Canoa is a beautiful coastal village in the Manabi province on the ragged Pacific coast of Ecuador. In 2013 the Traveling Animal Doctors (our sister charity, from where it all started) visited Canoa for a rare holiday between a run of busy projects. The team quickly realised that their services were needed in the area. Plans were made instantaneously and an improvised clinic was set up at a local hostel. The project was a great success, but unfortunately the team had to leave after just one frenetic week. When the Travelling Animal Doctors left, the locals asked when will they return. Jochem made a promise that it would not be too long. It was a promise he intended to keep.

During October & November 2015, Green Paw Project returned to Canoa and continued the foundations set by Traveling Animal Doctors. We went with a bigger and more experienced team, with more supplies and ran the free veterinary clinic for 4 weeks.

The 4 week MASH-clinic (Mobile Animal Surgery Hospital) was set up for all local wild and domestic animals, and accompanied educational campaigns in Canoa schools and the local area. The Veterinary Clinics was temporarily set up in buildings assigned and approved by the local government.

In the 4 weeks the free clinic was open we managed to spay and neuter 167 cats and dogs, treated 311 others animals with various illnesses/ diseases / viruses or gave vaccinations / de-parasite treatment, saved 2 sea turtles, and rescued the worst looking dog in the area, built her a new temporary home and now found her a new home, the lovely Dobby.

We visited local schools educated them on animal welfare, treatment and pets and animals and the importance of spaying and neutering.

Thank you to the wonderful team at Canoa 2015 who helped make this happen, and to all of you donors who helped raise the required $10,000 to save these wonderful creatures. Without your donations these animals would not have been treated.