Hope in Pilcomayo: 97 Sterilizations and a Community That Stepped Up
On June 10 & 11, 2026
Pichuberry crossed a major milestone
We hosted our very first spay and neuter campaign in the community of Pilcomayo.
Unlike many of our standard initiatives, this campaign was launched entirely without external sponsorship.
It was fueled purely by Pichuberry's core resources, the unmatched dedication of our local volunteer team, and a vital new medical partnership with Dr. Chacón and his team at Clínica Veterinaria Chacón, who generously provided their facilities to give us a safe, clean space to work.
Over the course of an intense two days, this collaborative effort successfully sterilized 97 pets.
Uncovering the Deep Need in Pilcomayo
Stepping into a new territory always reveals the quiet crisis of animal overpopulation, but the sheer level of need we witnessed in Pilcomayo touched our team deeply. While we ask for a baseline social cost of 40 soles (about $11 USD) per pet to help keep our campaigns sustainable, we will never turn away an animal in need.
During the campaign, an elderly woman arrived carrying two dogs. She explained that she wanted to do the right thing but could only scrape together 10 soles for each animal. We were honored to step in and cover the remaining balance so her dogs could safely undergo surgery.
What happened the next day is a moment our team will never forget.
The very same woman walked back through our doors, this time carefully carrying a cat inside a potato sack. Desperate to prevent more unwanted kittens from being born into poverty, she asked if she could manually scrub and clean our facility in exchange for her cat’s surgery.
Of course, we took her cat into the operating room immediately and waived the fee entirely — no cleaning required. Her profound sense of responsibility and willingness to trade her own labor to protect her pet is exactly why this work matters.
Pilcomayo Campaign At A Glance
Total Days: 2
Total Pets Sterilized: 97
Funding Status: 100% Unsponsored (Self-Funded)
Medical Host: Clínica Veterinaria Chacón
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Beyond managing the general influx of pets, our team targeted severe vulnerability cases that wouldn't have survived without intervention. Among them was a street dog suffering from a severe jaw deformity.
Despite her physical challenges, she deserved the exact same opportunity to live a healthier, dignified life — free from the physical toll of contributing to the endless cycle of unwanted litters. Together with the elderly woman’s three animals, Pichuberry proudly funded 100% of the medical costs for these critical cases.
The Road Ahead: Mapping the Need
While we are incredibly proud of changing 97 lives in 48 hours, the reality on the ground tells us our work in this region is just beginning. Local authorities did not participate in this event, but the citizens themselves showed up in droves and are already pleading for a second campaign.
Our on-the-ground volunteer, Yulisa, conducted a regional assessment during the event and noted that a massive concentration of abandoned animals remains scattered along the Río Cunas corridor.
Areas facing severe, immediate challenges with pet abandonment and uncontrolled reproduction include:
Pilcomayo & Sicaya
Chupaca
Alto Miraflores
The communities surrounding the local landfill
We Will Return — With Your Help
The community of Pilcomayo proved to us that they want change, and we are firmly committed to returning to support them.
Independent campaigns like this put an immense strain on our baseline operational funding, but stories like the woman with her cat in a potato sack remind us that we cannot stop.
If you want to help us answer the community's call and fund our second emergency track into the Río Cunas corridor, please consider supporting our mission today.
Support Our Independent Campaign Fund
Every dollar directly translates to surgical supplies, safe anesthesia, and veterinary care for communities that have been completely left behind by local authorities.
Moments Of The Day
