More than 200 animals on the South Coast of Upolu were provided with free veterinary care by South Pacific Animal Welfare, a group of vets from New Zealand.

SPAW has collaborated with the Animal Protection Society of Samoa (APS Samoa) for several years. In March, 206 animals were treated.

Team leader Dr Geoff Neals said it was an honour to lead the first SPAW clinic of 2025 to Upolu on Samoa’s main island.

“Quite a bit of preparation, logistics coordination and freighting go into these clinics, and with this clinic starting mid-March, there was no Christmas break for the SPAW co-ordination team who had to ensure all of what we needed was sorted well ahead of the team’s arrival,” he said.

“I arrived with the first two team members, making the two-hour journey from the airport to Lalomanu with our ute packed full of supplies. It was a quick drop off and turnaround at the accommodation before making the long journey back to the airport in Faleolo to pick up more team members coming on the evening flight.

“We all finally made it back to Lalomanu at 11 pm that night, glad that Sunday was a rest day ahead of our clinic week. Our vets, vet nurses and local helpers worked very well together, resulting in 206 animals receiving veterinary care.”

During the week-long clinic, the team visited five villages and was able to provide the animals with care that would not be accessible otherwise.

Volunteer Hannah McInully said it was a good experience and she hopes to return on other trips to Samoa.

“I was first inspired to volunteer with SPAW as a colleague had volunteered previously and this was my second SPAW trip. I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, however, Samoa blew me away! The beauty was astounding and the locals were all so appreciative of us being there,” she said.

“The volunteer team had a shared love of animals and travel, so there was common ground from the get-go. SPAW also has very good protocols in place and they resource their clinics very well, so it was easy to find our groove as a team.

“Adjusting to a different culture always puts you outside of your comfort zone, however the pros outweigh the cons. One lovely local man stayed at the clinic while we desexed his dog and sang to us through the day, it was truly lovely.

“Our case load was consistent - lots of puppies riddled with fleas, ticks and intestinal worms and SPAW always provisions well for these cases, so it is nice to send them home with parasite treatments without the worry of charging for the product or services – it is provided free.

McInully said veterinary care on the islands was not as accessible as what people are used to in New Zealand.

“Most of the Pacific islands rely on volunteers to provide much needed care for their animals. Working in the veterinary profession can be draining both physically and mentally but these trips are a great reminder of why this is such a special profession! I can’t wait for my next opportunity to volunteer,” she added.

 According to APS, there will be more volunteer vet teams coming this year.