Dogs and Cats of Antigua Inc. (DACOA), a leading non-profit animal welfare organization operating in Antigua and Barbuda since 2015, has secured a $50,000 grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme to develop the nation’s first purpose-built Community Dog Park at its existing Rescue and Wellness Sanctuary in Sea View Farm.
The initiative marks a groundbreaking intersection of animal welfare, community engagement and climate-positive action, transforming underused land at the rescue sanctuary into an inclusive public green space that prioritizes both human and environmental wellbeing. Beyond providing a dedicated area for community members to gather with their dogs, the project integrates a suite of forward-thinking environmental programs: a full rainwater harvesting and irrigation system to reduce freshwater reliance, a collaborative tree-planting project involving students from four local primary and secondary schools, and a first-of-its-kind pilot program to turn dog waste into nutrient-rich compost, diverting organic waste from local landfills.
Joy Farrell, President of DACOA, emphasized the transformative potential of the grant in an official statement, noting: “We are thrilled and honoured to receive this funding. It opens an incredible door to build something that delivers shared benefits for people, animals and the local environment.”
Farrell went on to outline the multiple layers of impact the project will deliver: “Beyond conserving water through our harvesting system, the fruit trees we plant will create a long-term source of food and supplementary income for the sanctuary, and our compost pilot will keep dog waste out of landfills where it would release methane. We are especially excited to deepen our partnership with local schools, giving young people hands-on learning opportunities about environmental sustainability and animal welfare that they can carry with them throughout their lives.”
DACOA’s core long-term vision for the sanctuary is to set a new regional benchmark for animal welfare in the Caribbean, proving that high-quality care for animals and intentional environmental stewardship can not only coexist, but reinforce one another. Founded in 2015, the organization has already rehomed more than 7,000 vulnerable stray dogs and cats across local and international communities, provides weekly food support to 1,200 stray animals, and cares for more than 150 resident dogs at its Sea View Farm sanctuary. Prior to this grant, the organization had already implemented early environmental upgrades at the site, planting more than 500 native fruit and flowering trees, constructing wildlife-friendly ponds, and building a public dog-walking circuit that draws hundreds of visitors and volunteers annually.
Natalya Lawrence, National Coordinator for the GEF Small Grants Programme in Antigua and Barbuda, praised the project for its innovative, multi-benefit design. “The GEF Small Grants Programme is proud to support DACOA in delivering this one-of-a-kind green space for Antigua and Barbuda,” Lawrence said. “This project weaves together environmental action, youth engagement, water conservation, responsible waste management, community health and animal welfare into a single initiative. It is a perfect example of how local, community-led action can develop practical, replicable solutions that deliver long-lasting environmental and social benefits.”
The GEF Small Grants Programme operates globally, providing both financial and technical support to community-based and civil society organizations tackling pressing global environmental and sustainable development challenges. Its focus areas include biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, land degradation reversal, sustainable forest management, protection of international waters, and improved chemicals and waste management. The program prioritizes projects that deliver inclusive benefits to marginalized groups, including youth, women, people with disabilities, and Indigenous communities.
For DACOA, the new Community Dog Park is a critical step toward achieving the organization’s long-term goal of transforming the Sea View Farm sanctuary into a fully self-sustaining, environmentally responsible public destination. The project will build on the sanctuary’s existing community engagement work to create a permanent public asset that connects animal welfare, environmental education, sustainability action and community connection in one accessible space.