About Us

Rescue Paws Curaçao was born after a long period of providing small-scale foster care at people’s homes. This quickly proved insufficient to effectively tackle the overpopulation and dog suffering on the island. It led to the establishment of the Rescue Paws Curaçao foundation and the Rescue Paws Netherlands foundation, still based on a home-style fostering approach combined with large-scale sterilization of stray dogs.

The latest estimates on Curaçao indicate that around 70,000 dogs live with private owners and that there are 20,000 to 25,000 unowned stray dogs. These numbers clearly point to overpopulation. Overpopulation leads to increasing animal suffering, the spread of contagious diseases, and pressure on the living environment. Furthermore, a relatively large part of this population is maintained because a small group of residents continues to allow dogs to breed or is unable to provide adequate care. This affects not only animal welfare, but also the general quality of life and the image of Curaçao as a tourist destination.

RPC helps dogs on the streets and in private households. The foundation does this with a focus on:

1. Sterilization: according to the TNRC method (Trap-Neuter-Return-Care)
2. Shelter and adoption
3. Education / on-site assistance

In the past, sterilization was already the core of RPC—for dogs on the street, with private owners, and in our shelter. If you truly want to address the dog overpopulation on the island, you need a sterilization rate of 70%. RPC cannot achieve this alone. That is why we are delighted that, starting in 2024, we were able to roll out a large-scale sterilization program together with the Curaçao government (GMN department, veterinary sector) and the Dierenhulp foundation. Initially, the government combined this with mandatory dog microchipping; now, we perform the sterilizations jointly, supported by many veterinarians on the island. Many stray dogs are fed by locals, build trust with people, and can be trapped, sterilized, and returned—provided they do not cause a nuisance.

Dogs in poor condition, mostly puppies, can be taken in at the rescue center in Bandabou, opposite Villapark Fontein. The center can accommodate up to one hundred dogs. The puppies are cared for, socialized, and prepared for adoption. From 15 weeks of age, they can “fly out” to their new owners abroad, while local adoptions can take place earlier. We are always especially thrilled when adult dogs find a home. RPC’s Westpointers are generally social family dogs that have been medically cleared, as RPC collaborates with university-educated veterinarians on Curaçao. If someone falls in love with a dog but is unable to adopt, they can always become a “Remote Owner.” This means supporting the dog with a monthly donation in exchange for regular updates on its well-being.

A dog may also grow up with a foster parent. This happens when the center is at capacity but a foster is available, or when it is better for the dog to grow up in a more domestic environment. Unfortunately, there is always a waiting list for spots at both the center and with foster families.

If local residents love their dogs but struggle to care for them or lack the funds for sterilization or other necessary medical treatments, they can always reach out to RPC. We speak with the owner to see how we can assist. Conversely, RPC team members also reach out directly when they notice dogs living under difficult conditions in someone’s yard.

Strictly speaking, it is the government’s responsibility to educate people about animal welfare, but just as we collaborate on the sterilization project, RPC also provides education whenever possible. For example, we do this by opening the rescue center to visitors on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Visitors receive a guided tour and get to cuddle with the dogs—and, above all, they are encouraged to fall in love with one!

Whenever we provide assistance to private dog owners, there is always an educational component involved. People sometimes don’t know how best to care for their dog or how vital sterilization is for their pet’s overall health.

Groups of schoolchildren or children from after-school care centers regularly visit the center for an educational cuddle session, and RPC frequently receives requests to visit schools. Naturally, we love bringing a few dogs from the center along with us.

Rescue Paws Curaçao cannot carry out its work alone. We do what we can based on our core principles—”sterilization and raising puppies in a home environment as much as possible”—and we deeply appreciate all partner foundations that contribute in their own unique ways. We are immensely grateful to all the donors, individuals, businesses, and fundraising organizations (such as Dierenlot from the Netherlands, as well as supporters from all over the world) who support us financially. We also extend our profound admiration and gratitude to all our volunteers in Curaçao and the Netherlands—both the core team who are always there and the rotating volunteers who come to help for a few days or weeks: you are amazing

Together on the way to zero stray dogs on Curaçao!

The RPC Board: Mirjan, Wendy, Praxedis, Sandra, Joyce