CANDi... saving the lives of stray cats and dogs through spay, neuter and adoption programs supported by the tourism industry, travelers and pet lovers.

Who are we?

CANDi is the only non-profit animal welfare organization that partners with the tourism industry to offer a unique and fresh approach to addressing the complex problem of stray cats and dogs.\

Our Mission

CANDi’s mission is to save the lives of stray animals at international tourist destinations through advocacy, education and humane, sustainable population management programs supported and funded by the tourism industry, and compassionate travelers. 

The Problem

Animal abuse and neglect is rampant outside resort destinations. It is estimated that there are 1 million stray dogs in Cancun alone! The government’s solution is to perform a cull, inhumanely rounding up and destroying stray cats and dogs by the thousands by means of electrocution. This method has proved to be costly, inhumane and ineffective.

Animal overpopulation not only has a negative impact on public health, environmental quality, quality of life, business, and image, but it also diminishes the vacation experience in destinations around the globe.

CANDi’s Solution

Darci Galati founded CANDi in 2006 to bring the tourism industry together with local animal welfare groups and implement programs that humanely address the issue of cat and dog overpopulation in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Programs & Services

CANDi has developed a humane business model that is 100% duplicable globally. As self-funding solutions, CANDi programs provide the resources necessary to address the stray animal issue in situations in which local governments and local animal groups would not be in a position to help.

The “Make a Difference Program” is a simple and effective way of empowering hotels to create a positive impact in their local communities. Participating hotels invite guests to add $1 to their bill upon checkout. This donation helps CANDi provide services in the local community, including:

• Free spay/neuter and other veterinary services to low-income families in the resort’s outlying neighborhood.
• Sterilization and education programs to humanely and ethically reduce the stray animal population.
• Project Cancun, CANDI’s model for spay/neuter clinics.
• Implementation of the Cat Café program with the local animal advocacy group and CANDi partner at the hotel.
• Enable resort-based facilities to become safe havens for stray cats.
• Adoptions and emergency dog rescue.

CANDi's programs bring spay/neuter clinics to local communities, enable resort-based facilities to become safe havens for stray cats, and assist with transporting rescued strays that have been adopted into loving homes in Canada and the United States.

To date, CANDI has humanely sterilized over 6,500 cats and dogs in Cancun at their free spay/neuter clinics.

CANDi is endorsed by top executives at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Air Transat and RIU Hotels. It is the only animal welfare organization endorsed by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA).

CANDi is a nonprofit (registered 501c3 ID #20-5299890) organization whose operations are funded primarily through public donations.  Your financial support ensures that we can continue to provide prevention-based programs in communities that need our support.