Natalie - World Vets - to improve the quality of life of animals, people & the environments in which they live by providing veterinary...

Better Lives for Otavalo’s Dogs & Cats

Aug 21

World Vets volunteers recently traveled to Otavalo, Ecuador, to provide 271 sterilization surgeries for local dogs and cats, including both owned pets and unowned street animals. Working alongside long-time partner Bienestar Animal Imbabura (BAI), the team provided essential veterinary care while supporting responsible pet ownership and improving animal welfare throughout the community.

During these high-volume clinics, each animal patient is treated with care and compassion. Each surgical patient receives a veterinary examination, IV catheter, anesthesia monitoring, pain medication, post-operative care, and parasite prevention—ensuring they receive comprehensive care before, during, and after surgery. Through partnerships like this, World Vets is able to bring vital veterinary services to communities while fulfilling our mission to bring help to animals around the world.

Thank you to our generous donors, dedicated supporters, veterinary volunteers, and valued partners who make this important work possible and help us fulfill our mission of bringing help to animals around the world.

Serving Pets and Street Dogs in Guatemala

Jul 25

In just three days, the World Vets volunteer team completed 357 spay and neuter surgeries during our latest campaign in the community of San Miguel Dueñas, Guatemala, helping improve the lives of hundreds of animals and the people who care for them.

Beyond sterilization, our veterinary team also performed several life-changing procedures for animals in need, including a limb amputation, entropion repair, eye enucleation, and other critical surgeries that would otherwise have been out of reach for many local families. A significant number of community and street dogs also received sterilization, helping reduce future suffering while improving the health and welfare of the local animal population.

Every surgery represents more than one animal helped—it prevents countless unwanted litters, reduces neglect and homelessness, and gives pets the opportunity to live healthier, happier lives.

This mission was supported by the incredible partnership and dedication of Sue Bohenstangel and Antigua Street Dogs – Guatemala, whose ongoing commitment to animal welfare continues to make a lasting difference throughout the region. We are deeply grateful for their collaboration and friendship.

To our volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants, local volunteers, donors, and supporters—thank you for helping to make this mission a success. Your generosity and compassion are changing lives, one animal at a time.

Sea Lion Disentanglement Videos

Jul 01

Galapagos Rapid Response Stories

The videos below offer a glimpse into the lifesaving work carried out by the World Vets team alongside the Galápagos National Park Rapid Response Program on San Cristóbal Island. Working together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our teams respond to wildlife emergencies whenever they arise—day or night.

Operating under an official agreement with the Galápagos National Park, World Vets provides veterinary expertise and emergency response for injured and distressed wildlife throughout San Cristóbal. While the majority of our calls involve Galápagos sea lions, our team is trained and equipped to respond to all types of wildlife calls, including iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and a wide variety of other birds. Together, World Vets and the Rapid Response Team have responded to more than 1,500 wildlife cases across the Galápagos Islands.

One of the most common threats facing sea lions is marine debris. Discarded fishing lines, ropes, fishhooks, plastic, clothing, and other human-made materials can become tightly wrapped around a sea lion’s neck, body, or flippers. Without intervention, these entanglements can cause severe injuries, infection, starvation, and even death.

Approximately 30% of the wildlife emergency calls received this year have involved entangled animals, underscoring the ongoing impact of marine pollution on the fragile Galápagos ecosystem.

These videos show several successful rescues in action as our team carefully frees sea lions from dangerous entanglements. The final video captures a different kind of emergency—a young sea lion trapped between rocks and unable to escape on its own. After assessing the situation, the World Vets team safely rescued the animal and returned it to freedom.

Each rescue represents a second chance for these remarkable animals and demonstrates the value of having a dedicated veterinary response team ready to act whenever wildlife is in need.

World Vets is grateful to the SeaWorld Conservation Fund and our other generous donors who make this important work possible.

544 Dogs and Cats Receive Care in Ecuador

Jun 30

World Vets has successfully completed another high-impact veterinary campaign in Ecuador, where our volunteer team provided 367 free spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in Atuntaqui. Alongside sterilization services, pets also received medical consultations, flea and tick prevention, and other essential veterinary care to improve their health and well-being.

These services play a vital role in safeguarding the health and happiness of owned pets while also helping reduce suffering, neglect, and overpopulation among the local street dog and cat population. By preventing unwanted litters and providing accessible veterinary care, these campaigns create lasting benefits for both animals and the communities that care for them.

In addition to the surgical campaign, World Vets hosted a free community outreach clinic in Urcuquí, where volunteers provided health examinations, preventive care, and medical treatment for 177 pets whose families might otherwise have limited access to veterinary services.

This mission was made possible through our longstanding partnership with Foundation Bienestar Animal Imbabura (BAI) and Clínicas Veterinarias BAI, who have worked alongside World Vets for the past 17 years to improve animal welfare throughout the region. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to BAI on the 9th anniversary of their Atuntaqui veterinary clinic—an important milestone and a testament to their continued dedication to animals and their community.

We are especially grateful to Lakefield Veterinary Group for partnering with World Vets on this Ecuador mission, helping make this campaign possible through their generous support.

