Animal Balance creates and provides humane animal population management programs on islands where conflicts between people, wildlife, and domestic animals occur. The most ethical, logical, and effective solution to these conflicts is a gradual reduction of the population of both community and owned cats and dogs through high-volume, high-quality sterilization. Our mission is to collaborate with communities in need to create sustainable and humane non-human animal management programs to prevent suffering and ignite social change.

Animal Balance has been operational for 18 years; we were founded in 2004 in response to an escalating situation on the Galapagos Islands. This fragile, unique environment, host to many species found nowhere else on the planet, was struggling to maintain a balance between its incredible resident wildlife and newly arrived species, predominantly cats and dogs introduced by humans. The authorities’ response to the growing problem was to employ rat poison in an attempt to lethally control these dog and cat populations. 

Working directly with the community, we created a ‘community-based sterilization program’ for the archipelago. The strategy worked; then the program became sustainable when the authorities (ABG - Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos) took over the management of it in 2010. We now provide skills and supplies, when requested and AB’s Director is the International Advisor to ABG.

We then took this model and for the next 18 years, we focused on island nations globally, quickly and efficiently creating sustainable programs on 11 different islands; American Samoa, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Independent Samoa, Saipan, Bahamas, Antigua, Barbuda, Aruba, Trinidad and Cabo Verde. 

In 2015, we assisted the shelters on the Hawaiian Islands with their spay/neuter needs. We worked with each shelter on each island until mid-2019. We set up a Spay Pod - a converted shipping container - on Kaua’i to provide spay/neuter for community cats.  In 2019, we pivoted so that the majority of our focus was on the US mainland, utilizing our vast experience and expansive volunteer medical teams, to provide spay/neuter assistance to the most underserved areas of the United States.

When the Pandemic hit in 2020, we immediately began helping shelters who were falling behind on their spay/neuter surgeries. We set up ‘bubble clinics’ inside shelters and helped with their in-house, foster and adopted animal surgeries. We also conducted ‘drive-thru’ wellness events for those who could not afford, or reach the service. 

In 2021, we began the Indigenous Community Program. The Navajo Nation does not have access to, nor can afford, veterinary care. We are conducting monthly high-volume spay/neuter clinics for the animals the community wishes to keep, and the puppies and other adult dogs are taken to Phoenix for adoption. This dual approach is necessary until the balance of companion animals and the ability to care for them is restored.In addition we work to change the power structure and provide opportunities for training and self-determination.

We have such a wealth of experience that we are able to offer consultations in a variety of areas of humane animal management. We are excited to share what works and what does not, do let us know if we can assist you with your life-saving mission.