A former Paraguay prison promises refuge for flood-displaced pets. What must happen next?

What turns a former prison into a refuge that flood-displaced animals—and the families looking for them—can actually use?

In Asunción, Paraguay’s capital, the answer is more than available rooms. Part of the former Casa del Buen Pastor women’s penitentiary is being prepared to accommodate an estimated 400–500 dogs and cats affected by flooding. The proposal combines temporary shelter, quarantine and veterinary care, with the intention of returning animals to their families or arranging responsible adoption. But no confirmed opening date, first admission or current occupancy has been established. Those hundreds are planned places, not animals already brought to safety. ^{1 2}

The immediate task is to turn an announced use of the property into usable accommodation: cleaned and repaired spaces, separate areas suited to different animals, veterinary coverage and supplies. Just as important is the public-facing part of the operation. Families need to know where to look for a missing animal and how to reclaim it; volunteers and donors need instructions that lead to this shelter, not simply to an institution’s general contact channels.

Reporting on the shelter appeared on October 22, 2026, including in La Nación; The Asunción Times followed on October 24. The Justice Ministry has also announced the proposed temporary use of a sector of the property for animals rescued during emergencies, particularly heavy rains and rising rivers. The initiative is being framed both as a response to animals affected by floods and storms and as preparation for risks associated with El Niño. ^{3 1 42 44}

Its intended reach extends beyond the former prison’s surroundings. Animals would come from flood-affected parts of Asunción and other communities, including Central Department. There is no verified total of animals needing this particular shelter, however, and the announcement does not establish the rainfall, river level or neighborhood-by-neighborhood extent of the flooding behind it. That limits what the capacity figure can tell us about how much of the need the shelter might meet. ^{1 4 45}

The wider former prison property covers 3.5 hectares. Approximately one-third of its installations is proposed for the animal operation—not the entire grounds. Five sectors have been identified: Tinglado Princesa Diana, Amanecer, Renacer, Cruz Roja and Peluquería. The former hairdressing area, Peluquería, is intended for sanitary and veterinary work. Naming those spaces is a useful organizational step, but it does not demonstrate that their adaptations are complete. ^{48 50}

Animal Defence director Héctor Luis Rubín has described work centered on reorganizing and repairing the existing premises, with the aim of keeping costs down. Institutional resources and donated supplies are intended to support the effort. Organizers have asked for animal food, cleaning materials and volunteer help, and sought assistance from Asunción’s municipality. No verified project budget or ongoing operating allocation has been established. ²²

The proposed care is more demanding than putting rescued animals under one roof. Rubín described separate containment and quarantine arrangements for cats and dogs, organized around their needs. “We will have a containment centre with different levels, for both cats and dogs, with levels of separation where they will be in quarantine”, he told The Asunción Times. His reference to “levels” describes separation arrangements; it should not be read as confirmation of a particular number of building floors. ¹

Planned services include round-the-clock veterinary assistance, vaccination, deworming, sanitation and castration. Central patios would provide recreation space. Sterilization is intended to help manage animal health and prevent uncontrolled reproduction. These are substantial commitments for a temporary facility, and remain announced provisions rather than independently demonstrated services already being delivered there. ^{1 44}

Even the capacity is an estimate rather than a settled operating limit. The Asunción Times and La Nación describe room for 400–500 animals; Venus Media gives 500, while Infonegocios describes at least 500. These accounts differ, but none establishes how many animals can safely be accommodated once the spaces, care arrangements and staffing are ready. ^{1 3 6 4}

The partnership brings together the Justice Ministry, the National Directorate of Animal Defence, Health and Welfare, and volunteers and animal-protection groups. Justice vice minister Rubén Maciel, Rubín and Senator Lizarella Valiente participated in presenting the proposal and touring the facilities. Valiente also called for public involvement in protecting the animals. ^{42 1}

The paperwork is less settled than some coverage suggests. The Asunción Times reported on October 24 that an agreement had been signed. The Justice Ministry’s undated notice instead says it “suscribirá un convenio”—will sign an agreement. Without an executed document or confirmed signature date, the partnership can be described as announced, but the agreement’s completion cannot be treated as verified. Its legal duration and start and end dates are also not established. ^{1 2}

For displaced families, the crucial promise is temporary care rather than an automatic move toward adoption. Animals would stay for treatment and recovery while a return home is organized. Responsible adoption is another intended route, including when an owner cannot be located. But detailed shelter-specific rules for identifying owners, reclaiming animals and determining adoption eligibility have not been established. ^{1 45}

The appeal for help needs similar practical detail. Donations and volunteers have been requested, but dedicated drop-off hours and a formal shelter-specific volunteer registration process have not been established. Public goodwill will be easier to turn into dependable support when people know what is needed, where to deliver it and how their time will be organized. ^{22 44}

Buen Pastor also has a proposed future beyond this emergency use: a cultural, gastronomic and commercial destination, with a public architecture competition contemplated. Those plans are being presented in sequence with the temporary shelter, not as evidence that it has been cancelled. No dated redevelopment deadline or shelter departure date has been established. ^{23 50}

The next meaningful milestone is therefore not another capacity announcement. It is a confirmed opening, evidence of animals receiving care, and clear instructions for the people trying to find them. Until then, Buen Pastor represents a potentially useful preparedness commitment—not proof that hundreds of flood-affected animals have already found refuge.