Home > Out of the Cage! > June 2005 > Special Feature: PATH: From New York to Nicaragua, A Mission of Compassion and Hope

Special Feature

PATH: From New York to Nicaragua, A Mission of Compassion and Hope

For Kelly Overton, saving animals in his own backyard gives new meaning to the word "backyard."

A native Midwesterner now living in Manhattan, where he formerly worked with Bide-A-Wee, an Alliance Participating Organization (APO), Kelly is striving to improve the plight of animals in Granada, Nicaragua's second largest city, and the oldest colonial city in Central America. Although many visitors to the city discover it to be rich in history and colonial architecture, Kelly discovered something far different — a community where thousands of stray animals lead desperately miserable lives alongside what has traditionally been an indifferent, economically challenged local population.

But Kelly has begun to change all that.

In 2003 he founded People Protecting Animals & Their Habitats (PATH) — a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the humane treatment of all animals, as well as the conservation and protection of areas that are vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species. PATH is working to improve the lot of the people of Granada through education, while at the same time changing their perceptions and attitudes toward animals in a positive way.

To that end, PATH has established a veterinary clinic for street animals as well as a school for children 6–10 years of age. A rehabbed building is home to the clinic and the school.

La Libertad School & Community Education Center offers children who typically cannot attend traditional school programs a unique opportunity to access education. Through lesson plans based on the care and welfare of animals, these young people learn the three R's (reading, writing and arithmetic) as well as empathy, tolerance, and non-violence toward all creatures. They learn to humanely care for the area's sick, injured, and/or vulnerable animals.

"The philosophy behind our educational program is that learning to nurture animals encourages a sense of responsibility in children, as well as a respect and reverence for life," explains Kelly. "The program will empower the children by providing them with desperately needed educational and vocational opportunities. It is our aim that the skills developed at PATH's La Libertad School will enable the children eventually to enter formal education programs."

The veterinary clinic is helping to reduce the number of stray dogs and cats in the community by spaying and neutering street animals, of which Nicaragua has thousands. PATH volunteer veterinarians also provide vaccinations, treatment for parasites and injuries, and, when necessary due to severe illness or injury, humane euthanasia.

Currently, 14 veterinarians have signed on to volunteer their time at the clinic. These vets travel to Granada from such places as Los Angeles, New York, and Panama, and commit blocks of time, from three days to one week. Kelly's goal is to establish fulltime veterinary coverage at the clinic — an ambitious goal in a country that has no more than 20 veterinarians countrywide.

As in many other developing countries, numerous air and water-borne parasites are introduced into Nicaragua's human population through domesticated animals. Rabies (which kills between 40,000 and 70,000 people worldwide annually, according to the World Health Organization) also is a threat to this population that co-exists with so many stray dogs. Traditionally, attempts to control these health threats have been hampered by cultural, social, and economic realities. For example, the spaying and neutering of strays — perhaps the most effective way to reduce animal overpopulation and its associated health risks — traditionally has been prohibited in this predominantly Catholic country.

Kelly believes that by involving the community — especially its children — in implementing effective solutions to these health concerns, both the animals and people will benefit. Already, PATH's work with street animals in Granada has moved the community one step closer to achieving and maintaining a safe water supply.

Developing partnerships with organizations that can help provide resources is crucial to PATH's success. For instance, in 2004, PATH partnered with Building New Hope, an existing Nicaraguan organization, to open the veterinary clinic and school in Granada. Kelly is working to develop relationships with other individuals and organizations that will help PATH achieve success in Nicaragua and expand its efforts to other locations in Central America. Plans to open clinics in Panama, Guatemala, and El Salvador are currently being developed. Kelly will lead several volunteer missions to Nicaragua in late July, the first week in September, and throughout January 2006. Veterinarians, vet techs and other animal-savvy people who are interested in volunteering with PATH or want to explore the possibilities can e-mail Kelly at animalpath@aol.com.

One of his goals for PATH's work in Nicaragua, says Kelly, is that it will serve as a model for future programs — a model that successfully combines community development, education, and animal welfare. "We believe that our activities in Granada are fostering a humane attitude toward animals throughout the community, and building the capacity of the community to protect and comfort these animals in need."

PATH Nicaragua Wish List

School Supplies

Veterinary Supplies

Financial Assistance

PATH needs financial assistance to purchase the following items:

Please send your contribution to:

PATH

1580 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 66

New York, New York 10031

To learn more about PATH and its efforts, or to find out how you can help by providing financial or volunteer support, please visit PATH's website at www.ppath.org, or contact Kelly at animalpath@aol.com.