Finally, thank you to every volunteer, donor, and supporter who generously contributed your time, expertise, and resources. Together, we continue to improve the lives of animals, strengthen local veterinary capacity, and build healthier, more compassionate communities throughout Ecuador.

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World Vets’ First Vet Campaign in Tropojë, Albania

Jun 24

Last week World Vets completed its first veterinary mission in the Tropojë region of Albania, near the town of Bajram Curri, addressing street dog and cat overpopulation through trap-neuter-release (TNR) and community-based sterilization efforts.

The World Vets volunteer team provided spay/neuter services and free health consultations for 183 local animals while working alongside approximately a dozen local veterinarians and veterinary students to support hands-on clinical participation, strengthen practical skills (even utilizing a banana as a model for suture practice), and build local capacity for ongoing TNR efforts. The mission emphasized humane population management, education, and long-term sustainability to reduce suffering among free-roaming animals.

World Vets partnered with the local organization Strays of Albania/Safe Paws, the Jahangiri Foundation, the Municipalities of Tirana and Tropojë, and the Agricultural University of Tirana/Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to implement the campaign. These partnerships were essential in supporting the delivery of veterinary services to the area. Special thanks go to PJ and Neda Jahangiri for their dedication and on-the-ground support in making this mission a success. World Vets is also deeply grateful to its hardworking volunteers and generous supporters whose contributions make this work possible!

World Vets has completed several campaigns in other places around Albania over the past 10 years. Our first mission in Tropojë marks an important step in expanding access to veterinary care in remote and underserved parts of the country and reflects World Vets’ ongoing commitment to improving animal welfare through direct service and community collaboration.

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World Vets’ First Visit to Corozal, Belize: 300+ Surgeries Provided!

Apr 17

World Vets completed its first small animal campaign in Corozal, Belize this week and sterilized over 300 cats and dogs! World Vets is privileged to provide veterinary care and compassion to animals in need around the world, as we help reduce overpopulation and improve the health and wellbeing of animals in communities like this one.

This effort was made possible through strong collaboration with our local partner Corozal Animal Welfare Advocates (CAWA), local vet Dr. Alfric Charles, and the generous support of our host Sheila Ford. We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated and hard-working team of World Vets volunteers, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, the local volunteers and students who came out to help, the community members who entrusted us with their animals’ care, and the international donors and supporters who help make this work a reality. Thank you!

Donated Medications Help Galapagos Pets

Feb 03

IMG-20250926-WA0009 Since opening its veterinary clinic on San Cristóbal Island, World Vets has provided care for nearly 7,000 dogs and cats on the island, including thousands of spay/neuter surgeries that have improved animal health and helped manage the local pet population. In addition to surgery, every patient receives a comprehensive health examination and preventive care to help keep pets healthy long after they leave the clinic.

A generous donation of Centragard for cats from Greater Good Charities has played an important role in these efforts. The donated parasite preventatives have been administered to hundreds of feline patients, protecting them against fleas, ticks, and internal parasites. To extend the benefits beyond each visit, pet owners are also sent home with a 3–6-month supply of follow-up doses, helping ensure continued protection and healthier pets across the islands. We are grateful to Greater Good Charities for helping make comprehensive preventive care accessible to families throughout the Galápagos.

Year-End Vet Project in the Galápagos

Dec 12

Galapagos Dec 2025 (15) World Vets has been delivering free veterinary services for pets on San Cristobal Island for the last four years, with thousands of patient visits. Last week was our 18th intensive spay-and-neuter campaign in Galapagos, which provided sterilization surgeries for dogs and cats (including feral felines), health exams, dental prophylaxis, deworming, and a range of additional procedures.

Over 90% of the pet population on San Cristóbal has now been sterilized—a milestone that directly supports the long-term sustainability and protection of the islands’ unique and endangered wildlife. We greatly appreciate the support of our volunteers, donors, partners and local personnel that all helped make this possible.

We thank GAD Municipal de San Cristóbal Galápagos and Agencia de Bioseguridad para Galápagos (ABG) for their strong partnership on these campaigns.

World Vets’ Mission in Otavalo

Nov 17

World Vets completed another successful animal campaign last week, sterilizing 337 cats and dogs in Otavalo, Ecuador! Our volunteer team provided spay-and-neuter services, as well as health consultations, parasite control, and other veterinary care for the local pet population. World Vets sends appreciation to our long-time partner Bienstar Animal Imbabura (BAI) for their valuable collaboration in this recent event and their continued partnership over the last 16 years. We also give our gratitude to the volunteer teams and faithful allies and donors who support World Vets’ mission to improve the lives of animals around the globe.

381 Animals in Guatemala!

Nov 11

Guatemala Nov 2025 (3) World Vets, in partnership with Antigua Street Dogs Guatemala, provided free veterinary surgeries and medical care to hundreds of cats and dogs in and around Jocotenango and Antigua last week. By preventing thousands of unwanted litters through spay-and-neuter, we’re improving animal welfare while also strengthening community health through parasite control, disease prevention, and better care for both pets and people. This effort is part of our One Health commitment — protecting both animals and humans by reducing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Thanks to our incredible supporters, partners, and volunteers who make this life-changing work possible. Your help is truly benefiting animals in need around the world!

Posts by: Natalie

Galapagos Rapid Response Stories