why aruba
OUR STORY
In 2020, One Love Foundation, Inc.’s co-founders joined an animal rescue mission trip and had a dream to help the stray animals of Aruba. They saw the "not so happy" part of the island: the significant number of stray animals, and the suffering they were enduring. When they left, they knew they could do more, and thus formed One Love Foundation Inc.
Aruba faces a significant animal crisis, with an estimated 30,000–40,000 stray animals on the island and home to just under 110,000 residents. Animal overpopulation leads to widespread suffering, including hunger, disease, and neglect.
By focusing on sterilization, education and ensuring pets are returned to safe homes with proper care, including medication, shelter, and nutrition, we can reduce the influx of puppies and kittens from Aruba into the US. This reduces Aruba’s need to fly animals to the United States, thus opening up more opportunities for adoption and alleviating the strain on already overcrowded shelters in the United States.
Sterilization is the most compassionate and effective way to address this issue.
By preventing unwanted litters before they happen, we reduce suffering, create safer neighborhoods, and ensure a healthier future for both animals and the community.
Ultimately we saw a problem with a great need and wanted to help. There was no way we could leave and not look back. The animals and people of Aruba stole our hearts. . .
Please join us in our mission of helping the animals of Aruba.
History of the Arubian Cunucu
The Arubian Cunucu Dog is a rare, native dog breed from Aruba, descended from the Iberian Hound— and it’s considered a national treasure on the island. It’s believed that Portuguese slave traders brought their dogs to Aruba in the 1600s, where they eventually interbred with the semi-domesticated dogs already living on the island. The Arawak Indians then selectively bred these dogs, creating what we now know as the Arubian Cunucu Dog — a skilled hunter used to catch small game like iguanas. The name “cunucu” comes from the local word for “countryside,” a fitting nod to the breed’s working roots.
Cunucu Dogs are intelligent, quick learners who thrive when they have clear communication and guidance from their humans. They are athletic, energetic dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Friendly and social by nature, Cunucus generally do well with people and other animals when they’re properly socialized.
Please check out the Cunucus next time you are in Aruba or from the pictures and stories on our website. Though many still live as strays, animal lovers and rescues on the island work hard to care for and protect this special breed.
