Amazon CARES - Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety

It may be small, but Amazon CARES is one of the most dedicated, resourceful, and compassionate animal charities I know! I've been privileged enough to work closely with the Executive Director, Manuela Rodrigues, and she puts every penny of donated funds toward making life *exponentially* better for hundreds of street dogs and cats who've lost all hope. Thank you for existing, Amazon CARES!

Selfless, hardworking group. They give their time, energy and love daily!

Excellent work, wonderful people, the world needs more of this. Thank you all involved with Amazon Cares!!

This is a trustworthy and long standing organization that directly helps the animals. The first of its kind in the region, I’ve been happy to follow its progress and support it over the years!

I've seen animals butchered or euthanized by non-vets in Iquitos. It is really sad. I've met the vets at Amazon CARES and they are 100% licensed with veterinary school degrees. I'm shocked these charlatans continue practicing, but there isn't much law & order in Iquitos. I volunteered there for 2 weeks & learned so many techniques that aren't used in the Western world. Please support this small, meaningful charity!

Amazon CARES does incredible work in Peru, helping both animals and people. They save lives and help the community, educating people on how to care for their nonhuman family members and providing medical care and safe refuge for animals in need. They've saved so many no one gave a second glance. They're absolutely amazing- and they do it without any affiliation to the giant retailer of similar name. They're tireless in their efforts and no life is too insignificant. They're certainly my superheroes!

If you visit Iquitos, Peru, you will be dismayed at the large number (too many to count) of REALLY sick dogs on the streets! Most of them are missing hair, and covered in fleas. One night I was out late and they were everywhere trying to find scraps of food. Right before Ieft town I heard about one organization working to rescue these animals. Amazon CARES is always on the street providing treatments, and when they can they can they have campiagns to fix dogs and cats.

I went to their animal shelter to walk the dogs as a volunteer! It warmed my heart to see dogs barking happily, running and playing, or sleeping in their shaded areas. Local volunteers were also walking dogs, and some were getting baths (those dogs didn't seem quite as thrilled). It is a happy scene because the dogs are well-cared for by the dedicated volunteers and have lots of space. It is a wonderfully inspiring place.

I am so grateful to Amazon CARES. My sister and I were taking a boat trip for another charity. Just before the trip I saw a really sick, mangy dog. He wouldn't even eat the food offered him. I cried and my sister practically dragged me away. One of the workers on our boat said he knew a charity that would help the dog, and I had no choice but to hope he was going to follow through. He did! I returned ten days later and found the tour employee.
He walked with me to a really nice vet clinic and my dog was there! I couldn't believe how much better he looked, although he still had a log ways to go. But he was eating. Previously I was convinced he was dying. And that might have been the case were it not for Amazon CARES.

They didn't ask for anything, but I did make a donation, because I could tell they were overrun with rescues and locals asking for free care. The office was a bit chaotic, but it seems it is because they won't turn animals away. The vets seem like they genuinely care.

I got a nice Thank You note after making my donation, and the Director asked it I would write a review. I am happy to do so. The dog I saved is completely healthy now and has been adopted! I wish I could have taken him home myself!

Amazon CARES deserves ten star!!

Amazon Cares helped rescue a heavily pregnant dog off the streets, who went on to have 9 puppies, who they now also care for. They really do care but they have such a massive job to do with so little funding. I am grateful to Amazon Cares and all who work there for their compassionate spirit.

After years of donating to larger animal charities, a friend told me that my donations would be more important to small, grassroots organizations. She had just returned from Peru where she volunteered for Amazon CARES. Her pictures brought me to tears, and I could not believe the really sick animals that they worked so hard to save. I kept thinking, "how did this animal survive? Would my local shelter work so hard to save it?" I started dividing my donation money up between small organizations, and I got an amazing Thank You note from their Director, Manuela. Since then I've received updates and newsletters, but no expensive promotional items like calendars and t-shirts. I can see exactly how my donations are being spent, and I wish I had more to give. They work so hard with so little. Read about them and learn more!

A small charity doing essential work in challenging circumstances.

