Meet our Volunteers!

Dawn Archambeault Secretary at a human ER

I have volunteered at 3 of the 4 spay and neuter clinics in Aruba. My adventure that lead me to volunteering started while vacationing on the beautiful island. Year after year I noticed litters of puppies in the bushes next to my parents time share and all around the island there were dogs roaming the streets. So I googled Aruba animal control. The first thing that popped up was the kill shelter followed by local rescues. I soon realized that there is no animal control on the island.  I contacted a local rescue and volunteered to fly two puppies home to the US. My brother adopted one and I adopted her litter mate. Five years later we now have 3 Cunucu dogs from Aruba. Soon after transporting and adopting our first two in 2016,  that same year I heard that the first ever spay and neuter clinic was going to be held on the island in May by Animal Balance and I immediately signed up to volunteer. Animal Balance is a nonprofit that goes to trouble spots and gives the locals the skills to run future spay and neuter campaigns which United Dogs of Aruba has successfully done for the last 3 clinics. There is a job for everyone even if you don’t have experience at spay and neuter clinics. I am a secretary in an emergency room for humans and I took those skills and tweaked them to help at the clinics. All you need is a love for animals and we can match you with the perfect task. Each year we face different challenges which make each year run more smoothly. We have sterilized just short of 1500 dogs and cats in 4 years. Even though that number is a huge accomplishment there is still a major problem that is going to take years of clinics to resolve. Without volunteers it will not be possible since these clinics are solely run and funded by volunteers and donations. It doesn’t cost a thing to volunteer and we keep everyone well fed and hydrated. We usually have low cost accommodations and transportation if needed as well. There will mostly likely be bruises, blood and tears but I will guarantee you will laugh and make some of the best memories and friends of your life. If you love Aruba and animals you will not regret volunteering. I do suggest planning for a couple days after to relax and enjoy the island. We do some fun activities as a group afterwards that are always a blast. I had never travelled outside the US before by myself and had never left my daughter for that long. I grew as a person from that first trip and realized this needs to be a part of my life. These clinics challenged me as a person not only mentally but physically.  Volunteering with this group has only changed my life for the better and I can’t wait for the next clinic.  

Angela ChanskyVeterinary technician

I’ve been home from Aruba for two days. Most of my team members and other volunteers are still there. Yesterday was the last of the surgeries. Over 400 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered during the United Dogs Aruba Foundation 2019 campaign.

As I write this, I imagine the long task of cleanup is underway.

When I left, every part of my body hurt and I was exhausted. My body is still sore and I feel like an a long way from mentally decompressing, so I can only imagine how the ones who are left cleaning up feel.

The spay & neuter campaign was a life changing event for many. Months ago, my friend Leia said she wanted to go and help.

She didn’t have experience with animal rescue and hadn’t even been on a plane due due fear of flying in 25 years.

I told her this would be life-changing, that she would meet some of the most amazing people that she’s ever met in her life and some of them she would make connections with and form lifelong friendships with.

You became a part of the animal rescue family. She was so happy and excited to experience this.

If I had told her more of the reality of what it would be like; that there would be 14 hour work days in 95 degree weather, where you don’t get much time to sit to eat, or when you make an attempt to go to the bathroom, but end up being asked to do different tasks on your way, then by the time you’re done with those you don’t have to go to the bathroom at all because you sweat out everything you would’ve done, that you would see emaciated dogs and puppies, the constant sound of dogs barking and crying... she admits she would have said ‘I can’t do this’

However, she learned quickly that she could in fact do this, she could do more than all the things she thought possible. You don’t get time to think about whether you can or you can’t do it, you’re just too busy doing what needs to be done.

We were so exhausted at the end of the day, that we would take a shower when we got back to the hotel and go to sleep and then exhausted when we got out to do it all again the next morning. But we did it.

And Leia kept a smile on her face no matter how tired she was.

The things all of the volunteers were doing needed to be done.

They needed to be done quickly and efficiently in hot and stressful conditions.

Some personalities clashed at times, but we all kept in mind the greater good.

Regardless of what team the volunteers were on, they helped the other teams get done what needed to be done because we were short handed. Many people multitasked.

On the recovery team, we would take a dogs temp with one hand and comfort another crying dog with the other.

Kinks and glitches got worked out and then everyone got into a flow.

People took initiative, delegated tasks that needed to be done and everyone worked together.

By the time I felt like I knew what I was doing, it was time to leave and I left with such immense guilt, kicking myself for not being able to stay the entire week to help.

I felt guilty for feeling achy and exhausted, knowing all the other volunteers were up and doing it all again, and still had three more days to do it.

I felt a lump in my throat driving to the airport, but I was too tired to cry. Every time I passed a stray dog I wondered if that was one that had been in the clinic, if I had assisted it in recovery, or if it would go on to procreate hundreds of babies.

I silently wished every volunteer there a successful week and hoped they had the strength to continue to do what needed to be done, but mostly I felt guilt that I wasn’t there to help and finish out the week with them.

When you take part in something like this, you see the worst of humanity.

People are monsters.

But then, you also see the best of humanity, so many people who have never met, come together to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals.

I met some of the most amazing, selfless, helpful people. The veterinarians, vet techs and assistants. The recovery team, the runners, the registration crew, the trappers, the crate washers... The tasks were endless.

And then there was Mercedes. She worked hard, overseeing it all and made sure that it was running as smooth as possible and people were doing what needed to be done. She is a powerhouse of a human.

All working together to help save as many dogs from being returned to the streets after their procedures.

We all took time out of our busy lives, and spent a lot of our own money to take part in this.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity for this experience and grateful to have been able to take part in this.

I’ve already started saving for my next volunteer trip and hope that if an opportunity presents itself, others will take it.

I promise you, it will change your life and make a difference in the lives of countless, homeless animals.