A lifelong mission to help

After more than two decades working to improve animal welfare across the South Pacific, Matakana local Karen Galvan-Schade will travel to Samoa on September 4 to help provide veterinary services on the island of Savai’i.

Karen founded the charity South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) in 2009, which has since grown into a movement that has inspired a global network of administrators, veterinarians and veterinary nurses who volunteer their skills and expertise.

“The need in these areas is huge, many islands have no veterinary services and that is the gap we are filling,” Karen said. “When SPAW first began, there were very few vet services in the space. Now some islands have evolved and run successful veterinary clinics in their own right.”

Karen’s love for animals started when she was a child, when she would bring sick and homeless animals home.

During her teenage and adult years, she also volunteered with several animal welfare charities.

After building a career in marketing and communications, at 37 she decided to leave it all behind and head to the South Pacific.

Since then, she has worked in places including Niue, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, the Marshall Island and Tonga among others, to improve animal welfare across the region.

Each year, SPAW recruits around 50 volunteer veterinarians and veterinary nurses who collectively treat close to 3000 animals.

No one within the organisation is paid, and the programme relies on the generosity of donors, partners and sponsors who believe in its mission.

“Our teams work long days, often 10 hours in the clinic, followed by surgical preparation for the next day.

Sometimes surgeries are carried out by torchlight to make sure every last animal gets the care it needs. We’re only on the island for one week a year, so we make every minute count.”

“Animals around the world are struggling, so we are doing our bit to change lives and we will never stop doing what we do.”

Info: www.spaw.org.nz.