Support the dogs cared for by Proyecto Peru Centre volunteers at Soy Callejeritos and help provide food, medical care, shelter and, most importantly, a safer, happier life.
The one thing that unites all of the volunteering projects that Proyecto Peru supports is the genuine impact made by both volunteers and the inspirational local people who dedicate themselves to making a difference. Nowhere is this more true than at Soy Callejeritos, where Maite works tirelessly to care for more than 100 dogs rescued from hard and tragic lives on the streets of Cusco. Anyone who has volunteered at her dog shelter will know that Maite puts these dogs’ needs before her own and cares for each and every one.
Proyecto Peru is proud to be able to support Maite by enabling volunteers to help with her work. In 2025 alone 30 volunteers dedicated at least one week to caring for the dogs.They cleaned, fed, walked and cared for the dogs. But perhaps the most important thing they do is something that does not appear on a checklist of volunteer activities. They give the dogs attention and love. Sit with them. Play with them. They learn about their stories, which dogs are shy and which ones demand attention. They help frightened dogs become comfortable around people again.
Each volunteer also donates $60 USD to the project, which helps keep the shelter running.
Now, we are launching a new way for more people than ever to help give these dogs the happy and dignified life they deserve. Whether you volunteered, know a volunteer or simply want to make a difference, you can now donate directly to support the dogs at Soy Callejeritos.
A home for dogs who had nowhere else to go
Soy Callejeritos is a local organisation run by Maite alone. She has made rescuing endangered dogs with nowhere else to go her life’s work
The shelter is currently home to more than 100 dogs. Maite took them all in hoping to provide them with a life less marked by struggling for survival. Each dog has their own unique story, but many began in similar circumstances. Some abandoned, abused or neglected, some found living on the streets after being injured or becoming sick while others suffered serious violence.
For dogs living on the streets around Cusco, finding enough food is only one part of the struggle. They are exposed to cold and wet weather, chaotic traffic, fights with other animals, injuries and illness and sometimes cruelty from people. Veterinary treatment is close to unattainable, particularly when there is no owner able to pay for it.
The problem is not invisible. Anyone who visits Cusco will have seen dogs on the street. Research into perceptions of stray dogs in Cusco’s Historic Centre found that two-thirds of residents surveyed considered their presence a problem, while local animal-welfare organisations continue to work with abandoned and roaming dogs in communities around Cusco.
But behind the wider issue are individual animals. Frightened and injured, these dogs have spent years without knowing what it is like to be safe or loved. That is where a shelter like Soy Callejeritos makes a difference.
Our Dog Stories
Maite knows the history and story of every dog she rescues, and some of them are truly devastating. Here are just a few of them:
Nanja used to belong to a mechanic in Cusco. One day, she accidentally scratched a car from a customer and damaged the paint. As punishment, the mechanic broke both of her front legs with a wrench. Although this happened many years ago, the trauma she experienced left deep wounds and still affects her every day. Nanja remains terrified of people and does not allow humans to get close to her, including Maite. She is safe now, but learning to trust again has been a long and difficult journey.
Chomps suffers from a tumor on his stomach. It grows bigger and bigger day by day making some movements harder. Since medical costs for an operation are simply unaffordable for the shelter and Maite does not have a medical fridge to store medication long term, he can not get the treatment he might need. Fortunately he isn’t in pain at the moment from his condition, although it continues to cause him discomfort.
Eva was sadly pushed onto the street and hit by a car. She didn’t move an inch till some volunteers found her and brought her to the shelter. After a check up it was clear that she didn’t suffer any lasting injury, but instead one from within. She had lost her will to live and fight on the streets for survival. She is still a rather depressed dog, so we try to give her as many pets and snacks as possible to show her through love and cuddles that her life is worth living and fighting for.
You can read the stories of some of the dogs on the donation program page.
The work of caring for 100 dogs
Running a shelter for so many dogs is a huge undertaking.
There is food to buy every day. Bowls to replace, shelters to maintain and enclosures to repair. There are dogs that need veterinary attention, medication or other care. And then there is the less tangible work. Dogs need companionship and human contact too. Some arrive frightened or distrustful of people. Others have simply never experienced the consistent attention that comes from having someone spend time with them. This is one of the reasons the relationship between Soy Callejeritos and Proyecto Peru Centre is so important. Volunteers from around the world become part of the daily routine, helping to feed and care for the dogs while giving them something that cannot be bought in a shop: time and affection.There is nothing quite like seeing a dog respond to love for the first time and bond with a new person.
Sometimes volunteering changes two lives
One of the most rewarding parts of the project is seeing what happens when a volunteer and a dog form a connection that continues beyond the volunteer’s stay in Peru. Some Proyecto Peru Centre volunteers have gone on to adopt dogs they met at the shelter, with support from the project.
