About Negril Pup Rescue
Les Steel and Dominique Chapman first visited Negril, Jamaica in 2012 and like many who came before (and after), they instantly fell in love with the island. The beauty, the people, the culture, the sunsets – it changed them and they knew they wanted to stay as long as possible and make it their home.
There was one drawback, though. Anyone who visits the island can recognize fairly quickly that the stray animal population permeates every corner of every town in Jamaica. Negril was no different, and seemingly around every turn was a starving, injured or abused animal in need of help or love.
Dominique had experience rescuing dogs in Canada, so it was only natural for her to start helping the stray and neglected dogs she saw in Jamaica. She and Les began volunteering with the Negril Spay and Neuter Clinic and fostering dogs. Before long, they had five dogs of their own—but they couldn’t shake the feeling that they could do even more.
Their experiences with strays were heartbreaking—dogs suffering from severe injuries, car strikes, starvation, mange, and parasite infestations. Many had horrific wounds from gunshots, machete attacks, burns, or poisonings. Some were barely clinging to life, covered in maggots and too weak to move.
And that’s how Negril Pup Rescue was born. Two people dedicated to making a difference.
The organization is Dominique and Les. There are volunteers in the United States and Canada to support administrative tasks, but the day-to-day operations and dog care/rescue falls solely on them. That has not changed since day one.
The challenges have been formidable, and to add insult to injury, during the COVID-19 pandemic, things became even more difficult. With travel at a standstill and tourism at a halt, many locals struggled to feed themselves much less their pets. Animals were abandoned in droves. More and more puppies and neglected dogs needed help, and at one point, the rescue was caring for 90 dogs. With adoptions in a slowdown, puppies grew into adults, making adoption even more difficult.
Since then, Negril Pup Rescue has grown, and this growth forced relocation several times. In 2024, faced with the sudden prospect of losing their lease, the Rescue was able to raise the capital necessary to purchase their current property. No sooner than that milestone was achieved, Jamaica endured the worst storm since 2007 and Hurricane Beryl caused over $30,000 USD worth of damage to the kennels and yard. Soon after, Tropical Storm Raphael dealt another blow. Work is currently underway to finalize repairs and we are looking to the future.
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and offer respite to the strays of Negril. At this time, nearly 80 dogs call the rescue home. While many are adoptable, new policies in the international adoption realm as well as local attitudes towards animals in general remain two distinct challenges to the “rehome” goal. We have sent some of our dogs to loving homes and we continue to look for and welcome adopters from all locales. Until then, the dogs in our care are safe, loved, and waiting for their forever family.
We are Donor Funded
One hundred percent of our operating budget is achieved through fundraising activities and the generosity of our extended community.
We are Dedicated to Community
Our daily activities include outreach into the community to feed strays, help our neighbors and respond to calls for dogs in need of medicine or support.
We are a 501(c) NonProfit Organization
While the rescue is located in Negril, the charitable arm of the organization is a United States based registered non-profit (since 2019), and donations are tax-deductible in the U.S.
Our Future
In 2025, the rescue will be undergoing changes and upgrades to both its physical and administrative infrastructure. In addition to a new fundraising platform that will significantly reduce the amount of fees taken from donations, the organizational structure will undergo a shift that will open opportunities for volunteers and investment in the future of the rescue and the physical property will see upgrades for the comfort of both the dogs and Dominique & Les. Finally, in the early part of the year, a capital campaign will begin to fund the development of The Rufus Sanctuary – a container that will serve as a functional shelter for the animals during extreme weather events.
The Rufus Sanctuary
Named by the Captain Family
In Loving Memory of Rufus
Our Success Stories
(Just a Few…)
