For Rye resident Julie Burke, who founded NicaLove, an animal welfare organization in Nicaragua, every day is animal rescue day. With seacoast support, Burke aims to build a shelter for ill-fated dogs, cats, and horses in the impoverished sugarcane territory where there is no access to veterinary care, and animal welfare is not customary. 

San Diego is a town in a remote area of Nicaragua. It started as a surf adventure for her husband, Matt, when she joined him a few years later, Burke drove into local efforts by starting a little league program while collecting used gear in the U.S. and volunteering at an orphanage wher they eventaualy adopted their daughter. After witnessing the neglect of callejeros (street dogs) and other domestic animals, her life- long compusion to help animals went into overdrive. 

Novmeber 2019 NicaLove became an official nonprofit through FNE International. With local partners, Dr. Tapia, a former volunteer for WorldVets and Fundacion ADAN, NicaLove can educate and help residents care for their domestic, farm and street animals.  “Many families are of low socioeconomic status, which negatively impacts animal welfare,” Burke explains. NicaLove is also able to facilitate emergency rescues. 

Paloma, a majestic working horse, lay in blood after his owner cut his face and neck with a machete attempting to kill him. A Good Samaritan walked the injured horse three kilometers to Dr. Tapia for life saving medical attention. NicaLove secured a donor in Rye, Maria Labrie, to sponsor Palomas’s recovery. In March, the chestnut beauty was asdopted and will graze in the cool mountains of Crucero for the remainder of his life. 

An initial post on NicaLove’s Instagram- Somebody should do something about that. And then I realized I am Somebody– Makes Burke choke up. “How can I measure the impact I am making when I am so small in this worlds [philanthropic] work?” 

In March, NicaLove hosted its best clinic yet as families returned with new and established pets for sterilzing and follow-up care, demonstrating the impact of NicaLove’s outreach. During 2020’s pandemic and two Category 4 hurricanes (Eta and Iota), NicaLove preservered by supporting hundreds of equine, cats and dogs with rescues, surgeries, vaccinations and food aid (animal and human).

Perhaps in a world of charities, NicaLove is small. But with the support from a little town in New Hampshire and another in nicaragua, this big hearted human is making a huge impact. 

With help from their popular seacoast eatery, Las Olas Taqueria, the Burkes purchased 17 acres in San Diego last year with plans to build an animals shelter and veterinary clinic. Burkes goal to raise $50,000 this year will open a full-time shelter in January 2022. Burke’s 5 year plan to raise $150,000 will allow 300 rescue animals to be property housed and cared for with an on-sight veterinary clinic. 

If you’d like to support NicaLove, there will be local, COVID-19 friendly events this summer. For More information or to donate, visit www.nicalove.org and instagram, @nicalove14 

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