Ecuador is home to diverse and unique wildlife, from the Andea Condor to the Spectacled Bear. Communities and their pets can be incredibly damaging to neighbouring wildlife, disrupting ecosystems, introducing diseases and causing habitats to become overwhelmed and overpopulated. In some areas of Ecuador this is amplified by a lack of veterinary care, meaning companion animal numbers increase and diseases spread easily.
Our WVS South America team run outreach clinics for remote mountain communities to ensure they have access to free treatment for their animals, including spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations. In addition to veterinary care, our outreach clinics provide expert training to vets and veterinary students and provide educational workshops to communities about animal health and welfare.
Understanding the animals of the Andes
The Cantón of Angochagua is a region in the Andes of Northern Ecuador and is primarily populated by rural Quechua communities. We have been supporting communities in the parish of Angochagua since 2023. The first activity of 2025 was a door-to-door census and microchipping of all the animals of five communities of Angochagua. This gathered accurate data on the domestic animal population as well as the conditions of the animals in these areas. With this information we can implement appropriate strategies aimed at improving animal welfare and promoting responsible pet ownership.
These communities are also home to unique wildlife species and border the Cayambe-Coca National Park that has faced challenges related to human-wildlife conflicts. By collecting information on domestic animals and providing veterinary care programmes to these communities we can protect the local wildlife as well.
From the first census our team logged 3,059 animals with 1,758 being microchipped. It was discovered that 29.7% of these animals were sterilised.
Andes Sterilisation Campaign
From the crucial data collected from the census the teams returned to conduct an outreach clinic in the area that needed the most veterinary support. The first campaign was a sterilisation campaign in the community of La Rinconada. We talked with local pet owners, highlighting the benefits of sterilisation for both pets and wildlife. The team, alongside seven amazing volunteers, completed 138 sterilisations and surgeries, with a further 43 animals receiving veterinary care.
This was followed up by another visit to engage further with community members about animal welfare, provide veterinary care to animals in need and conduct post-operative wound checks. This has been a powerful tool in creating trust within these communities. By controlling domestic animal population growth, we are creating a healthier and more stable animal population, which also reduces their enroachment onto natural habitats.
Thank you to everyone who donated to provide life-saving veterinary supplies for our outreach clinics in Ecuador. Your support has already been life-changing for so many animals who are lacking access to essential veterinary care in Ecuador – and will continue to support so many more animals in the future.
Volunteer with us in Ecuador
We have released our 2026 dates for volunteers to come and support our team at the Galapagos Animal Doctors, based on the island of Santa Cruz. You will be supporting with delivering much-needed accessible veterinary care to these communities. Find out more and apply here.
Hear from Sally and Clare about their experience volunteering at our clinic in the Galapagos Islands here.