Shelter
We have a very limited shelter with space for approximately10 dogs. Our dogs live in small groups, each group with a comfortable indoor sleeping area and access to a sunny outdoor space. We have a night time companion who sleeps with them, and a daytime caretaker who cleans, walks, and keeps them company. The dogs get a long off leash run every morning in a private coffee farm, and our trainer works with them individually to teach basic obedience and to socialize them. Our space is always full or over full.
The Puppy Train
We send rescue puppies (and adults) to our Puppy Volunteers in the US. We work with two wonderful groups of f folks in San Francisco and in Holland Michigan. All the pups listed flew from Guatemala within the past year and a half to the US and found wonderful "furever" homes there.
Brownie, Saphire, Diamond Neo, Merwyn, Hoover, Brigita, Pomkins, Lina, Topa, Dianh, Uteki (now Rosie), Whoopie, Aisho (now Rio), Dirk, Dinah, Daisy Baldwin, Chula, Dottie, J-Lo (now Berkely), Brittney, Chssie, Sparkle, Charlie, India, Baldwin, Bambi, Alejandra, Kinkajou, Desdemona, Demi, Lindsey, Moshi, Plum, Tigger, Lulu, Sookie, Vanessa, Lampa, Juca, Farley, Mellie, Sky, Lola, Sid, Cenizo, Maus, Macuscla, Bonnie, Clyde
Animal Transport / Flight Assistance
Unidos Para los Animales helps anyone who needs assistance taking an animal out of the country and home with them. We help arrange for necessary paperwork, and book and help coordinate getting the animal to the airport. We use and recommend Continental Pet Care for this service.
Financial Assistance Program
As finances allow, UPA helps poor families and qualifying individuals to care for their pets. We provide quality food at reduced prices or for free as well as paying for or subsidizing spaying, neutering, vaccinations and other medical care for injured or sick animals.
Street Dog Care Program
Life on the streets is very difficult and dangerous for dogs. We operate a feeding station in front of our location in Antigua where all dogs are welcome to stop by and enjoy. We feed dry dog food and offer water to our thirsty patrons. They quickly learn to come by regularly and soon develop a trust in us. By daily feeding and monitoring we are able to check the dogs to see how well they are faring. When we can, we catch the dogs, vaccinate, deworm, spay or neuter them and then release them back to the street. In this way we create a more stable, healthy population of street animals. Street dogs that become ill, or start to have problems fending for themselves on the street are brought in to the Puppy Palace, treated and eventually placed in homes.
We partner with several individuals and other animal welfare groups in the spay and neuter portion of this program. We support sterilization campaigns whenever they are offered in the Antigua area.
Tienda Solidaridad
This small store accepts donations of gently used goods and re-sells them to help support our adoption process.
Dog Training
UPA works with all the dogs that come into our shelter to learn basic obedience behaviors such as sitting and walking on a leash. We use clicker training and positive reinforcement. We do not use aversives such as choke collars. Owners can schedule private training classes. Rescue dogs and their owners receive a special discount.