Using Animal Care to Promote Empathy in Children

Our 9th Annual Veterinary Clinic held at Mswati High School on Nov 15, 2025 provided veterinary services to 71 dogs & cats (43 clinical and 28 surgery) combined with animal care education to 52 people.

Slightly less than previous years due to the date being shifted twice due to Foot & Mouth outbreak - but still an impressive number that also provides a positive demonstration to neighbours. 

Forward planning is critical - hence our “tried and tested” duty stations;

1.  Front Desk - Registered animals tagged, rabies vaccination given, animals sprayed for ticks and fleas, attending to unregistered animals at the back of the line.

2.  Clinical -  Comprehensive medical check up with treatments as needed.  This includes patiently explaining treatments given and answering a wide range of questions about dog & cat care.  

3.  Pre surgery - Animals registered for surgery are first assessed if they are healthy enough, then weighed, given anaesthetics and shaved.  The amount of anaesthetic given is tricky - factoring in animal health, enough to stay under during surgery and recovery, not so much that animal wakes hours later.

4.  Surgery - Spay or neuter. It is impressive to watch the Vets work as a team to handle whatever arises. Our goal is to have available all the tools and drugs that might be needed, yet within a reasonable budget.

5. Recovery - Each animal needs to be monitored for distress and action taken if needed.  We also give outstanding vaccinations and treatments. As dogs wake up and find their feet it can become a bit chaotic. 

6.  Discharge - Medicine and instructions are given as needed.  Each person takes home a small packet of dog food and is reminded to come back in two weeks for check up and stitches out.

The day is always long plus last year it was extra hot and humid - just after clean up the rain poured down!

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It is time now to turn our attention to our 2026 Annual Veterinary Clinic - Step #1 is to reconfirm with the Veterinary  Association. 

Your support it what allows us to forward plan in a manner that continues to bring much needed veterinary services and related education to rural Eswatini. By the number of inquires we receive your impact is obvious. 

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VUSUMNOTFO - Parenting for a Sustainable Future™

Our Mission - To reverse dependency - we strengthen child development and learning practices in 17 Swazi communities

Our Motto - Do what you can, with what you have, now

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Early Childhood Programme - tackling insufficient understanding of how young children develop and learning, including factors that influence this

Activity 1.1. Parenting - ii) conduct a veterinary clinic annually, to promote animal care as a positive demonstration of responsibility and empathy to children

I used to hate dogs. Seriously. After by grandparents died, I grew up in a difficult and harsh situation.

I did not experience much kindness and care at the homestead I was relocated to. Their dogs were also not fed and once even burnt with boiling water. I learnt to work hard and became hyper independent.

Life started to improve when an uncle took me to his place and gave me an opportunity to go to university. I interned at Vusumnotfo for my degree requirements.

This exposed me to Rocky, Duma and Zama, the dogs at Vusumnotfo. I started to enjoy being greeted by them each day.

In September 2024 I adopted my first dog, Siza, after his mother passed away. More than a protector, Siza has become a loyal companion, showing me how caring for an animal mirrors the patience, guidance, and love required in parenting.

On November 15, 2025, during the veterinary clinic organized by Vusumnotfo, I adopted Phumba whose mother had undergone surgery and could no longer produce milk. So I learnt to bottle feed Phumba who is now thriving and clearly bonded with me. 

Four weeks later, I fetched Engine, who was the remaining puppy from the same litter. When the owner saw how big Phumba had gotten, he asked me to take the last puppy before it also died. 

Because I give my dogs kindness and care, Siza, Phumba and Engine get along well; I particularly enjoy watching them play together. 

My journey with Siza, Phumba, and Engine has transformed my life in profound ways, teaching me lessons of responsibility, compassion, patience, discipline, and empathy, values that extend to human relationships.

Vusumnotfo’s 2025 Vet Clinic did finally take place on Nov 15, 2025 so we will be updating you in our next reports.