What is RMI Love Animals?

RMI Love Animals (Iakwe Menin Mour LLC) is a registered non-profit organization in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). It is dedicated to the humane management of domesticated and free-roaming dogs and cats in Majuro and Ebeye.

What does “Iakwe Menin Mour” mean?

Iakwe Menin Mour is Marshallese for “RMI Love Animals”. It translates to, “For the love of all kind”.

What is the goal of the organization?

The organization aims to uplift the health and wellbeing of both animal and human communities through spay neuter desexing programs, the delivery of veterinary services (including vaccinations and parasite treatment) and education. Combined, these things are known as ‘animal population management’.

Where is the Republic of Marshall Islands?

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a Pacific island country situated west of the International Date Line and 7 degrees north of the equator in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The Marshall Islands consist of 29 coral atolls, five larger islands, and about 1,220 very small islands. These are grouped into two main chains: the Ratak Chain in the east and the Ralik Chain in the west. With 98.13% of its territory covered by water, the country has the highest water-to-land ratio of any sovereign state. It shares maritime boundaries with Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the southeast, Nauru to the south, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the west. The capital and largest city, Majuro, is home to roughly half of the nation’s population of around 42,000. Together with Kiribati, Maldives, and Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands is often cited among the world’s four atoll nations.

How are veterinary services delivered in the Marshall Islands?

Spay neuter surgeries and animal health treatments are delivered by international volunteer veterinary teams, with support from trained local volunteers.

How often do vet missions occur?

The frequency of RMI Love Animals’ community outreach is determined by the organization’s finances. Since its formation in September 2022, 15 volunteer vet teams have visited.  

What services are provided?

• Spay and neuter desexing surgeries
• Microchipping to record each animals identity and  treatment
• Vaccinations 
• Parasite treatment
• Education and school outreach programs

Are the veterinary services free?

Desexing surgeries are provided by RMI Love Animals at no charge. Vaccinations and parasite treatments are also provided at no charge to animals that have been spayed or neutered.  

What role does education play?

RMI Love Animals believes education is critical to its success because it underpins healthy animal and human interactions. The organization runs school programs, produces films for children, and leads community workshops to build compassion, reduce fear and aggression, and promote long-term humane solutions.

Why is RMI Love Animals work important?

There is no permanent veterinarian in Majuro or Ebeye yet thousands of animals roam the islands. Humans and animals have the same needs.

Why does RMI Love Animals prioritise surgical sterilizations (spay and neuter)?

Sterilization (‘desexing’, ‘spaying’, ‘neutering’) surgery halts animal reproduction – preventing unwanted litters. It also provides health and behaviour benefits; Spaying eliminates the risk of ovarian, uterine and mammary cancers, and life-threatening uterine infections such as pyometra. Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and reduces the incidence of prostate problems. Neutered males are less likely to roam in search of a mate. This reduces aggression (dog and cat fights), car accidents and the behaviour of marking territories.

Surgical sterilization of animals is regarded internationally by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and subject matter experts as the most effective and sustainable solution to manage an animal population.

How can people help RMI Love Animals?

Donations allow us to purchase animal medicine and equipment. Join the RMI Love Animals team as a volunteer. Assist locally with transport, the coordination of logistics, or our community outreach. Help us raise awareness of the need for humane animal population management.

Contact and further information:

Visit  https://rmi-love-animals.com for updates, donation options, and volunteering info.  Write to us with any questions or suggestions. Check our facebook page.