Refugio de Perros y Gatos

About the place

A non-profit shelter with 27 years of history that lives on donations alone. It takes in dogs rescued from abusive owners, abandoned with medical problems or found suffering on the street; 35 cats in the same conditions and a rescued pig. It also sterilizes, vaccinates against rabies and deworms the neighborhood’s animals, finds homes for the rescued ones and organizes community fairs to raise funds.

Why they need volunteers

There is no permanent staff: only the owner and two volunteer helpers for over 120 animals, on a site with very basic infrastructure. Any help with care and feeding makes a difference. Their goal is that no rescued animal ever again suffers abuse, hunger or cold, and that each finds a home.

What you will help with

• Prepare the animals’ food
• Feed them
• Help bathe them on bath days
• Support campaigns and fairs with the community
• Improve the shelter’s infrastructure

A typical day

You prepare the food and feed the animals with the caretakers’ help; on bath days you help bathe them. If there is a fair or campaign, you take part. Over time, veteran volunteers train the new ones and work on their own. If several volunteers are there at once, each can choose specific tasks.

What we ask of you

Goodwill and love to give to the animals. No experience needed; vets are especially welcome.

Getting there from the volunteer house

From the volunteer house: bus (S/ 1.20) then shared taxi (S/ 2), about S/ 5.20 round trip. Or walk 20 minutes to the shared-taxi stop and pay only S/ 4 round trip.