I lived in Venezuela until my early twenties, where I did independent rescue work for stray and abandoned animals, mostly cats and dogs. Caracas alone is home to an estimated 300,000 stray dogs and 250,000 stray cats, and that's just one city.

I still donate where I can, but my contribution alone isn't enough, especially after the June 2026 earthquakes. One of the organisations doing the most on the ground is Mi Primer Rescate, a local foundation that's been rescuing and treating street animals for years, and has been working non-stop since the earthquakes: running a clinic, treating thousands of injured and displaced animals.