TOCOPAWS

Spay/Neuter, Animal Rescue and Animal Shelter program

St. Lucia offers one of the most idyllic settings in the world - sunkissed beaches, glittering blue oceans and stunning sunsets.  Against this picture perfect backdrop, dogs rummage through garbage cans looking for a little something to eat.  To many, these animals tend to be invisible, however the sad fact is that there are hundreds of cats and dogs that have been abandoned.  On one family vacation, Taj Weekes took notice.  "It maybe be something cultural but I don't think we treat our animals well," Weekes says.  His youngest son and his international travels changed his view on how animals should be treated and he decided to tackle the issue of stray animals head on.  

TOCOPAWS was born out of Weekes' desire to rescue stray cats and dogs in St. Lucia.  Groups of international volunteer veternarians, vet techs and assistants, the Caribbean Spay Neuter group and local communities, work tirelessly to humanely operate on animals to limit the animal population on the island.  Additionally, TOCOPAWS works with the community to help get these animals adopted into loving homes. Every 6 months for the next three years the team will follow up to check on the success of the program and consider the benefits to communities served.  TOCOPAWS' long term goal is rescue, education, adoption and eventually an animal santuary.  TOCOPAWS, in sync with TOCO's work with children, seeks to educate and inform young people about respecting and caring for animals as well as working to see that the laws protecting animals are enforced.

TOCOPAWS VOLUNTEER VETS, VET TECHS and ASSISTANTS AT WORK