I am fortunate to live in Seattle, WA, where there are many amazing groups and organizations doing work on the behalf of animals. This is not the case in Peru, with the exception of very few, including AmazonCARES. They do tremendous work with very little budget, educating the community on how to care for their animals, and the importance of spaying and neutering to control the population. I will continue to donate to them for as long as I'm able, the work they do is so important!

I found out about Amazon Cares after a trip to Iquitos, and I learned they were the only ones in the region who were tackling the systemic problem of animal neglect. They are the most dedicated, hard working and passionate people, who do it truly because they love the animals they serve. They have been influential in changing public opinion in the community to be more positive towards dogs and cats and have provided critical services like spay and neuter programs, vet services, and so much more. Every dollar you send goes directly to the cause, which is something I really value about them. They stay in touch with updates, are extremely kind and personable, and easy to work with. Donating to them ensures our dollars go so much further because they are unique in the area doing critical work. I recommend them to anyone and Im happy to discuss at any time! Huge fans.

I found out about Amazon Cares while volunteering in Iquitos with another organization. I think it is a miracle what they have done not only with the health of the animals but changing peoples thoughts of caring for these animals.
Sincerely,
Chris Kellner

I found out that in Peru, homeless, starving and sick
dogs are ignored by the local people. How one can just walk by and not do anything to help these innocent victims is beyond comprehension.
AMAZON CARES is one of the
most reliable foreign charities I trust. R. O.

I live in Iquitos. Is a beautiful city but there're so many abandoned dogs and cats. Thanks to AMAZON CARES for help us to educate people and take care of these amazing animals. Keep doing this great job! You're the best!

I have the great good fortune and joy of being able to learn about the work of Amazon Cares. I am not only happy to work doing something I love, which is caring for the animals, but also to work with extraordinary people and a great work group. I could not be happier to partner with such a noble organization.

Amazon CARES is a great organization that carries out inspiring work to help animals in the Peruvian Amazon region, an organization run by proficient, intelligent, dedicated and deeply compassionate people. The work this tireless group does not only alleviates suffering for animals, but also has an extremely positive impact on the people who derive lots of benefits from interacting with the animals rescued by the organization and from seeing such compassion and effective advocacy in action.

I found out online about your great rescue organization. I saw the work you did with a poor, sick , homeless dog that was on the brink on dying on the streets, and people would just keep on walking, ignoring his pain, suffering. Then two of your volunteers took him in, feed him, gave him water, and a safe place to rest his aching body.They took care of his mange riden skin, and nursed the puppy back to health, day after day, until the hopeless, sad animal recovered his life spark. It is such a labor of love, something St Francis Di Assisi would bless you for. So, yes I am happy to make a donation to such wonderful cause, within my modest means, I'll do it Everytime I can.

A great charity doing wonderful work. A cause well worth donating to as all money goes to help the animals.

I just read a the story of the rescue of Ojitos, a beautiful dog that suffered terrible
neglect before 2 ladies from Amazon CARES stepped in. The story inspired me to
be a monthly donor. They are doing great work where the need is great. I encourage
others to give to this worthy organization.

I can't say enough about how fantastic this organization is! I am a veterinary medical student from the US and volunteered at this clinic for 3 weeks. Every single member of the team was wonderful to me and the experienced I gained far exceeded my expectations. Each animal is treated with the highest quality care and respect from the veterinary medical team, whether client-owned or surrendered from the street. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from them. Thanks for everything!

Awesome!!! A class organization from top to bottom.?

Amazon Cares is the Best non profit in the Amazon they rescue Animals and treat them with love & respect. They give Education and a safe place for all the Animals. The only one in the Amazon, to have a no kill shelter for the Animals.

I read a story recently about this stray dog named Charlie on the The Dodo, and that's where I learned about Amazon Cares. What these guys are doing for animals in Peru is amazing. We need more people with a heart of gold like theirs! Great job guys!!! May all your furry friends live happily ever after!!!

