Rescue Between the Stages of Shakira: The Cats of the Metropolitano de Barranquilla

María Catalina Orjuela (Sustainability Director - Páramo Impacta) explains what we found, the challenges and the actions taken.

The days leading up to a big concert are full of movement: structures being erected, lights being tested, sound equipment roaring with power. But among all that hustle and bustle, in the surroundings of the Metropolitan Stadium of Barranquilla, we discovered a reality that we could not ignore: a community of cats and dogs in street conditions. Dozens of them, some sick, some newborns, took refuge in the corners of the stadium, gradually permeated by the crowd that would soon fill the stands to see Shakira.

That's how we found Salvador: just a newborn, huddled with his mother in a trash-filled crevice. Today, he has a home and a new chance.

We identified that concerts could be a frightening experience for these animals. During the show, the noise and commotion forced them to hide, while the chaos of setting up and tearing down the event put their safety at risk. But the most worrying thing was that, after each show, these cats and dogs would remain in the same situation of neglect, without access to food or medical care. That's when we decided to act.

We contacted local foundations and volunteers who were already doing constant work in the area, and the Mayor's Office of Barranquilla joined our cause, along with Dejando Huella MT, Veterinaria Makai, Sintiendo Huellas, Fundación Andaluz, Fundación Gatuperrio, Mi Amigo Chan and Bienestar Animal Barranquilla.

Thanks to this joint effort, we were able to:

• Relocate more than 38 cats and dogs to new homes.

• Protect 4 female cats with newborn offspring.

• Sterilise 9 adolescent cats to help control the population.

Gracias al compromiso de los vecinos, estos animalitos pueden alimentarse rutinariamente.

But the story doesn't end there.

At the end of Shakira's second concert, while we were dismantling the gigantic infrastructure, we already had an additional mission underway. In one of Páramo Impacta's trucks, 38 cats and 3 dogs set out on a trip to Bogotá to meet the families that would give them a new home. Transporting them was not an easy task; our trusted driver, together with the owner of the foundation leaving MT footprint, feared for the health of the little ones, especially the kittens that were only a few days old. On the way, they made a strategic stop in Bucaramanga, where we had to rent three rooms in a roadside hotel to ensure that they all spent a warm and safe night before continuing their route to a new life.

Once in Bogota, the animals were received by a team of professionals at the Makai and Sintiendo Huella veterinaries, who took the time to check each animal, applying vaccines, deworming and other essential treatments for their well-being. Only after receiving medical attention, they left the vet to meet their new families, who were ready to give them the love and protection they so desperately needed.

Beyond cat and dog rescue

Neighbours and volunteers are committed to helping and improving the lives of homeless animals.

We know that this was just a grain of sand. There are still many cats and dogs around the stadium, most of them unsterilized. But thanks to the actions of neighbors and volunteers who carry out feeding and care days, these animals in street habitat have the opportunity to live with dignity.

Let's continue to join efforts, because every action counts.

Want to help?

We are collecting funds in this account of Nequi 3003067287

This will help us cover the costs of medicine, food, transportation and veterinary services that were essential to ensure the health of these kittens and puppies.

Do you want to adopt your new best friend?

Contact Fundacion Dejando Huella MT, Marcela Torres, to learn more about their adoption and rescue programs for cats and dogs.

At Páramo Impacta, we believe that music should not only transform stages but also the communities that surround it. We will continue working to make our only dance floor, the planet, a dignified and safe place for everyone.