By Foresee Foundation
Looking for volunteers for major spay and neuter program
Collaboration is the key word with a just-launched joint initiative of local animal rights groups – Animal Welfare, SXM Paws, Animals Defenders and American based 4 Leaf Rover. In an effort to reduce the impact of starvation, suffering, and misery of stray animals, these all non-profit groups will conduct a free spay and neuter campaign from March 27 to March 31.
Three American veterinarians, four veterinary technicians, and several volunteers will be flying into St. Maarten to work with four local veterinarians on the Dutch side, namely Dr. Virginie de Ceuster of Animal Care Centre; Dr. Glen Romney of Animal Hospital of St. Maarten; Dr. Garry Swanston of St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic; and Dr. Ruth Wright of The Island Vet, with the goal of spaying and neutering 300 dogs and cats for free.
A temporary pop-up clinic located adjacent to St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic in Cay Hill will be constructed for this mission, which has been led by Dr. Edward Lee, an American physician who attended AUC medical school from 1999 to 2001 and is a resident of St. Martin.
What are some of the needs of the campaign?
Volunteers are needed for the following roles: drivers, animal handlers, administrative/ logistic tasks and general volunteers. The groups are looking to put together a team of volunteers who will facilitate the smooth operation of the campaign. Licensed drivers will be coordinated to collect and transport animals to the pop up clinic. Handlers will be important in ensuring that the pets collected are kept calm and will manage their movement throughout the process. Volunteers, who are interested in logistics, will help to keep the operation orderly.
Why did these groups join forces?
Hundreds of dogs and cats ended up homeless after Hurricane Irma in 2017, then during the COVID pandemic, many pets were dumped by owners who could no longer afford to keep them or to feed them. Free roaming dogs and cats that are not sterilized have kittens and puppies, which inevitably results in misery and starvation as well as the lack of acute medical care for the animals. Animals that are not spayed or neutered are more likely to get into fights, become infected with contagious diseases, and/or roam – which can result in some getting hit by vehicles.
How does one sign up to volunteer?
Go to volunteer.sx and click on “opportunities” and join the volunteer opportunity entitled “Volunteers Needed for Sterilization Campaign”. Visit https://www.volunteer.sx/o/SXM-Paws-Foundation/opportunities/VOLUNTEERS-NEEDED-FOR-FREE-STERILIZATION-CAMPAIGN/60673
How does one sign up to get a dog or cat spayed or neutered?
Click on the QR code in this story or send an email to Macy of 4 Leaf Rover at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
