Animal Welfare Namibia Project #18172

Support for Have A Heart-Namibia

by Animal-Kind International

Project Report | Apr 23, 2022
The AKI-HaH Emergency Fund fills a huge need

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

Neusie, an Emergency Fund client, recovering

We've been overwhelmed with requests to use the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund, but also overwhelmed by how many animals we've been able to help and how grateful people are to receive our support. And thanks to your donations, when Geesche (Have a Heart) is approached for help, she never has to turn any deserving animal and human family away. Here are the stories of some recent Emergency Fund clients-from January through March (and this is by far, not all of them).

Neusie is from Rehoboth, Namibia. (Rehoboth is a tough place-for animals and people alike. Thanks to vet nurse Penny and the Rehoboth Vet Clinic, HaH and the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund can be so active and helpful there). Neusie (Afrikaans for "Little Nose") was spayed last year. Neusie had a wound on her upper rear leg and her owner asked the Rehoboth Clinic for help. The Emergency Fund was put to use. Neusie was checked out by a vet and it turned out the small wound was a maggot worm and it burst inside causing an internal abscess! Neusie was booked in for the night and in the morning, the vet sedated her and put a drain in to remove the pus. Neusie stayed another night at the clinic, but then went home to recover -and is now 100% healthy.

Candice is a member of a group of cats living at a restaurant where they are welcome and have a great young employee looking after them. He made sure all of them got spayed/neutered. Recently he noticed one of the cats didn't feel well and he took her to the vet clinic. It turned out she had mastitis (she had kittens before he had a chance to get her spayed). The restaurant employee (see photo of him holding Candice) didn't have the money for treatment, so Geesche authorized use of the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund. She was treated for mastitis, and later, she was spayed.

Cleo was brought to the vet clinic by her owner to be spayed via HaH but the vet realized that she was sick, not well enough for surgery. Cleo recently had 5 puppies and all 5 of them had died. She wasn't eating or drinking and was shivering, but the vet couldn't find anything wrong with her physically. She thought Cleo had PTSD after losing all her babies. The Emergency Fund was authorized for Cleo's care, and she was given injections of vitamins and went home. Two weeks later she was scheduled for spay but the vet found an infection in her mouth and she was put on antibiotics-also thanks to the Emergency Fund. The vet decided to give her a bit more time before spaying her. Later, when she returned to the clinic, she was healthy and finally she was spayed (picture below).

Little Cooper and Keke (see photos) are only 4 months old and they had parvo. Penny, a vet nurse in Rehoboth, asked Geesche for help: "We have 2 dogs here, both with parvo, one is on a drip and the other one is in better condition and can just go home with tablets. The owner can't afford for Cooper to stay on the drip as well as tablets for Keke. I wanted to know if you can help, I feel so sorry for her." Both Keke and Cooper received the care they needed to recover-and they were sent back home, and Geesche sent this message, "Thank you AKI, you gave 2 dogs a fighting chance and their people hope!"

This is a sad story, this little girl is no longer with us. Tokkie was named after a beetle in Namibia. Tokkie from Rehoboth (photo below) was brought to the Rehoboth Vet Clinic because she was very sick. She had a lot of fleas and ticks, was never vaccinated, and the owner had no money. The vet suspected distemper, something easy to treat in early stages and every dog spayed through HaH is vaccinated against it. But for Tokkie it was too late. To prevent further suffering, she was euthanized, thanks to the AKI Emergency Fund. Geesche always looks for the positive, and said, "In this case, the owner of Tokkie now knows there is help through the AKI Emergency Fund, and he will talk about it to friends and family and if he will get another dog, he knows where to go when help is needed and for a spay or neuter and parasite treatment and vaccination. So because of Tokkie other dogs and cats will be helped in future."

Of course not all rescue stories have happy endings, but it's important for someone to step in and help even in cases like Tokkie's, and thanks to your support-we can.

Candice had mastitis

Cleo, PTSD(?) and an infection

Cooper had parvo-an Emergency Fund client

Keke, Cooper's friend, had parvo too

Tokkie had distemper, but help came too late

Links:

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Jan 3, 2022
Have a Heart & AKI's End-of-Year Results

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

Trixie recovering from surgery-Windhoek vet clinic

The results are in for the months of July through December and they are impressive-and they were made possible thanks to your donations:

HaH's Lifetime Care Program: 155 dogs and 15 cats received their boosters and external and internal parasite treatments. (US$845)

The AKI-HaH Emergency Fund: 7 dogs and 8 cats received emergency treatments (US$1182), and 1 cat received 2 months of special urinary diet food ($35).

