Animal Welfare Uruguay Project #66596

Spaying Campaign-Uruguay Dogs Overpopulation

by Asociacion Protectora de Animales El Refugio

Spaying Campaign-Uruguay Dogs Overpopulation

Project Report | Jul 8, 2026
Report for the period April-June 2026

By Patricia Tantessio | Board of Directors

Since our last report, we have welcomed 59 new animals into our shelter and celebrated 31 adoptions. As is often the case, most of the new arrivals and adoptions have been puppies. While caring for puppies requires intensive resources, it is incredibly rewarding to see them quickly find loving homes.

One particularly heartwarming story involved a litter of four orphaned puppies that arrived without their mother. One of our dedicated volunteers took them home and bottle-fed them around the clock during their first weeks of life. Thanks to her extraordinary commitment, all four puppies survived, grew into healthy, playful dogs, and are now ready to begin the search for their forever families. Stories like this remind us that every life can be saved with enough care, dedication, and community support.

We are also proud to share that, in partnership with the local municipality, approximately 900 free spay and neuter surgeries were performed during this reporting period. Preventing unwanted litters is one of the most effective ways to reduce animal abandonment and improve long-term animal welfare in our community. These campaigns are a fundamental part of our mission and create a lasting impact far beyond the animals currently in our care.

During this period, our organization also participated in the rescue of four dogs—including two puppies—from a property that quickly became known among rescuers as "the house of horror." The property belonged to a person struggling with drug addiction, and authorities, including the police and the municipality, intervened due to the extremely dangerous and neglectful conditions. The animals were living in a heartbreaking environment without proper care or safety. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of everyone involved, the dogs were safely removed and are now receiving the veterinary care, nutrition, and affection they desperately needed.

Every rescue, every adoption, and every spay/neuter surgery is possible because of your generosity. Thank you for helping us give vulnerable animals a second chance at a healthy and happy life.

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Mar 11, 2026
Adoptions Bring Hope as We Work to Replace Our Vehicle

By Patricia Gonzalez | HEAD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Having a nap at the shelter!

Since our last update in early December 2025, 26 animals have entered the shelter and we are happy to report that 44 dogs found homes through adoption during this period.

At El Refugio we prioritize the adoption of puppies so they do not grow up in the shelter. However, we are also seeing very encouraging success with the adoption of young and adult dogs. More and more people are choosing to adopt rather than buy animals. This change can even be seen in the streets of our city, where people walking their dogs are no longer accompanied only by purebred animals but also by mixed-breed dogs adopted from shelters.

We continue working together with the municipal community center to organize free spay and neuter campaigns, which have had great participation from the community. In addition, we have held several free sterilization days at the shelter itself. These initiatives are essential to help prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of abandoned animals in our area.

Among the animals that arrived during this period is Anima, a two-month-old puppy who was found inside a garbage container. When she arrived at the shelter on a Saturday afternoon, just as our volunteer workday was ending, we immediately noticed she was having difficulty breathing. We rushed her to the veterinarian, who diagnosed her with bilateral pneumonia. Fortunately, the treatment is working, and Anima is now recovering well.

In February we faced another challenge: the vehicle we relied on for many years is no longer repairable. It has developed multiple mechanical problems that make it unsafe to drive, and the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the vehicle. For this reason, we are currently raising funds to purchase a replacement vehicle, which would cost around $6,000.

Having a vehicle is essential for our work. We need it to transport rescued animals to veterinary care, pick up donations, and attend sterilization campaigns in the community.

We are deeply grateful to everyone whose support allows El Refugio to continue helping animals in need.

A volunteer walking senior dogs at the shelter.

I am irrisistible, and have been adopted!

My name is Big Head, I am a three leg dog, am I?

Sweet dreams!

Retired, thanks for all you have done!

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Nov 30, 2025
Strengthening Our Community: Adoption Efforts and Critical Health Challenges in 2025

By PATRICIA TANTESSIO | HEAD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As we move through 2025, El Refugio continues working tirelessly to protect, rehabilitate, and rehome the animals who depend on us. This year, we have already welcomed 141 new animals into the shelter and celebrated 110 adoptions — each one the result of the dedication, compassion, and daily hard work of our entire team.

Our adoption work happens in two key spaces. At the shelter, families visit us to meet the dogs and learn their stories. In addition, thanks to the ongoing support of Portones Shopping, we host two adoption events every month at their facilities. This partnership represents an exceptional example of corporate social responsibility: the shopping center provides us with a dedicated stand and regularly promotes our work on their social media. Over time, these events have created a strong bond with the community. People now know they can visit Portones to find their new family member, and many adoptions begin with a simple conversation at our stand.

Despite these successes, we are also facing one of the most difficult challenges of recent years. A distemper outbreak has emerged in the neighborhood where the shelter is located. Distemper is a highly contagious and cruel disease with a low survival rate, and preventing its spread requires immediate action and significant resources. Vaccinating every dog under our care is essential to protect them and to avoid new outbreaks.

How You Can Help

We are deeply grateful for the support we have received so far. Today, more than ever, your help is vital. Contributions allow us to:

Purchase and administer distemper vaccines
Strengthen disease prevention measures inside the shelter
Continue receiving new animals in need
Support our adoption efforts both at the shelter and at Portones Shopping

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us save lives and continue providing safety, dignity, and hope to the animals who have no one else to turn to.

From all of us at El Refugio: thank you for standing with us during these challenging times.
Together, we can protect the most vulnerable and help them find the loving homes they deserve.

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