June 24, 2009
Spay/Neuter Clinic in Lima, Peru
HSI and Grupo Caridad bring humane animal control to communities in need
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The clinic was advertised throughout San Juan de Lurigancho, the poorest district of Lima.
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Patients and their people waiting for veterinary services.
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Pets arrived in bags, boxes, or wrapped up in towels.
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Even with few resources, people love and care for their animals.
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Lima is full of animals living on the street.
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Each animal got a basic examination before surgery.
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HSI veterinarian Gaby Flacke spays a cat.
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Recovering from surgery.
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Being part of the solution to pet overpopulation brings a smile to this client’s face.
A dog born on the streets of the developing world is usually destined for a life of suffering. If she survives to adulthood, she most likely faces malnutrition, disease, cruelty, and endless litters of puppies who will share her fate. Sadly, even puppies born to owned animals often wind up on the streets, because there are not enough homes or shelters for all of them.
In Lima, Peru, Humane Society International has partnered with local organization Grupo Caridad to address the street animal overpopulation problem. In the past year, more than 500 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered through this program. This effort greatly reduces the number of animals that will be born to a life on the streets in the coming years. On most weekends, our Peruvian partners set up shop in private homes throughout San Juan de Lurigancho, the poorest district in Lima. While people and their animals stream in from all over the district, the HSI/GC team works feverishly to ensure that every animal that arrives is spayed or neutered. This month, HSI also provided veterinary evaluation and training of clinic staff to improve the standard of care for the animals that visit the clinic. We will continue to work with our Peruvian veterinarians to increase the number of animals reached and the quality of care that they receive.
We have a long road ahead of us as we improve the lives of street animals around the world. But in Lima, Peru, we’ve already made great strides in the right direction.