CPAAA
Ciudadanos Pro Albergue de Animales de Aguadilla (CPAAA) in Puerto Rico is a group of volunteers working hard for the well-being of mistreated and abandoned animals suffering from hunger, illness, and injuries. Once CPAA rescues them, they provide the dogs and cats with medical care, food, and shelter in foster homes. After the animals have recovered and are deemed adoptable, CPAA looks for permanent, loving, and responsible homes.
Our partnership was formed in 2018 when WUFAW traveled to Puerto Rico to participate in the Humane Society’s Spayathon. Near our Airbnb in Aguadilla, we discovered a female Pitbull living in terrible conditions outside with her 6-week-old pups. Their owner permitted us to save the five puppies and get the mama spayed. But to do that, we needed a local rescue in Puerto Rico to take the pups into their care. CPAA’s founder Yeidy Velazquez also participated in the mass spay and neuter event and offered to foster the puppies, get them spayed/neutered and find homes for them if we could fund their care. She also agreed to make sure the mama dog was sterilized, too.
Since then, WUFAW has continued to support Yeidy and CPAA. When they found out about eight starving puppies living in a rusted wired chicken coop for three months, only eating stale rice, Yeidy asked if we could cover the costs to save them, including vet care and transport to the States. Of course, we couldn’t say no.
An injured 5-month-old female pup was abandoned on the side of the road in Puerto Rico with an exposed bone sticking out of her leg. The poor girl had been injured for some time, so the leg was extremely infected and needed to be amputated. CPAA rescued her and named her Gypsy, but unfortunately didn’t have the resources to pay for her surgery. So, WUFAW raised funds and paid for it. Now Gypsy is doing well and learning to live on three legs.
Amid the pandemic, Yeidy alerted us to a hoarding case with 31 cats kept in small cages 24/7 with two dogs living in wooden enclosures without access to the outside or each other. The 88-year-old owner wouldn’t relinquish the animals but be willing to let us help her. We planned to build a large cat enclosure (catio) to allow the cats to roam freely and safely. Spay/neuter and vaccinate all 31 cats and both dogs. We would repair the fence and combine the dogs’ enclosures so they could be together and enjoy the yard. Sadly, the neighbors had already complained to the city, who stopped the work we had already started. The owner’s social worker contacted a lawyer for assistance, and WUFAW wrote a letter to the judge, pleading for the chance to help the cats and dogs. The case went to court, and the judge ruled in our favor, allowing us to continue construction.
The cats were all sterilized, and the catio was finished soon after. Then they were introduced to their new home with the freedom to roam and socialize. At first, they were hesitant to come out of their carriers, but it was beautiful to see them interact once they did. A new living area was also built for the dogs, and they were properly introduced to each other. Both dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated. One had bladder stones removed.
