had TVT (Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor), a contagious cancer.

It took a team effort PAWS, local volunteers, and partner organizations, but we got him stable and under treatment. Osito went through his full medical treatment. Today, he isn’t on the street anymore. He is in a safe shelter where he can live out his senior years with the dignity and comfort he deserved all along. His recovery shows that no animal is "too far gone" if we just give them a chance. 

Expanding Our Impact: San Salvador

Our mission also involves supporting those who are already doing great work. During this period, our team traveled to the community of San Salvador to visit Colitas de Mamá, a local shelter. We spent the day providing health check-ups and vitamin supplements to all their rescues, ensuring every dog there is on the right track to finding a forever home.

A More Compassionate Future

Your generosity is what keeps our engine running. Whether we are treating a senior dog like Osito or providing free vitamins in a remote village, none of this happens without you. Together, we are:

• Providing care where there is absolutely none.

• Stopping overpopulation through responsible neutering.

• Responding to emergencies that would otherwise end in tragedy.

Thank you for believing in PAWS and for standing with the animals of rural Cusco. You are bringing hope and humanity to the families and animals that need it most.

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.