Week of May 17th

This week we've been busy working on a proposal for canine sterilization. Although we're planning on addressing this dog problem in a holistic manner, we need to make different applications for all the different parts of our program to the appropriate funding agencies that have interests in each specific area.

So why sterilize dogs???

Well, the obvious reason is to limit the existing population from reproducing, further contributing countless puppies to the ever growing population of dogs. But the less obvious reasons are for reasons of animal welfare. When roaming populations are too large, nutritional resources are low, body condition and immune responses are therefore compromised, and diseases spread easily through susceptible animals. Let me show you a few pictures of what we see:

This first dog has mange, and most dogs spend the majority of their time scratching at fleas, like the one below.

This poor dog had bloody diarrhea in the middle of the street, and the puppy below was very sick with runny eyes and nose, emaciation, weakness and dehydration- and was available for adoption!

The other welfare issues we run into are dogs being hit by cars. If you're squeamish, don't look at these ones!

Some people take the problem into their own hands, and poison dogs with strychnine, this poor guy didn't make it....

Overall, the overpopulation problem means that there are lots of unwanted and uncared for pups, resulting in some dogs spending their whole lives sleeping in the street like this old girl in the bottom picture.

Luckily things are changing. People are starting to push really hard for new legislation protecting animals, and making it illegal to treat them badly or let them roam in the streets. There are lots of organizations and associations working together to care for abandoned animals, and then adopt them out to responsible families. The goal is to foster this growing movement in Chile...there is evidence of change and a growing respect for animals everywhere! Here is a sign for a meeting to discuss and debate pet ownership in Chile, a policeman using a trained canine assistant, and a young girl hugging her new puppy.

Lastly, this family near Rancagua, Chile fostered a family of abandoned dogs- one mother and all her puppies. They helped raise the puppies until they were ready for new homes, and then adopted all the puppies out. The mom was taken to a local veterinary clinic where they paid to have her spayed.



Hats off to this family! See you next week!