Guatemalan Animal Sterilization Clinic 2020

Hi! 

My name is Gwendolyn Wolf and I'm a 23 year old world traveler.

Many of you know that I work with an animal rescue called Unidos Para Los Animales in Antigua, Guatemala. I've collaborated with them for the past 5 years. Together, we work to save animal lives and reduce suffering.  This involves rescue and rehabilitation. An animal will come to us in horrible condition. We provide food, water, shelter, medical treatment, training and one-on-one attention & tender loving care. Most of our animals are then sent up to the USA where loving adopters are awaiting their arrival. 

This is the picturesque idea of "animal rescue" that most people have. However, we also have other incredibly important animal welfare projects underway. UPA plays a strong role in reducing the rampant overpopulation of unwanted animals. One or two times a month, our team will pack up and travel to a rented space in one of the many villages that surround Antigua. The day is spent conducting a “sterilization clinic” where villagers can bring in pets and/or street strays for an incredibly cheap spay/neuter surgery. Animals are received, sedated, vaccinated, operated on and returned to their people in a matter of hours.

The funds for the medical supplies and vet costs are almost entirely-donation based, allowing these villagers to have the important opportunity to utilize sterilization services. Without donations, affording the cost of surgery would be nigh impossible for these rural residents.

Sterilization clinics are nowhere near as widely recognized as single-case rescues, but are just as important, if not more.

It’s actually quite remarkable work when you do the math. Anywhere between 40 to 80 animals are sterilized each clinic, depending on village size, weather, etc. The average is 60 animals. Keep in mind,  just one unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. Cats are even worse. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens!

I got involved with this organization because I am a passionate animal advocate and I want to do everything in my power to prevent unnecessary suffering. After five tours, I’ve seen some gnarly cases. Pups are often hit on purpose by cars and left to die, litters of kittens tied in plastic bags and tossed into ditches. Dogs often spend their entire lives chained up by themselves in a yard.  I want people to know about the work we do and why it’s important.

The most efficient way to end animal cruelty is to reduce the amount of undesired animals. Through numerous clinics, we have prevented hundreds of thousands of animals from being born unwanted into harsh conditions and subjected to mistreatment. UPA sterilized just under a thousand animals in 2019 alone and in 2020, we are aiming to double that number. 

My goal is to raise the money to sponsor one clinic in 2020, which equates to about 1,200$. The money raised will go directly toward covering the costs of a clinic. Please help us in our goal to end animal suffering by reducing population as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible.