The start of the Aruba Animal Shelter Foundation in 1986 was an initiative of Joseph and Julie Horngrad. The Shelter opened it's doors in 1987 and vet assistant Yvonne Quandus-Hieroms was the driving force behind the Shelter because she took care of the dogs and cats 7 days a week for the first years!

 The mission of the Aruba Animal Shelter Foundation is to give the dogs and cats of Aruba a better life. The Shelter can place 16 adult dogs and 15 adult cats, 15 puppy's and 5 kittens. Our volunteers take very good care of these animals. At the veterinary clinic Wayaca these animals are dewormed, vaccinated neutered or castrated and if necessary treated for any illnesses. Dogs are also checked for bloodparasites and heart worm.

Then they wait for a new home. When you adopt a pet you only pay about 30% of the costs for the vet.

The Aruba Animal Shelter does not get any money from the government and is completely dependent on gifts and donations.

 Lianne's Puppy Place.

One morning in March of 1995 the volunteers were busy taking care of the cats and dogs when a man came to them with an envelope. The envelope turned out to be a donation and the money was collected at the funeral for Lianne Banfield, the man with the envelope was her father John.

 Lianne was fatally wounded february 21st 1995 after a pick-up hit her. Although nobody had actually seen the accident happen, she probably ran in front of the pick-up trying to save a little puppy from being killed by that car.

Lianne was such a great animal lover that it was only natural for her parents to ask the people at the funeral for a donation for the Animal Shelter.

 When the new Animal Shelter was build at Wayaca, the board of the Aruba animal Shelter foundation asked Lianne's parents if they could name the puppy house after Lianne to keep her memory alive.

At the opening of the new shelter, October 4, 1996, Lianne's brother Jared, together with his mom Rachelle and his dad John, gave the puppy house it's official name: Lianne's Puppy place.

Lianne was only 11 years old when she died.