Huellas De Amor in Colombia spays dogs in impoverished areas

The Asociación Huellas De Amor Eje Cafetero (Colombia) grant project, Ethical Control of the Canine Population in High-Vulnerability Areas, targeted Buenaventura for their sterilization campaign.

Manuela, the director of Asociación Huellas De Amor, told us:

"The choice of Buenaventura responds to an urgent need and to our ethical commitment to the most vulnerable animals in the country. This intervention aims not only to provide sterilizations, but also to educate and empower the community for lasting transformation.

Over the years, we have rescued and transported multiple animals from this region to Pereira, where they received medical care, surgeries, and recovery. We have a local support network made up of independent rescuers, community caregivers, and volunteers who have previously collaborated with us, and these local contacts are key for logistics, outreach, and post-operative follow-up for the project. It is one of the areas most affected by poverty, violence, and animal abandonment."

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The 1st phase of the Huellas de Amor project (September through November) was a census of vulnerable female dogs in areas with extreme poverty and visible overpopulation. The following areas were prioritized based on Huellas de Amor prior fieldwork and community reports:

• Santa Mónica neighborhood

• Cabal Pombo neighborhood

• Antonio Nariño

• Rural area on the road to Dagua

The census involved:

• Door-to-door awareness on the importance of sterilization as a tool to prevent suffering.

• Preliminary identification of suitable spaces for the surgical campaign.

• Field documentation of critical cases, especially dogs showing signs of malnutrition, heat cycles, or abandonment.

Abandoned and sick puppy identified for spay during census

Abandoned and injured dog identified for spay during census

Dog to be spayed in January

Owner agreed to have her dog spayed in January

The census made note of urgent cases, including females in heat, gestating, or in visible abandonment, and other female dogs of 6 months and older. Huellas de Amor identified 85 dogs to be spayed, most belonging to owners who are unable to afford the surgery, as well as free-roaming dogs that are fed and protected by the local communities.

Now Huellas de Amor was set to spay dogs in one of the more impoverished locations in Colombia, where they hoped their efforts would decrease abandonment, overpopulation, complaints about strays, and cruelty.

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The sterilization campaign took place on January 17 and 18, 2026, in the Rafael Pombo neighborhood. The campaign was carried out with the participation of the Huellas de Amor shelter team, led by Daniela Marulanda and Manuela Rodríguez, working alongside independent rescuer Laura Giraldo, as well as the veterinary medical team led by Dr. Carmenza Puerta. 85 female dogs were successfully sterilized.

The spay campaign

Monitoring his dog during recovery

Two dogs to be spayed

Waiting.......

Manuela wrote, "This experience encourages us to continue working steadily in the region, expanding the reach of sterilization campaigns and complementing them with community education and follow-up, with the goal of generating sustainable, long-term change for both animals and the people who care for them.

Our organization has plans in place to strengthen the sustainability of these efforts through the continuation of periodic sterilization campaigns, ongoing support for local rescuers, and the continuous pursuit of new partners and funding sources to expand the project’s impact. In addition, we plan to reinforce community education initiatives focused on responsible pet ownership, prevention of abandonment, and animal welfare."

A Huellas volunteer talks to the families of the dogs, explaining the sterilization process and the benefits