For a dog that may previously have known abandonment, illness or life on the streets, finding a permanent home can mean an extraordinary change. And for the person taking that dog home, the relationship can be just as meaningful.
One example was Charley from California who built a special bond with Camilla, a beautiful dog who had sadly suffered violence and neglect losing one eye. Charley told us:
Volunteering at Proyecto Peru completely changed my perspective on rescue work. I met so many amazing dogs, but Camila stole my heart instantly. Even after everything she went through as a puppy, she’s the sweetest little dog, her whole face lights up every time she sees me, and she’ll flop onto her back for belly rubs like it’s her full-time job. I definitely didn’t plan on adopting a dog here, but Camila made that decision for me. I’m so grateful for this experience and can’t wait to give her the safe, happy life she deserves.
This story is a reminder that animal welfare is not only about providing food or treating injuries. It is about giving animals the opportunity to experience care, trust and, where possible, a permanent home.
Why donations are needed
The donations made by our volunteers and our international partners make a real difference. But caring for the dogs requires much more than irregular contributions from volunteers can cover. That is why we are opening the project to a wider community of supporters. Donations can help address some of the shelter’s most immediate needs.
A medicine refrigerator
One of the shelter’s most important current needs is a dedicated refrigerator for medicines that require cold storage.
At the moment Maite must pay for a new vial of medication and visit from a vet every time a dog requires medication. As many of the dogs have complex medical needs, this is a huge expense. It also means medication is often wasted as it cannot be stored on site. A dedicated medicine refrigerator would make it easier and more practical to keep necessary veterinary medicines safely at the shelter, lowering costs and ensuring the medication is available when it is needed. Additionally, the storage unit would enable Maite to import medicine from Lima, at times 70% cheaper than in Cusco.
Better enclosures and doors
The dogs need safe, secure spaces to live. Due to their traumas or personalities many of the dogs need their own enclosures or to be housed with dogs of a similar temperament. Building and maintaining these enclosures is one of the shelter’s biggest costs.
Some of the shelter’s enclosures and doors need improvement or replacement. Many are made from old wood or wire, and there is potential for some of the dogs to hurt themselves when they become excited by a new visitor. The priority is comfortable and safe spaces for each and every dog.
New food and water bowls
With over 100 dogs, even basic equipment gets a lot of use. Food and water bowls need to be replaced regularly, and providing enough suitable bowls for all the dogs is an ongoing expense. Investing in better quality bowls will lower costs in the long term and help prevent cross contamination and spreading illnesses within the shelter.
Food
Perhaps the most obvious need is also one of the biggest.
A shelter caring for this number of animals needs a substantial amount of food. Your donation can help ensure that the dogs at Soy Callejeritos continue to have access to the nutritious food they need every day.
More information about these projects can be found on our donation page.
You choose where your donation goes
Not everyone wants to, or can, make the same kind of contribution, so our new donation page allows you to choose how you would like to help.
You can make a one-time, monthly or annual donation, of any amount.
You can also choose to support a specific need, including:
- The medicine refrigerator
- Improvements to the dogs’ enclosures
- New food and water bowls
- The area of greatest need
There is no minimum amount that makes a donation worthwhile.
When you are supporting so many dogs, many small contributions can become something significant. Every dollar goes a long way.
100% of your donation goes to the shelter
We also want our supporters to know exactly what happens to their money.
100% of donations received by Proyecto Peru Centre through this initiative will go towards supporting the dog shelter.
We also want this to be an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time fundraising campaign. We will provide updates on the project every three months on our website, sharing what donations have helped make possible and what the shelter needs next.
One great example of the impact donations have made in the past is the water storage unit installed with the support of our German partners Wayers. Access to clean water has made a huge difference to the cost and ease of meeting the dogs’ needs.
Your support can continue after your volunteer experience ends
Volunteering is one way to make a difference here in Cusco. But it does not have to end when you leave Peru. Our new donation initiative is designed to give volunteers, former volunteers, their families and friends, and anyone who cares about the communities we work with a way to continue supporting our projects.
The dog shelter is just the beginning. As the initiative develops, we hope to introduce opportunities to support other community projects where Proyecto Peru Centre volunteers are making a difference.
For now, we are starting with the dogs.
They need food, safety and medical care.
Mostly they need people who care.
Want to meet the dogs yourself?
Donating is not the only way to support Soy Callejeritos.
If you are planning to come to Cusco, you can also join our volunteer programme and spend time at the shelter yourself. Our volunteers visit five days a week, helping with the daily care of the dogs while giving them something that every dog deserves: attention, companionship and love.