By Michelle Schmanski, Vet Nurse Back in New Zealand, I began the complicated process of bringing Mani home. After reading the Ministry of Primary Industries’ (MPI) import requirements, I was overwhelmed. I booked quarantine in Auckland, submitted Mani’s MPI permit application and began organising flights with a freight company in Samoa. Everything seemed on track….
By Michelle Schmanski, Vet Nurse (NZ) Following my volunteer tenure with SPAW in August to Samoa, I stayed a few days at Coconuts Beach Resort. Every morning, five dogs played on the beach – two owned, three not. One small puppy began following me to my fale each night, curling up beside me and returning…
I first felt inspired to volunteer with SPAW after seeing a video of Angela Glover helping Big Head – a homeless dog she and the SPAW team had helped. Angela’s compassion stayed with me and in 2020, at 21, I booked my first volunteer trip to Tonga. Meeting Angela and seeing her dedication first hand…
“I’ve been fortunate to take part in several volunteer trips since graduating from university, working in areas such as youth development and veterinary medicine. Those experiences took me to places like India, Mongolia and Bolivia, but I had always hoped to volunteer closer to home in the Pacific Islands. I first heard about SPAW as…
This year we had to do a special shoutout to our legendary Lead Vet and Board Chair Dr Geoff Neal. Geoff has been part of SPAW since it’s early days and last year he celebrated 25 clinics to the islands. This year he’ll be part of a further four – he’ll be in Tongatapu in…
With seven clinics confirmed for 2026, South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) is gearing up for another busy year. Founder Karen Schade says the SPAW team are well underway with planning for the clinics, which are spread throughout the year in Samoa and The Kingdom of Tonga. “This will be our 16th year in operation and each…
“I’m currently studying for a Bachelor of Animal Science (BAnSci) at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand – a journey that began in 2015 when I first encountered the South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) team. At the time, I was working as an assistant in the Livestock Division of Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food…
“Tongatapu, August 2025 was my first SPAW experience. I had worked with Geoff Neal in clinic in New Zealand, where I heard countless stories about these trips – both from Geoff and Victoria as well as Zoetis staff who had returned glowing with excitement. Their passion was contagious, and it inspired me to finally join…
In 2011, a little abandoned puppy took a tumble from a veranda in Vava’u and broke his leg. Fortunately, a small volunteer team of vets and vet nurses from SPAW were on the island at the time and were able to help. Oxy, as the puppy was to become known as, was adopted by expat…
This was my fourth volunteer tenure with SPAW and my first as team leader. Our team had all arrived into Samoa at different times, so we came together on the Saturday with the Animal Protection Society (APS) team picking us up from various locations to make the afternoon ferry crossing to Savai’i. This particular outreach…
