Corporación de Defensa de los Derechos de los Animales

One thing many visitors notice when arriving in Chile is the large
 quantity of stray dogs especially in Punta Arenas, a beautiful coastal
city in Patagonia. To many, it appears chaotic to have all these
 animals wandering around. Though mostly tame, they do cause problems.
Numerous issues such as; car accidents, dog bites, strewn garbage,
transmittable parasites/diseases, attacks on wildlife and livestock
 and the several tons of animal waste deposited throughout the city
 daily. Many of these animals had owners but are often dumped and
 left to their own devices. People tire of the grown puppy, pregnant
 female, messy Cocker, dangerous Rottweiler or have to move to a
 different region. The solution often is to dump on a street far from
 home or out in the country. Though many strays in the city center
 appear accustomed and healthy, maybe a little shaggy, numerous cases
 exist of horrible injuries, poisoning, neglect, sickness and
 starvation. The Chilean federal and local governments do not regularly
 provide animal control services.

Filling in this gap is CODDA (Corporación de Defensa de los Derechos
 de los Animales, a federally recognized Chilean non-profit, operating
 a shelter since 1991 and working with local government on enforcement,
education and sterilization. The Founder Senora Helia Tagle and a small group started
 the organization in 1990 to stop the street poisoning of dogs to
combat the over population. Currently CODDA is the only animal shelter
 in Chilean Patagonia. Although they are a relatively small organization with a low
 budget and just a handful of supporters and volunteers, they 
are making strides. They currently house up to 160 dogs and cats, stress
adoptions, sponsor small scale spay/neuter, pick up abandoned or
 injured animals and run public education campaigns. The cooperation of
several veterinarians (private and public)provides low cost medical
 services, discounted spay/neuter and dignified euthanasia and the local
university veterinary program utilizes the shelter as a weekly working
 classroom.  Education and changing the culture of “irresponsibility” is a big
 focus for this organization as is getting to the root of the problems.

Because of their hard work, CODDA has managed to stop the poising of street dogs in Punta Arenas, they have assisted over 3000 dogs and cats since 1991 and they created and implemented the first ever long-term spay and neuter program in the area.
 Slowly, they are changing the culture of neglect but they need our help to continue this remarkable mission. Funds are depleting, and support is at a bare minimum.

www.chileaustral.com/perros
Facebook: CODDA Magallanes or Corporación de Defensa de los Derechos
de los Animales

Ruta 9 Norte, km 9.5,
Parcela Rebanque Punta Arenas, Chile
56)9-77723319 (Director’s cell)
[email protected]
Tax Id (non profit #) 73.643.800-3