Taveuni Animal Lovers

I have just finished volunteering my time as a Vets beyond Borders veterinarian supporting the work of Taveuni Animal Lovers. The experience has been excellent. The hosts Julie and Richard have been generous and professional. Significant time, organisation and education is evident in their approach to improving animal welfare on this and neighbouring islands. This is a genuine and worthwhile enterprise supporting the communities and animals of Taveuni.

Julie Seidman is an absolute Saint for the entire island of Taveuni, our residents and our furry friends. Her charity organization, Taveuni Animal Lovers, is the most incredible non-profit I've ever seen. She is assisted by her lovely husband Richard and she has spent years and years creating a structured program bringing in vets from all over the world to our island out of her own pocket and from money that she tirelessly raises....most importantly it's a program that works for the indigenous people of Taveuni-- to de-sex their animals free of charge. Her clinics are super effective because she goes directly to every village/district on the island so that locals are not burdened with having to bring their pets to a location which would be too costly and logistically unfeasible. Julie and her organization have made an enormous contribution to decreasing the amount of stray animals on the island that would otherwise typically die a slow and torturous death from starvation. In the 17 years i have lived here i have seen a huge difference. Julie also seems to know exactly where every suffering animal is on the island and often brings food and medical supplies to help these innocent cuties. She spends lots of time rescuing animals as well, getting them healthy and then finds perfect forever homes for them. We are grateful for the sacrifice and hard work that the Seidmans are doing for Taveuni and Fiji as a whole. Hats off to Taveuni Animal Lovers!

Taveuni Animal Lovers is doing outstanding work in Fiji. Their efforts in spaying and neutering are crucial for managing the stray animal population, and they provide essential medical care, food, and shelter to dogs in need.

We were particularly impressed by how Julie found a puppy for us and brought her directly to us. They took care of all the details to ensure she was healthy and ready for a new home. Their hands-on approach and commitment to community education further highlight their effectiveness.

I have known about TAL for about 8 years, until recently I had not seen Julie and her team in action.
I was amazed at the cleanliness and order in the limited area in which the team worked. There were a lot of animals, carefully spread about, clean and warm, in varying stages of recovery ‘coming out of the anaesthetic’!
It was an efficient, heart- warming scene that I will remember forever.
Congratulations to the team who do this relentless work, who try to make Taveuni a better place for the animal population.

Taveuni animal lovers provide the most wonderful service to the people of our beautiful tropical island. We have unfortunately way too many dogs and cats in our area and Julie and Richard are doing their best to control the population explosion.

We are so grateful for their excellent work and a happy to help in anyway we can to control the number of unwanted animals on Taveuni.

Bula!iam a nearby island of Qamea and we dont have doctor for animal around my island.Its the first time to see that they did a great job to my village.They makes our animals healthy and being stop them for making more babies every year..Iam so please for what a great job and to surpport my family and relatives around my island.vina'a.

From reading animal stories to the youth, to heartwarming rescues, this charity rocks! This group of volunteers truly puts the poor animals first. It’s amazing what a small number of dedicated people can accomplish. Thank you Taveuni Animal Lovers for all you do!

I spent two weeks volunteering as a veterinary technician and was blown away by the dedication and commitment of TAL. So much work goes into each outreach program far before the volunteers arrive. The time we had was maximised and we were able to achieve so much!! The community is so appreciative as they have seen the positive effects it has had on the whole island as this is their only source of veterinary care! For Julie the TAL co-ordinator it doesn’t just end there; she’s constantly engaging with the community supplying worming, food and flea treatments etc. I was very impressed with the whole program!

I have just completed 2 weeks of volunteer veterinary work with Taveuni Animal Lovers. Julie and Richard Seidman are remarkable people with outstanding compassion for the welfare of animals on Taveuni Island in Fiji. They are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the local animals by recruiting volunteer veterinarians and animal nurses from overseas to desex (spay and neuter) dogs and cats and treat them for parasites. As there is no access to veterinary care on this island this is a much needed service that benefits not only the animals but also the people who live on Taveuni Island. This is an outstanding non-profit charity! You can find more information about them at Taveunianimallovers.org

Taveuni Animal Lovers is crucial for our small island community of Taveuni, where no other veterinary service is available. Their tireless efforts encompass education, wellness promotion, and veterinary assistance, addressing a critical need in this remote part of the world. At the heart of their mission is Julie, whose dedication to the cause is evident in every aspect of her work. She and her team prioritise educating children in schools about responsible pet ownership and population control. They extend their outreach beyond schools to remote villages, ensuring that their impact reaches every corner of the island. Several times a year Julie organises vet missions for desexing clinics which has a huge positive impact on the island.

For the past six years, we've been fortunate to receive care from Taveuni Animal Lovers. Julie's guidance, training assistance and provision of medical supplies have been invaluable, serving as a lifeline for pet owners like us, for which we will be forever in awe and grateful!

I and my colleague have recently participated in two weeks desexing and health check up clinics carried out by TAL which is hosted by Julie and Richard. It is truly fascinating to see how Julie and Richard are dedicated with the mission of the organization. This wonderful couple offers quality desexing surgeries and fundamental health services for the animals in Taveuni Island where the veterinary services are not easily available. Also I am astonished by the fact that they dispense quite expensive drugs for absolutely free of charge for the animals owned by the very low income communities. I should also mention about the way Julie handles the animals which definitely shows her true love and dedication to serve the marginally benefited animals. I wish them all the success in their mission in upcoming days too.