This is such a amazing rescue! I am a veterinary student from the U.S. and volunteered with Amazon CARES for a week last year. The work they are doing is so important and is really making a difference. There are so many animals in need in the area they are doing their work. Every donation - large or small - makes a difference. I highly recommend this great non- profit rescue!

Amazing caring people who are changing the lives of the animals they care for and educating the communities they serve. More organizations like this are needed for the neglected animals of the area.

The people behind the scene in this charity ; directors, volunteers, donors, are to be commended at the highest levels for all they do for humanity. We need these charities to receive large donations to be able to continue with the humanitarian work they do so very well.

The scenario in Iquitos, Peru is still in the danger zone for many animals who seriously deserve the help these folks can provide. But . . . they need donations. Please support!

I love that they were the first no kill shelter in Peru...paving the way for progress and saving lives every day! They are clearly working toward changing the world. Hooray for this team of amazing individuals and their dedicated team!

Helping to transform the lives of the 100's of street dogs in Iquitos Peru by education in schools, sterilization clinics, and rehabilitating dogs for future adoptions. A truly needed nonprofit in this Amazon city and surrounding villages on the river!

The volunteers and everyone involved in Amazon CARES really do care and are making a huge difference. This isn't just a rescue, but an organization that is really educating people in the Iquitos area about proper animal care. It's an amazing group!

Amazon Cares goes into Peru and does what no one else, to my knowledge, has done. They help the animals who are in desperate need of care and educate the people to take better care of the animals. Veterinarians volunteer for these trips and bring their expertise with them.

Amazon Cares is like an oasis. It takes such good care of injured and neglected animals. It deserves all the support possible. It also works with the people of the Amazon to help them take better care of animals. It is heartening to know it exists.

Beulah Resource Mission Center, Atlanta Georgia 30314...stated as a small mission. This nonprofit mission have made a significant impact in the Vine City and Northwest Communities. They focused on helping those with limited access to resources (including clothing, housing, employment, education, and overall counseling,etc.) Sitting in the waiting area as a newcomer I did not know what to expect. I could hear the volunteers speaking to some of the recipients about basic health care. They were so passionately about every issue you could think of (bathing, changing your clothes, loving yourself, preparing yourself for employment, etc) that you could find in the "Inner City Area."
I left there feeling as though I had been in a Counseling Session. I left my telephone number with the Director. By the way I was able to find several beautiful suits and pants for to work.

Amazon Cares has a great sense of commitment with dogs and cats which are living in Iquitos - Peru. They have affordable services to maintain our pets in a healthy state and also offer several free campaigns for those with less economic resources. What is more, they have a shelter for those dogs and cats which are ready for adoption. Thanks Amazon Cares!

Amazon Cares 2009
My first 'big' trip with WVS was to Peru working as part off a 5 vet / 5 nurse team, working in Iquitos and Caballo Cocha. What a fantastic experience it was..Amazon Cares is a formidable charity serving a big, mainly dog population with great expertise and professionalism and a huge love of the animals and people of Peru. Cases of mange and tvt were horrendous but often treatable so those dogs were the lucky ones, along with all the others we treated. We operated in a variety of interesting venues....Belen market with its watchful vultures and confiscated pigs, a school classroom with hoards of interested children looking on, a slightly suspect village close to the Columbian border, a mud hut in a small rural community, and the front garden of somebody's house! A great buzz was travelling to and from work by boat along a tributary of the Amazon, seeing the colourful and varied river life, and the most colourful sunsets. The experience was truly amazing and one I'll never forget.

Volunteering at Amazon CARES was an amazing experience. As a Vet Nurse from Australia, I was challenged beyond the skills I had learnt from the school I gained my certificate. There was no modern tools or machines that I tended to rely on back home but what it gave me was an ability to be more confident in my work, to adapt and think "outside of the box". I was so blessed with the love and unlimited source of compassion these people had for the animals of Iquitos. The organisation is the only source for the hope of many destitute animals that would otherwise spend miserable lives on the streets. They not only desex the street dogs but help and are successful in abuse cases and also have educated the locals to understand that animals are important, that they need love and care and medical attention. I must admit the bonus of the whole time was meeting my own "Tarzan" from the jungle which we spent all the time we could together which led me to extend my stay.

