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of Archievement

Animales S.O.S is a organization of animal welfare of volunteers that got together in 1995 in order to address the urgent need to help the large amount of animals that live in the streets. This group was also formed to make up for the lack of efficiency that was apparent by other already existing animal protection groups.

The cities of La Paz and El Alto are geographically attached with a total population approximately two millon inhabitants. In both these cities there is approximate of 150,000 stray dogs wandering in the streets (according to information supplied by the municipal governments of these cities). In the case of these cities, we must also add the semi-strays (dogs that have owners but spend most of their time in the streets) so we are basically talking of more than 300,000 dogs that are out in the streets exposed to all kinds of accidents, sickness, abuse and other dangers.

Legally established with Personeria Juridica N. 831/96 we have been working efficiently answering the growing demand of casework up to date.

Animales S.O.S. is the only organization of animal welfare that works in partnership with the 'Policia de Auxilio y Cooperacion Ciudadana' (P.A.C., which is the branch of the police that is in charge of social work), Radio Patrulla 110 and the Fire Department in all cases that are related to animals.

We are convinced that in order to face the current situation there is an urgent need for activists and volunteers that are committed to change this reality. In the case of La Paz and El Alto, the overpopulation of pets (canine and feline) has become a sanitary and environmental problem.

As a consequence of this overpopulation, animal life has been devalued an attitude of indifference towards these animals. It has become common for the inhabitants of these cities to see: animales abandoned in the streets, females in heat or even giving birth in the street, sick animals and even roadkill. This has only recently being considered a problem in Bolivia.

The uncontrolled reproducion of domestic animals is a world wide problem that poses a direct impact on the environment. A stray animal without veterinary control is a danger: rabies is still a problem of public health in Bolivia. The efforts made by the Secretary of Public Health, both nation-wide and local, have little effect when faced with a society that as a cultural value keeps their dogs out in the streets. The City Kennel in La Paz, receives 25 calls a day reporting dog bites. In 1997 alone, in La Paz 1,117 cases of dog bites by rabid dogs were treated without counting those cases that were never reported.

The problem of uncontrolled reproduction of stray and semi-stray animals goes hand in hand with the illegal sale of animals of all ages and in poor health conditions. A common crime that we see everyday: the exchange of life for a few cents.

The problem becomes bigger when we consider that a female with eight years of reproductive life can be the origin of 1,838,958 new animals (considering litters of an average of 6 puppies and 50% of the population being female). This gives us a clearer idea of the problem.

The only possible moral solution to this problem and to all the barbaric deaths these animales are exposed to (poisoning, electrocution, death in the gas chamber or even being shot to death) is the sterilazation and neutering of both males and females. In Bolivia, none of the authorities have seriously considered a project that includes this step before applying policies of elimination.

Animales S.O.S. the non-profit organization was created in 1995 hoping to change this reality. Trying to give these animals without owners help in specially critical situations, where inmediate action has to be taken to help them.

Throughout these years our commitment with the animals has grown and strengthened as a result of the harshness of the casework we have had. We have also seen some results in changing the attitude of people towards animals, some of the cases we have undertaken have had press coverage which has helped us to make people more aware of the problem and of the work that we are carrying out.

Animales S.O.S. currently has branches in the cities of Oruro, Potosi, Sucre aside from El Alto and La Paz, making it the biggest and most effective animal protection non-profit organization in Bolivia.