While traveling through Peru, Progoni’s Founder visited the coastal town of Paracas. During her stay, she noticed a large number of animals roaming freely through the streets. Due to the small size of the town and the close-knit nature of the community, Paracas was identified as an ideal location for Progoni’s first pilot project—an initiative aimed at quickly and effectively sterilizing the entire town’s animal population.

While Progoni’s initial objective was to address the stray animal population, early observations revealed a more complex reality. A significant number of the animals roaming the streets were not strays, but owned pets that were allowed to wander freely outside their homes. Many of these animals lacked collars or any form of identification, making it extremely difficult to distinguish between stray and owned animals. This was largely due to economic constraints, as many families in the community could not afford even basic pet care resources.

To avoid the risk of sterilizing owned animals without consent and to preserve trust within the community, Progoni made a strategic decision to shift its approach. Rather than focusing on street capture, the team launched its first community-wide sterilization campaign for animal owners in January 2026, in partnership with the local animal welfare organization Chusco Love, which provided volunteer support. Residents were invited to bring their pets to a free sterilization event, and transportation was provided to ensure accessibility for all families, regardless of financial means. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

The campaign successfully supported 44 households, providing sterilization and veterinary care to a total of 82 animals, including 2 stray cats. This strong turnout demonstrated both the scale of unmet need and the community’s willingness to participate when services are made accessible.

A second campaign is scheduled for June 2026 that will focus on the remaining untreated animals in the area.