Street Dogs of Cusco: From Photobook to Sanctuary
It’s here. After three trips to Cusco, more than 15,000 photographs, and two years of editing, we’re finally ready to share something close to our hearts: Street Dogs of Cusco, a 150-page hardcover photobook.
This project isn’t just about photography—it’s about changing lives. Cusco is home to an estimated 40,000 street dogs, many of them starving, beaten, or poisoned. No creature deserves that kind of suffering. Through Cusco Canine Rescue, the nonprofit we founded, our mission is simple but bold: to build the region’s first large open-air dog sanctuary.
Why a Book?
When we began photographing the dogs of Cusco, we didn’t know where the journey would take us. But each frame told a story—of survival, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between people and dogs in the Andes.
The result is Street Dogs of Cusco, a museum-grade photobook that captures these moments with dignity and heart. Every purchase helps fund the sanctuary, turning pages into paw prints on the ground.
What’s in the Kickstarter Campaign
📚 The Book: Street Dogs of Cusco, 150 pages of portraits and stories
✉️ Collector Postcards
📅 2026 Wall Calendar
🧵 Handmade Peruvian Bracelets
🐕 Special Supporter Tiers: feature your dog in the book or see your name on the donor wall at the sanctuary
And because we believe in dreaming big, we’ve added stretch goals for upgraded materials and bonus keepsakes.
Why Kickstarter?
Kickstarter allows us to connect directly with you—dog lovers, travelers, photographers, and changemakers around the world. By backing this campaign, you’re not just pre-ordering a book. You’re helping us create a place of refuge for Cusco’s street dogs, complete with veterinary care, sterilization programs, and community education.
How You Can Help
Pre-order the book on Kickstarter (launches September 16, 2025).
Share the campaign with your friends, family, and fellow dog lovers.
Watch and subscribe to our YouTube series Paws Around the World. Every view helps fund our mission through monetization.
This is more than a campaign. It’s the beginning of something bigger—for Cusco’s dogs and for everyone who believes in kindness.
Thank you for standing with us, from our studio days in Des Moines to this new chapter in Valencia and Peru. Together, we can turn neglect into hope and suffering into safety.
With gratitude,
Michel & Dillon
Founders, Arf & Wag Studio & Cusco Canine Rescue