Volunteering with Amazon Cares in Iquitos, Peru was such a wonderful experience! I was able to witness first hand the great things they are accomplishing.

They are making great strides in keeping the population of stray dogs and cats down with they're spay/neuter campaigns, no-kill shelter and raising awareness and education of children on the importance of treating animals with respect and care.

Amazon Cares is the only hope that domestic and even some wild animals have in the area. It is through the efforts of this great organization that animal welfare is being taught to the locals and they learn the importance of spay and neutering, vaccinations, anti-cruelty initiatives, adoptions, and that Amazon Cares is there to help with the health needs of their animals. By running spay and neuter clinics they are helping to curb the numbers of homeless animals and ensure they are vaccinated and healthy. Amazon Cares is the only animal welfare organization in the region and is essential to the community.

In the poorest parts of Peru, I assisted Amazon Cares provide care to pets and street dogs and cats. They were spayed, castrated and dewormed as well as receiving a flea treatment. In addition, collection of samples of blood, feces and parasites assisted the public health department in their research. The education of the people about sterilization and humane treatment of animals was also key. I am proud to have volunteered and made a difference.

Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education & Safety started in a vaccum in 2004. After 10 years of dedicated service to the Amazon's poorest regions, people are now adopting former street dogs, and spaying and neutering their pets. Through it all, Amazon CARES has remained true to their no kill philosophy. Additionally, the education component makes a lasting difference. Veterinary volunteers come to Peru from all over the world to assist in remote clinics throughout the Amazon. Additionally, the charity operates a low cost clinic in the city of Iquitos.

Gracias a la organizaciòn Amazon CARES, los animales en Iquitos Perù tienen a un aliado. Amazon CARES no solo ayuda a esterilizar a los animales, tambien tienen campañas de educaiciòn para todas las edades enfocadas en el cuidado de mascotas y la importancia de evitar la crueldad animal a todo costo. Gracias a Amazon CARES por existir y exhorto a cualquier otro voluntario-a que haya tenido contacto con Amazon CARES que dejen un mensaje! Un millòn de gracias por haber sido parte de esta tan noble organizaciòn... mj

Fui veterinaria voluntaria para dos campañas de Amazon Cares, que es una organización que esta logrando grandes cambios para los animales en Iquitos. Definitivamente fue una gran experiencia muy satisfactoria estar ahí con todas las personas que lo conforman. Organizaciones como esta son tan necesarias en lugares como Iquitos, donde el maltrato y abandono de animales se volvió algo tan común que provocaba la indiferencia de la gente. El trabajo que realizan es un ejemplo de la entrega y la constancia de personas como Molly, quien fundo esta ONG, que demuestra que cuando se hacen las cosas de corazón, se dan buenos frutos.

There were no humane societies for pets in the Amazon region of Peru until ten years ago when a visitor decided she had seen enough of sick, hungry and injured street dogs walking the streets and decided to do something about it. After a decade this is still one of the most altruistic and efficient charities with nearly 1 dollar of every 1 dollar going to help pets in need. By any measure of wise gift-giving, Amazon Cares is a charity worth considering and a donation to AC will make an amazing gift to that pet lover on your list who does not need another cat laser!

I think this says it all...especially in a place like Amazonian rainforest where there's been such human conflict. For this many animals to have received this much care shows the true nature of the people in Iquitos and other areas. They deserve every bit of help they can get:

31,000 animals treated.
22,000 humans given anti-parasite medications
470+ adoptions
625+ volunteers donated time and services.

Es realmente necesaria una organización como esta, particularmente en Iquitos donde muchos llamados humanos parece que carecieran de sentimientos y dejan en abandono total a sus mascotas.creo que Amazón cares merece un aplauso y muchas felicitaciones por su trabajo. y creo que es propicia la ocasión para pedirles que se den una vuelta por los alrededores de la ciudad especialmente por Morona cocha hay muchos perritos callejeros y desnutridos. se que amazon cares hace un buen trabajo, seria bueno que hubiera mas organizaciones como esta, para concienciar en la población el amor por las mascotas y así evitar el incremento de mascotas abandonadas

What Amazon Cares continually strives for, is very crucial to the lives of many animals. Every living thing has a right to be here on this planet. Their compassion and dedication for those less fortunate or those who cannot even speak for themself, has and continues to make a big impact! If we do nothing, nothing happens. We are all connected. The people of Amazon Cares shows us that life matters. It is an inspiration that others should take note of. I have noticed!
I thank you Amazon Cares! You make big a big difference!