And HaH still has almost US$500 remaining from AKI to start the year off.

(Add the above to the numbers in the 1st half of the year: 362 dogs and 38 cats who received help under the Lifetime Care Program; and 7 dogs and 4 cats who received care under the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund.)

Here are some of the cats and dogs who benefited over the last 6 months from our partnership with HaH and you:

Back in May 2020, HaH treated Trixie (thanks to the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund), a tiny 6 kg. dog, for tick fever and TVT. They then spayed her. In October 2021, poor Trixie was the victim of a cruel person who threw a large rock at her. In Keetmanshoop, where Trixie lives, she couldn't get an x-ray, and her leg was obviously in bad shape. She needed to get to Windhoek, where it could be x-rayed and treated. In Windhoek, the vet discovered that her leg was broken at the joint. Surgery was scheduled as quickly as possible. The AKI-HaH Emergency Fund covered the full cost of Trixie's vet care! After surgery, when it was safe to move her, and once a ride was found, she was placed at Keetmans SPCA, where she was given a safe, quiet place to heal until she was returned to her family. (See picture of Trixie at the Windhoek clinic)

Dr. Baines' mobile clinic was in Uis for a spay day in early November and Bruno's family immediately took him to the clinic to have his eye checked. Dr. Baines saw that this was an old injury, a ruptured eyeball - very very painful. Geesche said, "This is another prime example of why we need AKI's emergency fund so much. Uis is a small town in the middle of nowhere, 120 kilometers from any doctor (human or animal). For Dr. Baines to be able to help Bruno when he was in Uis for the spay day and without a worry how to cover the cost is all Bruno and Dr. Baines needed." Dr. Baines removed his eye and Bruno is now pain-free. (see picture of Bruno below)

Girly from Rehoboth became an Emergency Fund client when she was booked for her spay, vaccination, and parasite treatment, but during pre-check, the vet noticed that she wasn't well. She had a fever (41 degrees C/105.8 F) and a test revealed Girly had tick bite fever. With tick bite fever, the blood doesn't clot well, and Girly could have bled to death during surgery. Girly's spay was postponed and she was given injections to protect her liver and to start her antibiotic course. She was also prescribed antibiotic pills for 10 days. After her treatment, Girly was spayed and went home with her loving family. (see picture below)

Brown Cat from Epako Township in Gobabis needed help urgently, it appeared that something had damaged his spine (hit by a vehicle, a rock, or was it a disease?) In September, he became an Emergency Fund client-100% of Brown Cat's vet care was covered by the Fund. When Volunteer Willem saw Brown Cat and how difficult it was for him to walk, he rushed Brown Cat to the vet for x-rays, which showed that he has narrowed spinal tissue--spinal stenosis. The vet prescribed meds, and he was sterilized. Geesche said, "Without AKI he would not have a chance! THANK YOU!!!" (see picture below)

Babatjie - pronounced Babakey - is Afrikaans for small baby. Babatjie is from Gobabis and one day a young boy came running to Willem (he's well known for doing TNR in Gobabis for HaH) and told him about an injured cat. Willem found Babatjie - who is an old HaH customer - with a badly damaged leg. The vet said there are only two options, put her down or remove her leg. So Babatjie became an Emergency Fund client and her leg was removed. For her recovery she stayed with Willem and soon she was able to run around and play like nothing had happened. (see picture below)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN 2021

FROM ANIMAL-KIND INTERNATIONAL, HAVE A HEART-NAMIBIA, AND ALL THE ANIMALS YOU'VE HELPED THIS YEAR!

Bruno's ruptured eye is treated-no more pain!

Girly treated for tick-bite fever before her spay

Brown Cat hanging out between his 2 doggy pals

Babatjie's leg was amputated-she's doing great!

