Our Story
It started with
a soldier's love
for Peru.
The story of Lt. Col. Philip O'Sullivan, a German Shepherd named Bandi, and one man's decision to honor a legacy by building something that lasts.
A U.S. Army officer who never left Peru.
In the 1980s, Lt. Col. Philip O'Sullivan arrived in Peru as part of a U.S. Army mission to build hospitals for children in the Andes mountains. He was a soldier — but what he found in Peru changed him forever.
The warmth of the Peruvian people. The beauty of the Andes. The resilience of communities that had so little but gave so much. Philip fell in love with the country — and he spent the rest of his life finding reasons to return.
He talked about Peru constantly. He described the children in the mountain villages, the families who welcomed him into their homes, the feeling that this place mattered in a way he couldn't fully explain. Peru wasn't just a posting. It was where he felt most alive.
When Philip passed away in 2019, he was in Lima — his favorite city in the world, surrounded by the sound of the Pacific Ocean. He left this world exactly where he wanted to be.
A German Shepherd named Bandi.
Philip's loyal companion was a German Shepherd named Bandi. They were inseparable. When Philip passed, Bandi stayed with Chris — a living connection to his father, a reminder of everything Philip had loved.
Then COVID hit. And Bandi got seriously ill.
Chris spent weeks trying to find proper veterinary care in Lima. Clinic after clinic — either closed, overwhelmed, or simply unable to provide the level of care Bandi needed. The experience was frustrating, heartbreaking, and eye-opening.
If the care didn't exist, he would build it.
Chris opened a full-service veterinary clinic — not just for Bandi, but for every animal in Lima whose owner couldn't find proper help. It served two purposes at once: it gave Bandi the care he needed to recover, and it put their employees back to work during the pandemic lockdowns when so many businesses had shut down.
Bandi recovered. And the clinic became the foundation of everything that followed.
The clinic became a movement.
The veterinary clinic grew into Bandi's Place — Peru's first dedicated animal rescue and rehabilitation center. Named after the German Shepherd who started it all, it became a sanctuary for animals with nowhere else to go.
But the deeper Chris got into Lima's animal welfare crisis, the more he saw. He discovered over 500 government dog lots across the city — cramming up to 110 dogs into spaces meant for a dozen. Animals with no food, no water, untreated injuries, and no hope. Closing those lots became a core mission.
And then there were the communities themselves. The same neighborhoods where the animals suffered were also home to families living without safe streets, without proper housing, without enough food. Chris couldn't fix one without caring about the other.
So the mission expanded. Today, Chris Peru works across three interconnected goals: preventing zoonotic disease, closing the dog lots, and bettering the communities where both animals and people live side by side.
All of it traces back to a soldier who loved Peru, a dog who needed care, and a son who refused to look away.
The Journey
From the Andes to Lima — a timeline.
1980s
A Soldier Arrives in Peru
Lt. Col. Philip O'Sullivan deploys to Peru with the U.S. Army, helping build hospitals for children in the Andes mountains. He falls in love with the country, its people, and its spirit.
2012
Chris's First Visit
Inspired by his father's stories, Chris visits Peru for the first time. He is immediately drawn to the warmth of the people, the beauty of the country, and the scale of the need.
2019
Philip Passes Away in Lima
Lt. Col. Philip O'Sullivan passes away peacefully in Lima — his favorite place in the world, surrounded by the sound of the ocean. Chris moves to Peru to honor his father's legacy.
2020
Bandi Falls Ill During COVID
Philip's loyal German Shepherd, Bandi, falls seriously ill during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proper veterinary help is impossible to find. Chris refuses to give up on the dog that meant everything to his father.
2020
The Vet Clinic Opens
Chris opens a full-service veterinary clinic — serving two purposes at once: giving Bandi the care he needs to recover, and putting employees back to work during the pandemic lockdowns.
2021
Bandi's Place is Born
The clinic grows into Bandi's Place — Peru's first dedicated animal rescue and rehabilitation center. Named after the German Shepherd who started it all, it becomes the foundation of the entire mission.
2022
The Dog Lots Are Discovered
Chris and his team discover over 500 government dog lots across Lima — cramming up to 110 dogs into spaces meant for a dozen. The conditions are devastating. Closing them becomes a core mission.
2023
Community Betterment Begins
The mission expands beyond animals. Chris begins renovating streets, courtyards, and homes in Lima's poorest neighborhoods — transforming neglected spaces into safe, vibrant communities.
Be Part of the Story