Such an important cause.
They are doing an amazing job but they need and deserve more support. So don't just sit back and do nothing.
Get involved anyway possible.

I have travelled to Peru and know firsthand of the issues regarding street dogs. When I discovered Amazon CARES through a friend, Manuela, and learned of their tremendous efforts and hard work on such a small budget, I was amazed! The people are truly dedicated and committed to the work they do.

I am not new to non-profits and grass-roots community organizations, having worked in high poverty communities since 1975. I am also the former Executive Director for Cuidando Los Niños, a 501(c) (3) dedicated to ending child homelessness in New Mexico, USA. I explain my experiences so as to give credence to my review of Amazon CARES' work.

I am so impressed with this organization that I have asked to join their board of directors.

Kudos to Molly, Manuela and everyone involved in Amazon CARES!

I met Molly the creator of Amazon Cares several years ago at BlogPaws - a Social Media Conference for pet people and since then have been following her story. Amazon Cares reaches communities that have little access to any sort of veterinary care to help keep their animals healthy. They literally work in the Amazon to treat sick and injured animals in whatever ways they possibly can.

Molly works tirelessly to ensure she can help those who would otherwise be overlooked.

Amazon CARES is doing wonderful work in Peru.
Their dedication and efforts have gone a long way and it shows with every animal they rescue and every person they reach out to and educate about animal welfare.

I have followed the work of Amazon Cares for several years. I began to follow them because of the great information provided through their twitter feed. I followed their blog because I have been to Lima, Peru and I saw the great need of help that animals need in the country. I believe that there is true love and vocation in everyone that participates in this organization. Amazon Cares makes a huge difference for the non human animals in Peru and also sets a great example for other organizations to follow.
Thank you for all you do Amazon Cares

5 Stars or "Far Exceeds" to me indicates someone who has made a dedication to something they felt so compelled to accomplish they completely changed their life. Amazon CARES is that group. Why would anyone leave the luxury of their comfortable surroundings to help stray, disease ridden animals in the middle of "nowhere". What we change - changes us and I am proud to know Molly of Amazon CARES and how her dedication has changed a region of the world for better ... bringing awareness of a Humane society into the Light of the Amazon.

In June of 2011 I went on the trip of a life time. I joined 4 others and we volunteered in Peru with Amazon Cares. Amazon Cares is an amazing group of people who do amazing things. We worked hard but we enjoyed every minute of it. We spent our very busy days doing spays and neuters on dogs and cats, treated them for parasites and gave some medical care. We also distributed important antiparasite medication to people in the remote villages. They educate the children about appropriate treatment of animals and fights for legislation to protect them. Amazon Cares does very important work in Peru. I think they are a great group of very dedicated people.

I volunteered for AMAZON CARES in 2011. They are doing amazing work helping not only animals that have been abandoned on the street but also working with the related issue of community health. Operating a Not for Profit organisation in Iquitos is not easy, but Molly and her team have really made amazing progress and continue to work where no one else dares. Keep up the good work!

This is an amazing non-profit!! They spread their compassion despite the difficult working conditions.

This past 2012/2013 period has been a tough time for Amazon CARES. But even facing financial hardship , losing a dearest worker on an unfortunate accident, going through all sort of difficulties I am very happy to see that Amazon CARES never deviated from its goal and mission. We kept our work in Amazon (Peru) by taking care of those lovely animals we recued, worked hand to hand with Iquitos community not just saving dogs and cats, but also educating and promoting events.
I truly believe that on hard times is where we show who we really are and what are our strengh.

I would like to thank all of you for what you have been doing.

