About Protect Animals Worldwide

About Protect Animals Worldwide

We are a United States registered 501(c)(3) organization that has been rescuing abused animals in crisis since 2015.

We unintentionally started a sanctuary in Ceara, Brazil, after rescuing a donkey in April 2020, but were unable to place her in a permanent home. So we became her home. We didn’t have any plans to stay in Brazil, but ended up renting a stable with some land and have grown to have many more donkeys, horses, dogs and cats.

Who We Are

Protect Animals Worldwide’s mission is to protect animals, and our focus is rescuing abused and neglected animals in Brazil. We have a dog/cat rescue in Southern Brazil in Parana where we rescue animals with our partners, mostly dogs and cats in desperate need of help.  and an equine rescue in northern Brazil. We also hope to help increase animal welfare protection laws with the Brazilian government, ultimately leading to less cases of animal abuse.

Although our organization is registered in the United States, PAW’s mission is to save lives of injured, abused, and unwanted homeless animals all over the world, but mainly in Brazil. Our rescues are available for adoption worldwide.

As part of our education efforts, we also aim to educate the public on ejiao. Donkeys are being rounded up and sold to China, as some Chinese believe oil from donkey skin, called ejiao, has medicinal purposes. The demand for ejiao has recently increased. Our goal is to rescue as many homeless donkeys as possible, so they will not be used for this purpose. 

We also work with our partners in China multiple times a year to rescue dogs from the meat trade industry.

Why Brazil?

In April 2020, we received a message about a homeless donkey in need of immediate medical attention in northern Brazil. Since then, we have opened up a sanctuary in Ceára to provide a home for the numerous unwanted and neglected animals in that area.

We are notified of numerous animal abuse cases daily, and although it is unfortunately like this in most countries, Brazil does not have the laws to protect these animals’ rights, especially homeless animals. We aim to protect Brazil’s homeless animals by rescuing the injured and abused, and either providing them sanctuary for the rest of their lives, or adopting them out to loving homes. 

Meet Our Team

What started as a chance encounter blossomed into an extraordinary commitment.  Luana and Simone proudly run an animal sanctuary in Brazil, extending their compassion worldwide. Simone and Luana are more than just the faces behind a rescue organization; they are a passionate pair of advocates committed to making a difference in the lives of our animal friends. Their journey began with a single but powerful belief: every single animal deserves love, care, and a chance for a better life.

Join them on this incredible journey of love, compassion, and unwavering advocacy for furry and feathered friends. Together, they are changing lives, one animal at a time.

Luana Hausser

Luana Hausser

Luana has been an animal advocate since childhood, dreaming of becoming a vet. But life led her into a 15-year career in the oil and gas industry. Then fate intervened when she met Simone Belser. Together, they embarked on an unexpected journey, helping animals in need. Luana feels fortunate to be able to live her passion every day - making a meaningful difference in animals’ lives.
Simone Belser

Simone Belser

Simone has worked with and been surrounded by a variety of both wild and domestic animals for most of her life. Her motivation for helping animals in need lies in a personal mission to change the role that animals play in the world. She believes animals are deeply intelligent and sentient beings, who are underestimated by so many.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Jonathan Lurgio

Chairman of The Board

Jonathan Lurgio serves as Chairman of the Board for Protect Animals Worldwide, guiding the organization’s strategic direction and strengthening its governance. In this role, he works closely with fellow board members to ensure long-term stability and growth, while helping PAW operate with transparency, compassion, and accountability.
 
Jonathan has always felt a deep respect for animals, but his first visit to the PAW sanctuary in Brazil had a profound impact. Witnessing the dedication of the staff and the resilience of the rescued animals strengthened his commitment to PAW’s mission and the meaningful work being done every day.
 
Professionally, Jonathan is a senior leader in the tech industry, bringing the same focus, integrity, and problem-solving mindset to his work with PAW. He is honored to help advance an organization that reflects his core values and his belief in protecting the most vulnerable.

Humberto Perez

Treasurer

Humberto has always felt a deep connection to animals. As the proud dog dad of Charlie and Teddy, he understands the joy, comfort, and unconditional love they bring to our lives. That bond fuels his passion for helping animals in need and advocating for their well-being. Serving on the board of Protect Animals Worldwide is more than a role—it’s a personal mission.
 
Professionally, Humberto is a partner at a CPA firm, where he brings the same level of care and dedication to his clients as he does to the causes he believes in.
 
He is grateful for the opportunity to contribute his time, energy, and expertise to Protect Animals Worldwide—an organization that reflects his values and lifelong love for animals.

Destry Labo

Board Member

Destry’s love for animals and nature comes from the deep spirituality her father instilled in her. She has been rescuing animals since the young age of five—always bringing home injured birds, lost baby quail, and stray cats and dogs. She has dedicated her life to helping and rescuing any animal in need, and nothing brings her more happiness than knowing she made a difference in the life of an animal who needed her.
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Meet Our Team At The Sanctuary

Behind every rescue, every recovery, and every happy animal story… there’s THIS amazing team making it all happen! 

Every single day, from dawn till dusk,(and sometimes through the night) they feed, clean, treat, monitor, medicate, comfort, and love nearly 200 rescued animals here at our sanctuary.

Here’s a picture of our devoted team, the heart of our sanctuary in Brazil, from left to right:
Neto • Erandir • Edigleysom • Camila (our full-time veterinarian) • Carlito • Davidson • Vagner

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Our Partners

We are eternally grateful to the following organizations and companies that support us! 

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Let's keep in touch...

Stay connected and be the first to hear about heartwarming rescue stories, urgent adoption needs, and the ways you can help save lives. Don’t miss our exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at how your support is making a difference. Together, we can give every animal a second chance. Sign up today and be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves!

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website by Andrea Greengard

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