spay it forward

spay it forward: honoring a legacy, building the future

Animal Balance’s Spay It Forward program is a tribute to the life and work of Dr. Diego Barrera (1977–2024), one of Ecuador’s most compassionate and visionary veterinarians. 

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From his early days mentoring under Dr. Lew Seidenberg in the Galápagos, to transforming animal welfare policy in Ambato, Dr. Diego embodied what it means to serve—sharing his skills, kindness, and fierce dedication to every animal and student he encountered.

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Now, through a scholarship program in his name, Ecuadorian veterinary students from Ambato and Cuenca will have the chance to follow in his footsteps. Selected students will travel to the Galápagos Islands to train in high-quality spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques alongside North American mentors and Animal Balance teams. In doing so, they not only gain technical skills—they inherit a legacy of compassion, collaboration, and action. This is how we Spay It Forward.