Regards
R.M.

I could talk all day about this and have please go to.the site I guaran you will want to help myself yes I wanted to.volunteer there but there is other ways to.do this sharing this site amazing videos Freenet see and learn it really is bringing the world together if you.cater about anything at all pleaded do.what you can to help me sadly my age and health keeps me limited to share this as often as can it truly is amazing to.see all these ppl do we are the ones who can make a difference in some eat mime is small compared to others but this OS fear to my heart will be til I die and hopefully a guardian angel after :) Sincerely Mixture Rigg and yes my grandson Dallas Rigg and my ganando Larry.Rigg ! Please check this site out Amazon Cares you will be quite surprisingly amazed at all they do.!!! Thank you very much.@!

I was lucky enough to volunteer with Amazon CARES a little over one year ago. The work that this organization does is not only endearing, but also necessary. This organization has done so much to improve animal welfare in not just Iquitos, but in the entire country of Peru. The ideas, and legislation, that this organization promotes is invaluable.

I am lucky enough to have had a first hand experience with Amazon Cares an Organization dedicated to helping domestic and stray animals in the Peruvian region.
I was in Iquitos Peru and came across an injured stray cat. I desperately needed to find him help and miraculously I found Amazon Cares. Molly Mednikow the founder of Amazon Cares was a life saver for me and for the injured kitty. When she heard my story she immediately helped me make arrangements to get the cat into her clinic. Amazon Cares treated this stray cat for over 3 weeks. In addition to the kitties injuries he had to be neutered, de wormed and vaccinated. All of this was done by dedicated veterinary doctors and staff in their clinic. They made it possible for me to bring the kitty back to the United States.
During the weeks of treatment I was at the clinic often. I had opportunities to see many incredible rescues. I saw travelers bringing sick and orphaned kittens for emergency treatment. I saw Amazon Cares rescuing stray dogs sick and infected with mange and I have seen local people bringing their pets in for treatments. Since there is no other place like Amazon Cares in this region those animals would not have a chance for survival without them. Thanks to Amazon Cares those animals are treated and turned into beautiful and healthy animals that now have a chance to be adopted into their forever homes.
I know how deeply appreciative I am to Molly and her Organization for helping me and my adopted Peruvian kitty. I also have seen how appreciative the local people are to be able to get veterinary care for their beloved pets.

Myself I am so grateful to be associated with Amazon Cares and to have seen all the selfless work provided by the entire staff.
I know that all domestic and stray animals in this region would suffer greatly without Amazon Cares in their corner. The spay and neuter programs make such an incredible difference in the animals and their owners lives.
Thank you to everyone associated with the amazon cares programs for everything they do to alleviate suffering and over population in this region.

I am both a "client served" and a donor. I first discovered Amazon CARES when I was visiting my sister in Iquitos, Peru. We are from the United States, but she was there for 3 years working on Malaria research for her pH D. I am a huge animal lover and was absolutely shocked at the condition of many of the animals living in the streets of Iquitos. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant we stepped outside to find a pathetic creature on the sidewalk. It was a tiny, mangy, starving, shivering little cat. I think this was the last straw for me and I burst into tears right then and there. That convinced my sister that we must do something for this little cat, but she insisted that I not pick it up because of the mange. We ran home and fetched a towel and relocated the cat (he didn't get far). We easily captured the immobile being and brought him to the Amazon CARES clinic. The wonderful volunteers at the clinic quickly fixed him up for us and we brought him home. He soon became a beautiful, healthy cat of at least twice his original size that we named Pepito. He was adopted by a friend of my sister's. So this is the story of how Amazon CARES touched my life and the life of a little cat who wouldn't have survived otherwise. I have been a donor ever since.

I have been supporting Amazon Cares for years because I love animals and it provides a unique opportunity to do some good in an area of the world that can use a lot of good! I have watched the charity grow over the years and do more and more even in the face of adversity. A superb opportunity to help both the animals and people of Iquitos and the Amazon region!

