MAPS was formed in 2002 by as a friendly society under the Friendly Societies Act of Montserrat. It has written Rules, which provide for an management committee comprising six individuals who are elected annually by the members at an annual general meeting. Two independent trustees who monitor MAPS’ assets are also elected by the members. An audited financial return is filed annually with the Registrar of the High Court, who exercises a regulatory function over MAPS.
 
MAPS grew slowly but surely and over a period of 3 years it was able to raise enough funds privately to lease land and build an animal shelter. The shelter houses several dogs and currently serves as the island’s clinic for visiting vets.  It is run entirely by volunteers who visit the animals twice daily. Since its inception, MAPS has also mounted and financed three island-wide free animal clinics and rescued and re-homed dozens of abandoned animals. Its annual auction and Halloween party are now fixtures on Montserrat’s social calendar.

MAPS is an associate member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals and has a close association with the Government of Montserrat, Michigan Humane Society and the Pegasus Foundation. It was represented at the 2006 regional animal welfare conference in Antigua, where it was able to forge a number of useful links with other animal welfare associations in the Caribbean.
 
Present projects include the implementation of an educational programme in Montserrat’s schools and the construction of a cattery.