India Le Marinel manages the Hope for the Animals program at Mayan Families in Guatemala. She has studied conservation biology and has extensive experience volunteering with animal welfare organizations around the world. As program manager, she works to improve animal welfare in Lake Atitlán through humane education initiatives, low-cost veterinary clinics, and rescuing abandoned or injured animals for adoption. The Hope for the Animals program seeks to change attitudes towards animals in the region and provide care for pets in need.

2. India Le Marinel, Manager of the Hope for the Animals
Program at Mayan Families
● Originally from the UK, India has traveled and lived all over the world.
She grew up surrounded by pets and has always been very
passionate about animal welfare.
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● After studying for a bachelor of science degree in Conservation
Biology at The University of Aberdeen, India decided to travel on her
own to explore the world, volunteering on various marine
conservation and animal projects throughout her travels.
● Now, as Manager of the Hope for the Animals Program at Mayan
Families, India uses her experience to help improve animal welfare
in the Lake Atitlán region.
● Her travel took her to Guatemala where she volunteered with a
local Animal Welfare NGO and she ended up managing that shelter
for over a year.
*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

3. What did India tell us?
● The state of animal welfare in other countries
● What Mayan Families is
● How you can get involved
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● What Hope for the Animals does
*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

4. What is the state of animal welfare in other countries?
● India says the United States is similar to the United Kingdom as pets and animals
are more highly regarded, and seen as part of the family and spoiled
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● In Guatemala and Honduras it is a different attitude
toward animals. They are seen as used for work or
property rather than a family member. Such as, a
dog is to guard the house and a horse is to work and
pull loads
● Animals are regarded less as a priority over people
and not in all places but is generally a cultural thing
*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

5. What is Mayan Families?
● Mayan Families is a 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization that started in 2005 as a
response to destruction of Hurricane Stan. They aim to collaborate and work with
communities to produce sustainable and positive growth and solutions
● A lot of the communities they work with are low income or under the poverty level so they
provide support and sustainable practices to develop those communities
● They work to educate, feed, shelter and heal the impoverished populations of Lake Atitlán
Animal Rescue Professionals Association*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

6. What is the Hope for the Animals program?
● Sterilization and Vaccination Clinics: In collaboration with
one of the only licensed, practicing veterinarians in the
Atitlan region, we offer free and low-cost sterilization clinics
monthly, as funding permits
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● Education: Our School Education Program provides
awareness in humane handling and treatment of animals.
● Partnering: We have joined with San Carlos University,
Guatemala City, Guatemala to provide practical
experience to Guatemalan Veterinary students with a
local Veterinary clinic.
● Animal Rescue: Where animals are found to have been
injured or abandoned we work to re-home these animals,
as funds allow.
*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

7. What is the Hope for the Animals program?
● They work with communities and promote humane education, info about animal welfare and proper
pet care, and rescue and rehabilitate abandoned or injured animals for adoption to find their own
homes
● The local adoption rate is not very high or common so they often look at international adoptions
usually in the U.S. and Canada. Volunteers also come down and fall in love with an animal or see
them on their facebook page or website where they can arrange adoptions,
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● Mayan families welcomes volunteers, who sometimes, fall in love and take the animal back with them
or volunteers will bring an animal back with them for someone else or to a new rescue
*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

8. How can you get involved?
● You can send India an email and if you are visiting on vacation and want to visit the program
you are more than welcome to visit
● You can help by spreading the word about what they do.
Follow their facebook page and share posts which can be
the difference between a dog finding a home or not and
helps them get new volunteers to save more animals
● Consider donating to Mayan Families or the Hope for the
Animals program. You can also adopt an animal!
Animal Rescue Professionals Association*Photos courtesy of Mayan Families

9. Animal Rescue Professionals Association
Want to learn more?
Listen to the podcast with India Le Marinel at
www.animalrescueprofessionals.org or on iTunes

10. Animal Rescue Professionals Association