I am one of the directors of Taveuni Animal Lovers. Like all our directors I hold a non paying position. I’m incredibly proud to play a role in such an amazing organization with a shoestring budget. TAL has performed approximately 1,300 free surgeries for an island that has no other source of assistance for their many animals. This is due to the wonderful volunteers, support from local businesses and the generosity of our donors. I’m proud to be involved with this remarkable organization that is truly non-profit!

I have known Julie & Richard Seidman of Taveuni Animal Lovers for 6 years.
I am both a client & neighbour. We see the incredible hard work that Taveuni Animal Lovers put into our community here on Taveuni on a daily basis. Julie works tirelessly feeding & caring for our less than privileged animals. Providing medication to remote areas & organising regular spay & neuter clinics with visiting vets from around the world. Julie & Richard provide accommodation, host these visiting vets & provide meals and entertainment also in their own home.
Due to our remote location this is a much needed charity, there is a large population of stray dogs & cats on Taveuni. We rely on charities such as these to help control the population & to be there for advice & assistance with our own pets. I feel that their hard work & absolute commitment to the animals is making a real difference here. I applaud & appreciate all that they do.

I have had so many unexpected accidents with our sheep and fur babies. The service being provided is so vital for our rural island. Thank you so so much Taveuni Animals Lovers. We are so thankful for your services and commitment for a better future for all animals ❤️

Without the great work by the Taveuni Animal Lovers charity, the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of innocent animals on Taveuni Island could be desperate - there is no full time vet on the island. The vet visits that Julie and Richard organize each quarter, to spay dogs and cats, has given their owners and home villages an opportunity to look after their pets, and to manage the stray population without resorting to inhumane measures. Each vet visit tours the main village areas and sets up at centralized halls to make vet care accessible to everyone's pet. My caretaker also had the opportunity to get his recently rescued girl dog spayed at their last clinic, and the vet care provided also included a home visit to fix a stitch that she had pulled out. It has been my privilege to regularly contribute to this charity and to provide this feedback on the great work they do.

When my husband and I first started coming to Taveuni we noticed many stray and starving animals. It was really quite upsetting. Over the years we have noticed a significant decline in the strays and the malnutrition. We have also noticed a positive change in the interaction between the local residents and the animals on Taveuni. When Co-vid hit us I know that the population of strays increased because of the border closures. This has not discouraged Taveuni Animal Lovers but rather inspired their team to keep going. I have seen the unconditional caring and love that they give to the animals and the people. They teach the children how to care for the animals. It makes my heart warm to see these positive changes. My husband and I love Taveuni and are so very grateful to Taveuni Animals Lovers for their commitment to their Mission.

Taveuni Animal Lovers is an amazing organisation that is truly dedicated to welfare of animals on the island.

Stumbled upon this organization via social media and, as an avid animal lover, am so impressed with the concept and realization of it in the real world. Julie and her team are in the field doing the work locally on the island and documenting it to share with those who live elsewhere to help them learn more about the situation and how they can help. I love the pictures they share of the animals they've helped. We need more heroes like this. I follow them at https://www.facebook.com/Fijismobilespayclinics and you can, too! Thank you, Julie for all you do!

I volunteered for Taveuni Animal Lovers in 2022. The charity does incredibly important work of desexing the islands dogs as there is no vet on the island. You get to move around and see a lot of the island and help a lot of communities. Julie was incredibly welcoming, and I really enjoyed my time on Taveuni. I would definitely return to volunteer again.

Tavueni Animal Lovers is such an incredible charity and Julie runs it like a well oiled machine. She is so passionate and empathetic to the animals of Taveuni. She works tirelessly every single day to ensure the safety of the animals and educate the public on animal welfare.
I volunteered in the most recent clinic and needless to say my experience there was one of kind. It was no easy feat but what a truly humbling and rewarding clinic to be apart of. Julie and Richard were extremely accommodating and instantly felt like family. To work with someone with so much love and passion for the animals of Taveuni was an extremely honorable experience.
I hope to be able to join Julie in her endeavors again soon!.

Superb experience working with Julie and the team in Taveuni. Julie is a fantastic host and made us feel very welcome. The clinic was well organised and performed in a culturally respectful and community centered way. I highly recommend this organisation.

I had an amazing trip to the beautiful island of Taveuni. The island is breathtaking. While I was there, I had the opportunity to work along side with Julie Seidman, the founder of Taveuni Animal Lovers.

We went together to the villages to educate people how to properly feed and care for their animals. The children were taught to respect their pets through stories and song. Julie understood the customs of the Fijian culture and was always warmly welcomed.

Julie is passionate, dedicated, and devotes all her energy to care for, protect, and aid in the overpopulation of cats and dogs.

Taveuni Animal Lovers has made such a difference on Taveuni. I have seen such a decrease in the number of stray cats and dogs. I know that this nonprofit organization really cares and that is so refreshing. In addition to the desexing clinics they also dedicate time to educate the residents on the health and care of these animals. Thank you, Taveuni Animal Lovers, for all that you do!

Tom

Julie dedicates her life to helping the animals of Taveuni EVERYDAY. More importantly she values teaching the community how to best care for the animals around them. She faces many challenges in her quest: living in a third world island, Fijian culture, remoteness. Despite this she has made a great difference to the animals she has come across, through nothing but hard work and complete dedication.

I had the pleasure of volunteering for Taveuni Animal Lovers in 2018. An amazing organisation helping not only the animals of Taveuni but the community. I can't wait to come back in the future!

Taveuni Animal Lovers is one of our favorite charities because of the incredible care they provide to animals in Taveuni, Fiji that would otherwise be abandoned or harmed. The money we donate is used to provide free spay clinics and education in the underserved villages. This charity works tirelessly and we admire and support their mission!