Links:

Namibia page on the AKI website

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Sep 14, 2021
Busy months for the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

Dog Sure-broken leg treated

Since our last Progress Report (May 19), requests for the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund have been coming in faster than we can replenish the fund. In part that's good--we know we're providing a much-needed service; in part-obviously, it means it's hard to keep up with the need. We are so grateful for your support, which helps Animal-Kind International help Have A Heart-Namibia provide Lifetime Care to returning spay/neuter clients, including boosters and anti-parasite treatments, and to provide emergency vet care when owners are unable to afford it (the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund).

Here are some of the cats and dogs who have been helped in the last few months thanks to your donations.

JUNE

Dog Sure got hit by a car and his leg was broken. His family asked for help to pay for much-needed vet care, and vet nurse Sheelagh asked Geesche if the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund could be used. Geesche agreed. Xrays were done of Sure's leg to help Dr. Winterbach determine how to treat him. It turned out that Sure only needed a splint and rest, no surgery. Sure had to go for weekly check-ups and bandage changes to make sure all healed properly. During one of these visits, Sure was also neutered and vaccinated and treated against parasites--full service! (See picture of Sure with his family at the vet's office)

Kitzie, an old HaH customer in Luderitz, was run over by a car. Her owner, in tears, brought Kitzie to the Luderitz SPCA and Kitzie was seen by the volunteer vet nurse, who knew of the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund, and requested help. It turned out that Kitzie needed to get to Windhoek to be seen by a vet there, where she could get xrays and follow-up care. Kitzie's xrays showed a broken pelvis but no surgery needed, only 6 weeks of cage rest. Clinic employee Niki offered to foster Kitzie during those 6 weeks, and when she was well, she was transported the 900 km back to Luderitz and to her very grateful family.

Not all stories are happy ones, as we know. That is certainly true in Boe Boe's case. Boe Boe's owner moved away and left him behind! He became a community dog in Luderitz, fed and looked after by a number of people. Boe Boe was in the wrong place at the wrong time-hanging around a home when robbers showed up, they stabbed him. One of the people who looked after Boe Boe saw his injuries and contacted a vet for help. The vet's office contacted Geesche, and she agreed to use the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund. Sadly, even though he got the best treatment available-thanks to the Fund, Boe Boe just didn't pull through, the injuries were too serious. At least he was cared for and out of pain during those last days (see picture).

Joan, who takes care of many cats for HaH was told about someone on the street who was selling 7 tiny kittens. When Joan arrived only 5 were still there and out of the 5, 2 had already died. Joan took the remaining 3 to the vet for check-ups, where they tried everything but one was too sick and weak died. The other two received the treatment they needed -thanks to the Emergency Fund-and then went to foster care until old enough to be sterilized and adopted (see photo of one of the kitties below).

JULY

Glitter is an old HaH customer, very much loved by his family. Glitter had blood in his urine, and his worried family took him to a vet. Tests and treatment costs were more than the family could afford, so they asked HaH for help and thanks to AKI's Emergency Fund, Glitter got the help he needed. His blood test results were good, sonar showed some sediment in the bladder, no visible big concrements. He stayed overnight and the next day the sonar was repeated. The vet diagnosed idiopathic cystitis. Unfortunately, even with treatment, the problem might return and in some cases requires surgery. But for now Glitter is happily back with his family! (see photo below)

Snowy (photo below) had a badly injured leg and his owner Jo-Dee, a student, couldn't afford the vet care that Snowy needed. The AKI-HAH Emergency Fund stepped in and Snowy wasneutered and his leg was stitched up.

AUGUST

Wolf from Windhoek had a cauliflower ear. It doesn't look too bad, but in the long term it can lead to serious ear infections and that can be extremely painful and can lead to death. A minor surgery, thanks to the Emergency Fund, Wolf was saved from any pain and suffering the cauliflower ear may have caused. Wolf's owner Nadine was very thankful as she loves old boy Wolf very much but couldn't afford the operation.

ALREADY IN SEPTEMBER, WE'VE HELPED 3 MORE CATS THROUGH THE AKI-HAH EMERGENCY FUND. MORE ABOUT THOSE IN OUR NEXT PROGRESS REPORT!

Kitzie at the vet's office in Windhoek

Boe Boe at the vet's office

One of 7 kittens being sold on the street-safe now

Glitter diagnosed, treated, home with his family

Snowy, leg stitched up

Wolf with a cauliflower ear

Links:

Namibia page on the AKI website

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