Volunteer stories: Felicity Keenan
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 was split between Savai’i and Upolu which made for a very hectic week for both our team and APS. Our accommodation on Savai’i had a swimming pool and we made the most of this “luxury” when we could — a nice relief from the tropical heat. On Upolu, we were hosted at the APS volunteer house which had everything we needed.
Over five days, our team performed 190 surgeries and treated another 118 animals for various health issues, ailments and parasite infestation. The days were long, but the spirit of the team to get through the days’ caseload and see as many animals as possible was heartening.
Our breaks were rare, dinners late and the pace relentless. Apia was especially challenging, with over 100 people waiting on the first morning. When admissions became overwhelming, Tino and a local volunteer stepped in to help install calm. Despite exhaustion, the SPAW team supported one another with our final surgeries done by torchlight — a fitting end to a week of compassion, grit and community care.
The team’s veterinary work was skilled and all members of our group showed a high level of care and professionalism in relation to their work. I really appreciated Jim and Yael’s surgical expertise, loyalty, commitment and dedication with massive surgical caseloads each day.
On our final night in Apia, the APS board hosted us at a local restaurant — a warm gesture of thanks and camaraderie. President Nynnette Nelson, Joan Macfarlane, Paul Davis, Sose Annandale and Judge were all there along with Leisha and Tino, whose tireless support of both SPAW and APS was deeply appreciated. It was a lovely evening — one that reminded us that behind every clinic shift and every patient, there’s a community of people working together to make a difference.
