Well, I am pleased to say that so far our little volunteer site has been a success in getting some much needed help to organizations in Santa Cruz. This month we placed our first 3 volunteers through the site – 2 Aussies who were VEDAS first ever foreign volunteers had this message:

As volunteers we worked with a group called VEDA. A group who help save and

clean up and adopt out street dogs. This comes highly recommended from us.

The work and cause we persued was completely satisfying and we now have made

friends for life...The head in Santa Cruz, Lenny, is the most amazing lady

and will surely treat you like gold if you take on the role. We ended up

helping with the computer side of things but all sorts of help is needed,

mainly in washing the dogs and helping with cleaning. I am sure if you are

passionate about animals this is for you. Two weeks plus would be a good

time frame. Enjoy helping the animals.

Eliot and Chelsea

(Australia)

Eliot and Chelsea were lucky to be in Santa Cruz at a time where there was a number of dog shows - as well as the international day of the dog - they even ended up judging a dog show! They have helped put in place a more formal program for volunteers who arrive at VEDA so we hope to have some more arriving in Santa Cruz soon.

Additionally, we are very appreciative for Lotte Hardman who has translated 2 of VEDAS key webpages into English and Diane Capistran in Canada who is working on translating the site into French. This will be a fabulous opportunity for VEDA to contact more people globally abou their cause.  Do you think you would be interested in helping us further??? We still need more pages translated into English and we still need more volunteers here in Santa Cruz - especially those witha longer period of time who can help the organisation plan their first home for lost dogs (at the moment dogs are kept with local volunteers!)

Our third volunteer is working with Hogar Teresa de Los Andes, helping to feed the disable children in the afternoons and on weekends. We hope to have some comments from her soon.