Otavalo (Ecuador) 

tickets terms & conditions​​​​​

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Neuter Campaign in a traditional indigenous town in the Andes!

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• Dates:

6-12 Sept 2026 - Otavalo neuter campaign, SOLD OUT

2-7 May 2027 - Otavalo neuter campaign

7-13 May 2027 - Galapagos Emergency CE, Info

13-17 May 2027 - Peru neuter campaign, only for those attending one of the CEs

17-22 May 2027 - Peru Emergency Radiology CE, Info/tickets will be released on 30 Sept

16-21 May 2027 - Otavalo neuter campaign

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• Educators:

Marcela Pineda, DVM. Maria Jose, DVM​

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• What's included in the ticket?

- 5 nights in a colonial hotel in Otavalo called Riviera Sucre, view here. 'Hostal' means HOTEL (not hostel) in South America

- 4 breakfasts

- 4 days of neutering high numbers of dogs and cats

- surgical education

- CE/CPD certificate

- private taxi from Quito airport to hotel on 2 (or 16) May, return 7 (or 21) May

- daily private taxi between the hotel and the vet clinic​

- 24h support (local and online)​​

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• What's not included in the ticket?

- flights

- transport from/to locations other than Quito airport, or on different dates

- lunch/dinner (plenty of restaurants with meals from only £3! You can also cook in the hotel kitchen)

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• Do you need to organise anything?

Only your flights. Ohana organises everything else.

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• What is the the program?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Sunday: private taxi from Quito airport to the hotel in Otavalo (1h10min).

Monday-Thursday: at 8.40, a taxi will be waiting for you at the hotel entrance to take you to Sante Vet Clinic. You will neuter dogs and cats until ~16.30, when a taxi will take you back to the hotel. At this time, go explore together. 

Friday: private taxi to Quito airport, the time is flexible to fit your plans. If you wish, stay until Saturday to visit the largest indigenous market in the whole of South America from 8.00!

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After the campaign, you can stay at the vet clinic for weeks-months doing an EXTERNSHIP. There's no cost for this, you cover only your expenses, but the surgical caseload is much lower than during the campaign. But there will be many locals looking forward to the next campaign to neuter their pets - you can choose to sponsor the cost of these surgeries, meaning you can perform many additional surgeries, while making a meaningful difference for pets and families in need.

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The campaign/externship count as EMS!

This is not paid education, a 'ticket' covers only your expenses and a very small donation towards the campaign.

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• How will it work?

If you are LEARNING how to neuter (vets & students in the last 2 years of vet school): we will pair you with an experienced vet who teaches you the surgical techniques. After a few dogs, you're the one actually performing the surgeries! You may need to monitor GAs too. You will learn how to neuter male dogs, male cats, female dogs and female cats. Expect to neuter 3 animals/day initially, then up to 6 animals/day. Focus on quality rather than quantity - operating carefully teaches you more than trying to rush through larger numbers.

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If you are EXPERIENCED in neutering or anaesthesia: you will learn the best surgical techniques, then work independently without assistance. Another vet monitors the GA, then you swap. You will neuter dozens of animals, which will allow you to become more skilled/confident in surgery!

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If you are a JUNIOR VET STUDENT (initial years) or a non-vet professional: you can join as surgical assistant, give IM injections, help with IV catheters, intubation for anaesthesia, post-op recovery, tattoos etc. A great opportunity to develop clinical skills while helping street animals, which strengthens applications to vet jobs or vet schools!

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• I am not a vet, vet nurse, tech or student, can I join? Can I bring my family or friends?

Yes! Non-vet professionals are welcome in all of our courses/missions. You can help in the campaign or explore Otavalo during the day, then reconnect with the group in the evening. The cost is the same and the principle is the same for everyone: the ticket covers your expenses and a small donation towards the neuter campaign.

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• Is Otavalo safe?

Yes, this is one of the reasons why we chose this pretty town surrounded by indigenous villages.

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• What are the room options & prices?​​​

Room for 2 people (single beds; double bed if you come with a partner; 3 friends can stay together in a large room; private bathroom):

Vets or students who want surgery education/supervision: £650​​

Vets or nurse/techs who are independent in surgery/GA; non-vet professionals; and 2 friends/students booking together*: £550​

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Private room for 1 person (one double bed; private bathroom): +£100 total for 5 nights.​​​​​​

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*If your friend signs up a month after you, you both still get the discount ;)

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• Flights:

You will fly to Quito - check options on www.skyscanner.net and see all direct flights to Quito here (from Miami, NY, Atlanta, Houston, Madrid...). Airlines flying from Europe include Avianca (stops in Bogota), KLM (from Amsterdam), Iberia (from Madrid), Air Europa (from Madrid) and British Airways (from Madrid). If you have difficulty finding flights, you can ask a travel agent to find them for you; we are experienced travelers and can help those who already bought a course ticket.

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• Why are we doing this?

We believe that street animals and animals from low-income families don't deserve any less than the pets we have at home! In 2025 we spayed/neutered 1039 dogs and cats! 794 dogs and cats in Otavalo, in collaboration with Sante Vet Clinic and their non-profit, 145 in Peru with Tifagrados Rescate Animal, and 100 cats in Puerto Rico through Vets For PR. This prevented more than 800.000 of animals from being born on the streets, where many would starve, be beaten up by humans, die from illness and dehydration.

 

The majority of locals coming to the campaigns are low-income indigenous people, who don't have a car, and are not allowed to take pets on public transports. Many walk the whole night through the cold mountains carrying their dogs (who are not trained to walk on a lead), leaving their homes at 2am and hoping to get to the vet clinic by 5am. All this so they can make one of the spots in the campaign! At 6am the spots are gone! For these people, the logistics of signing up to a neuter campaign are a lot, and still they do it, for the wellness of their pets and their community. We want to continue to offer free spays/neuters to low-income families and street dogs. If we all give a little, we can do this together :)

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• Are the tickets or deposit refundable?

They are not, as we had to pay expenses in advance and these are not refundable to us. But you can transfer the ticket to a friend, so your money won't be lost! Remember that all money received will be used in the neuter campaign.

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• SIGN UP! What are the payment options?

You can now sign up for the campaign 16-21 May - transfer your fee (bank details here for those paying in £) then email us to tell us. A transfer results in more money for the animals than payment via the website, but you could also use Google pay or debit card. If you're paying in a currency other than £, email us before paying!

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• Where can I see footage/reviews of previous campaigns?

On our Instagram feed and highlight folder 'Ecuador' @ohana.animalcharity. ​

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Ready to help the indigenous people of Otavalo care for their pets?

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Carolina Albuquerque,

DVM MSc CertAVP DipECVIM-CA EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Proud co-founder of Ohana Animal Charity