On October 17 & 24, 2026
A Vulnerable Andean Community
In the vulnerable Andean neighborhood of Barrio La Unión in Yauyos, Jauja (and neighboring San Juan de Miraflores), many residents leave early in the morning for long work hours.
Throughout the day, local dogs and cats roam the streets without steady food, shelter, or supervision. Without access to veterinary care or sterilization, uncontrolled reproduction leads to continuous cycles of street animals, hardship, and preventable suffering.
While temporary construction delays at our Casa de Aurora shelter meant staying a bit longer in local accommodations, unexpected circumstances brought an incredible opportunity: the chance to organize not just one, but two spay and neuter campaigns for this underserved community.
Going Door to Door: Outreach & Education
Before and between surgical clinic days, our team walked door-to-door, distributed flyers, and even spoke on local radio to reach as many families as possible.
Through these conversations, we encountered both practical and cultural challenges:
Fears & Misconceptions: Many families worried that surgery would hurt or weaken their pets.
Commercial Breeding: Some owners intentionally allowed dogs to reproduce to sell puppies.
Immediate Needs vs. Prevention: For many struggling households, finding food today feels far more urgent than preventing litters tomorrow.
Changing these mindsets takes time, patience, and compassion. While providing a meal solves an immediate need, sterilization prevents unwanted litters, homelessness, and suffering for years to come.
We strive to help communities understand that animals feel pain, deserve protection, and that true compassion goes hand-in-hand with prevention.
Two Unforgettable Campaign Days
Executing two consecutive campaigns under an intense Andean sun tested every ounce of energy our ground team had. Working alongside our dedicated veterinary partners, our lean volunteer team managed setup, registration, postoperative recovery, and logistics — even receiving help from local assistants to safely capture vulnerable street animals who desperately needed care.
In the middle of these grueling days, the community responded with heartfelt warmth: local women arrived with homemade cakes, hot coffee, water, and freshly harvested potatoes for our team. These simple gestures were a beautiful reminder that compassion is contagious and that lasting change begins when a community starts getting involved.
Thanks to the generous financial support of the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and the hospitality of Graham Arquitectura, who kindly allowed us to use their property, Pichuberry successfully sterilized 65 animals (30 cats and 35 dogs) across two surgical days:
October 17: 29 animals (15 cats, 14 dogs)
October 24: 36 animals (15 cats, 21 dogs)
Post-Op Recovery & Ongoing Field Care
The mission didn't end when the surgical clinic closed. Following the campaigns, our team turned temporary living quarters into quiet recovery hubs for local street dogs. Many arrived anxious and unaccustomed to human contact, but within days of rest, nutritious food, and gentle handling, their tension gave way to trust.
During our time in Barrio La Unión, our team also delivered critical hands-on care to animals in immediate distress:
Rescuing a sweet young puppy named Pete, who is now being cared for while searching for a loving home.
Transporting a beautiful male husky and a small dog suffering from severe flea infestation and skin irritation to the vet for treatment.
Constructing simple, weather-resistant outdoor shelters to give remaining street dogs a safe place to rest during freezing nights and blazing daytime heat.
Love is Demonstrated Through Action
Behind these 65 sterilizations are countless hours of preparation, travel, door-to-door mapping, and community outreach.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot for funding these surgeries, to Graham Arquitectura for host facility support, and to our dedicated volunteer Emilia Gallardo, whose tireless work alongside our team — from early morning prep to mapping neighborhood streets — made both campaigns possible.
We cannot foster or adopt our way out of the stray animal crisis, but through sterilization, education, and community partnerships, we can prevent thousands of animals from ever being born into suffering.
Every animal deserves kindness and respect — and together, we are turning that belief into action.
Moments of the Day
