Animal Welfare Namibia Project #18172

Support for Have A Heart-Namibia

by Animal-Kind International

Project Report | Aug 29, 2019
A Busy Time for AKI in Namibia: June-August Update

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

August 7-return client gets booster, anti-parasite

Our last Progress Report covered March and April. With this report, we bring you many updates about how HAH-Namibia has used your donations from June through August. All of you should feel proud and happy that you've made such a great impact and that because of you, HAH has been able to help so many cats and dogs.

As most of you know, Have A Heart mainly spends AKI funds on internal and external parasite treatment (ticks, fleas, worms) and booster vaccinations for returning customers; on emergency vet care; and on cat spay/neuter--3 areas where HAH usually has funding shortfalls.

August 2019:
After a dog or cat is sterilized, Have a Heart continues to help caring owners keep their pets happy and healthy.

One important part of this is the booster vaccination (rabies) and treatment against internal and external parasites. That makes sense of course--you don't want to spay/neuter only to have the dog or cat get very sick from something very preventable.

During the 1st week of August, 25 dogs and 1 cat from Usakos and 33 dogs and 5 cats from Karibib received parasite treatments and boosters!

Then, during the mid-August HAH mobile clinic visit to Kamanjab and Khorixas, 6 cats and 88 dogs showed up for a follow up visit and received parasite treatments and rabies vaccinations. (See 2 pictures, credit: Sharon Baines) ALL FOLLOW-UP CARE WAS FUNDED BY AKI DONORS!

Also in August, HAH used AKI funds for Blik's (Afrikaans for Tin) treatment for transmissible venereal tumor (TVT). Blik had been neutered, vaccinated, and treated against parasites during a fantastic Have A Heart-Namibia spay day at Kappsfarm, Nambia in December 2018. But then, at the end of July, his owner had to come back to HAH and ask for help. He noticed lumps under Blik’s skin and Blik was losing weight.

It turned out that Blik has TVT, which he must have gotten prior to being neutered. TVT can show up anywhere, even in the eyes. Blik has TVT under his skin. Untreated, TVT is deadly. However, it is easily treated (if funds and the necessary meds are available). To treat TVT, an injection (vincristine, a chemotherapy) is given once a week for 6 weeks.

Luckily, Blik’s owner knew where to look for help. Not only that, Dr. Maya was able to organize Blik’s treatment at the Rhino Park Vet Clinic. Cat Adams offered to transport Blik from Kappsfarm to the clinic in Windhoek. And Blik’s medical costs are being covered by Animal-Kind International donors as part of our emergency fund to Have A Heart-Namibia (see picture of the lumps on Blik's skin).

Blik still has a few more treatments to go. One of his chemo treatments was on August 12, and he was already looking and feeling so much better (see picture). Soon he'll be back to 100% health!

Also in August, we received news from Wagter's owner from Kamanjab. During a 2018 spay day, Wagter's owner had asked Dr. Baine's for help-Wagter had an ingrown collar. Sure, we'd normally blame the owner and consider this a cruelty case. But it turns out that Wagter's owner felt very bad about it and was desperate to get help for Wagter. Dr. Baines performed emergency surgery that saved Wagter's life!--it was funded by Animal-Kind International's emergency fund. During the August spay days in Kamanjab, Wagter showed up for his follow-up (booster, anti-parasite) visit, and Dr. Baines was able to get a picture of the happy dog! (see photo).

July 2019:

AKI's emergency fund came in very handy during July.

When Spotti wasn't feeling well, Immanuel brought him to Dr. Erna in Mariental. It turns out that Spotti had tick bite fever. Dr. Erna contacted HAH to get approval to use the AKI emergency fund to treat Spotti. She placed Spotti on antibiotics. Once Spotti was feeling better, he was neutered, vaccinated, and treated against parasites--all with AKI funds. Dr. Erna wrote: "Spotti has a sad face because he lost a piece of his manhood today! But owner Immanuel is all smiles!" (see picture).

In early July, AKI's emergency fund saved tiny Ninja's life. Ninja was found in Luderitz at a fish factory, her tail badly injured (see picture). She was in horrible pain, hungry, and cold. The person who found her immediately feel in love with her and wanted to help her. He is currently unemployed, so he contacted HAH. HAH was able to find a ride for Ninja (thanks to Nicole) from Luderitz to the Swakopmund Vet Clinic--900 kilometers! And then, Nicole transported Ninja back to her rescuer. She will be spayed when the mobile clinic goes to Luderitz in September. In a message from HAH we heard that, "Now that the pain is gone, she is very vocal and cuddly, and is eating for Africa."

June/July:

In June, the planning for the Karibib feral cat spay/neuter campaign began. There are at least 4 feral cat colonies in Karibib that are regularly fed and that number between 15 and 40 cats. (Karibib is a small town with a population of 6,900.) A few months earlier, HAH had been contacted about helping with s/n there. Of course they said yes, but they were concerned about catching and transporting the cats to the vet. The cat colony caretakers were prepared to trap the cats and place them in transport boxes. But the closest vet is 65 kilometers away (Omaruru), the State Vet, Dr. Estelle. Luckily, she was keen to help! HAH found someone to transport the cats

This is where AKI comes in. Geesche had been worried about the funds for feral cat s/n, so she proposed to use AKI support for this. In early July, HAH held the 1st AKI Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Day in Karibib.