When I came to Iquitos first, I saw a dog on the road, very ill, almost dying. I asked around for an NGO, and what I found was the best NGO ever. They adopted "my dog" and gave a lot of love to him, cured him and some months later, when I was back in Lima, they told me they found a family for them. From them on my biggest dream was to work voluntarily for AMAZON CARES and Molly and Bruno made that possible. One year later I worked 3 weeks with the dogs, which was the most amazing experience of my life! Thank you! Amazon Cares and all who are involved do the greatest job. All the animals are much loved and cured. I also went to the family to see Jessica, the dog that I found on the street and was amazed how well he was, playing with the children of his family:-)))

I have worked in dual capacities as a volunteer for Amazon CARES, first as a blogger, administrative assistant/clerical worker, and then in Iquitos as a layman vet tech. The dedication of founder Molly Mednikow is remarkable. Seeing the state of the stray dogs and cats that run around in the city and surrounding jungle is daunting, enough to make anyone want to throw up their hands and admit defeat. Her tireless efforts, both personally and financially, to ameliorate suffering in the companion animal population are laudable, and the hard work of Molly and the staff are paying off in greatly reduced stray animal population. I worked with vets and vet nurses to do full days of outdoor spay/neuter clinics, and it was wonderful to see the local population galvanized and excited about the prospect of better caring for their pets and the stray dogs. It is easy enough to alter a dog; it is much harder to alter a population about proper caring for their pets, including the necessity for spaying and neutering as well as culture changes regarding animal neglect and cruelty. It is here where CARES' work is most keenly felt, and which makes the most lasting difference to the area and animals it serves.

Having traveled to Iquitos Peru on vacation a couple of times, I saw first hand the plight of the street dogs living there. After returning from my second trip, I came upon Amazon Cares online and started following their work. I contacted Molly in 2011 and began making arrangements to volunteer on one of their trips. We were a little different from most of the volunteers in that we wanted to send an entire team. In June 2011, my husband (DVM), my 23 year old son (Vet Tech), my office manager (15 years working at our pet hospital), a Vet tech from another local animal hospital and myself (practice manager at our pet hospital for many years) started our 2 week journey with Amazon Cares. The staff at their facility in Iquitos were so friendly and eager to share their knowledge as well as eager to learn whatever we could teach them. They truly cared about the animals they were helping and I was amazed at the amount of education they do there. It's not just about neuturing the street dogs to help with overpopulation. A large amount of their time goes into educating the people about the importance of caring for these and all animals. It was hot, humid, working conditions were primitive to us and the work days were long. Would we do it again - absolutely!! We made wonderful friends there and 1 1/2 years later, we still talk about things that we saw or things we did while we were there. We think so much of this organization that we stay in contact with them and try to help them in any way we can. I think more teams should go on this trip together as it will help to bond you together in ways that would never be possible here. We put together a slide show from our trip and it is on youtube (Hayden Pet Medical Center Joins Amazon Cares) if you would like to see what we did while we were there.

I follow them on twitter, they go out of theyre way to make people understand about life and evreyone in it. Its amazing how they react to the things that are happening, they always stay calm, I admire that.

I have been involved with Amazon Cares since its inception. They do amazing things in an area of the world that has so much need for education as well as medical help for animals. This organization makes great use of all donations and volunteer hours. The founder's heart is 100% with Amazon Cares

I started working for Amazon CARES in 2008 as a volunteer and then in 2010 I joined as one of their employees and also Board Member. It has truly been a life changing experience to me. I have had the opportunity to watch the organization develop tremendously since then. Amazon CARES has provided me not only with a clear understanding of non-profit work, but also of how to make a difference in so many lives in the Peruvian Amazon. The leaders of the organization are very motivated, hard working and inspirational. Employees are lively and absolutely willing to engage in all types of activities with anyone who is committed to the work. The changes I have seem in the past 4 and half years are quite remarkable and I am so excited to be a part of the continual process of its growth. I consider myself lucky to be involved in such empowering, inspiring work.
Amazon CARES (Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety) seeks better health and living conditions for ALL living beings in the Peruvian Amazon region. This includes appropriate care, respect, and protection from cruelty and neglect.