Russell Easby-Smith had two dreams from his teen years: animal welfare and sailing. After sailing the Caribbean for over a decade, he settled in Bocas del Toro, Panama, where he dedicated himself to caring for street animals, one at a time.

After a few years in Bocas, he earned the nickname “Papá Gato”, or "Cat Dad," as the animals followed him everywhere, knowing he always had food for them.

While the stray animal population in Bocas has always been bad, it became especially apparent during the pandemic. In response, Russell would raise money for one street animal at a time to get them spayed or neutered.

In 2021, a feral colony of cats was identified which sparked the idea of an organized clinic, rather than helping one animal at a time. Russell, along with Ciska Ventner, Megan Ward and Jana Köbel, started hiring local vets and enlisting volunteers, and thus Papá Gato Animal Welfare was born.

What started as one man’s vision to solve a stray animal problem has now become a fully-functioning, permanent spay and neuter clinic.

Since we started, we have helped over 3,000 animals.

This year, our organization introduced weekly clinics alongside our larger spay and neuter events to ensure that low-income families have consistent access to veterinary care.

We frequently host veterinarians from around the world who assist with our clinics, offering valuable learning opportunities for veterinary students.

Beyond spay and neuter clinics, we also:

Our team is comprised entirely of volunteers, and our administration and founder do not receive a profit. Funds are sometimes allocated to pay veterinarians and medical support staff to maintain the high quality of veterinary care we provide. Every dime you donate goes directly to helping animals.

We have a vision of an island with no homeless animals and for every animal to be a wanted, well-cared-for pet.

Founder

Russell founded Papá Gato after a decade of sailing the Caribbean. It was a lifelong dream to run some sort of animal rescue organization, and Bocas del Toro badly needed one. He has been involved in animal rescue in one way or another most of his life.

Lead Veterinarian

Dr Lara has been the lead veterinarian for Papá Gato since 2022. She received her veterinary degree from Ross University in St. Kitts and has helped animals all throughout the Caribbean while living on a sailboat with her family.

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With over fifty years of veterinary technician experience, Randy Cinski has treated animals of all sizes and temperaments. She cherishes and protects the health of domestic,
exotic, and marine animals. Randy believes a thriving animal kingdom reflects the very best of humanity.

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Sandy Pompey is a Licensed Veterinary Technician, lifelong animal lover, and dedicated cat foster based in St. Augustine, Florida. She spends much of her free time traveling throughout the Caribbean and Central America to volunteer with animal rescues, especially spay and neuter clinics. She’s had the privilege of working alongside incredible teams to reduce suffering and improve the lives of countless animals!

© 2024 Papa Gato Animal Welfare. All rights reserved.