19 cats - 12 female and 7 male - were sterilized and vaccinated and are now part of the solution! These animals have a tough life, so besides s/n, they also get good, long-term antibiotics, vitamins, and parasite prevention (see picture of the kitties in their transport boxes).

For all of this and more-we are so grateful for your support!

August 14 return customers

Blik had TVT-it showed up as lumps under his skin

Blik after a few chemo treatments-doing better!

Wagter, 1 yr after emergency op to remove collar

Spotti-antibiotics, anti-parasite, booster, neuter

Ninja's tail was injured-treated w/AKI funds

Transport boxes for Karibib feral cats

Links:

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Jun 4, 2019
Fleas, ticks, and mites, oh my!

By Karen Menczer & Geesche Neuberg | Executive Director, AKI; Coordinator, HAH-Namibia

Treated for mange, April clinic, before-after

Here's a report from Geesche (HAH-Namibia) about the April and March mobile clinics and how our AKI supporters have contributed to the success of the clinics.

APRIL MOBILE CLINICS

The Mobile Animal Clinic headed south in April and saw a lot of old Have a Heart customers. Especially in Luderitz, Dr. Baines was very impressed with the many healthy animals he saw. AKI plays a big part in this success. Especially in Luderitz we have a huge problem with mange (mites!), but we are finally winning! He said only two dogs had a little bit of mange. Can you believe it? When we started mange was such a common thing, I'd say at least 50% of all township dogs had obvious mange, and even more when you count little mange patches at the ears or under the arm for example.

The inland towns have a huge problem with ticks, so many dogs have tick bite fever.... Here it is again, you will never know how many lives have been saved and how much suffering is prevented by treating the animals against parasites.

To have the biggest impact we do not only dip the dogs, they get an injection to also catch the internal parasites. Losing weight due to severe worms can be fatal in a township, where life is already tough.

This is again not a "big story," it's a little story of tiny parasites wreaking havoc on dogs' lives. This is a 5 year in the making story, saving hundreds of lives by treating them against parasites! This would not be possible without AKI!!! THANK YOU!!

Animals treated against parasites

April 2019

Keetmanshoop: 42 dogs, 2 cats

Bethanie: 46 dogs, 6 cats

Luderitz: 83 dogs, 9 cats

Maltahohe: 10 dogs, 1 cat

All of the animals are already sterilised, so this is only the follow up visitor numbers.

MARCH MOBILE CLINICS

March was a fantastic month for the Have a Heart animals in Namibia thanks to AKI!

During two spay trips to Otjiwarongo and Outjo and to Gobabis, Drimiopsis and Witvlei, AKI helped the following animals with the so important booster vaccinations and parasite treatments:

--At total of 8 cats received anti-parasite treatment, 5 of them a booster rabies vaccination

--95 dogs received anti-parasite treatment, 35 of them a full booster vaccination

As African wild dogs have been recently seen in the area around Gobabis, Drimiopsis, and Witvlei, it is important to keep domestic dog vaccinations up to date; canine distemper virus from domestic dogs is a serious threat to the endangered African wild dog. Besides all the many other advantages of vaccinating dogs and cats, knowing our Have a Heart family members are posing no risk to African wild dogs is a huge relief!

Thanks a million again!!!!--from Geesche, HAH-Namibia

And thanks a million again from AKI!!!!!

Mange treatment, before-after (April)

HAH-Namibia April mobile clinic

HAH-Namibia March mobile clinic

A happy HAH-Namibia client

Links:

AKI website-new!

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Mar 14, 2019
Have A Heart-Namibia Update-including a happy pig!

By Karen Menczer & Geesche Neuberg | Executive Director, AKI; Coordinator, HAH-Namibia

Peet at the vet's office on Jan 17

Thanks to your generosity, Have A Heart-Namibia (through your donations to GlobalGiving for Animal-Kind International) has helped so many cats and dogs since I last wrote in December. We continue to provide vet treatment through the AKI-HAH Emergency Fund, support HAH parasite treatment and booster shots, and contribute to HAH spay/neuter when we have available funds. Here's how your donations have been used in the last few months:

On January 17, Geesche (HAH) told us about Peet:

We had a little customer for AKI, Peet broke his leg - twice - it must be super painful :-(

He is from Mondesa location in Swakopmund and his owner Mr. Haraseb asked for help for little Peet.

Peet's leg got fixed and he got neutered at the Swakop Vet Clinic, thanks to AKI!!!! He will have to come in on Friday for a bandage change, and then later will have to get the pin removed from his leg. I will keep you posted.

Then, on February 19, Geesche sent an update about Peet:

Peet's owner showed up with Peet and his other dog at the vaccination and parasite day we had last Saturday! Vet Nurse Sheelagh recognised Peet immediately, spoke to the owner and told him to come to the clinic the next day, as Peet needed a control x-ray because of the pin still in his leg. The next day Peet was checked by Dr Tharina at the clinic and except for a little eczema on his face, he was perfectly fine and will get his pin removed in two weeks. Of course he received treatment for the eczema!

(See the pictures of Peet on January 17 when he was treated for the broken leg, and then on Feb 19, when he returned to HAH vaccination and parasite day).

On March 5, we received this message from Geesche about Fire:

Fire broke his leg when he got hit by a car, probably on his way looking for a female dog in heat. His owner brought him to the clinic on Saturday evening and Dr. Tharina phoned me. She said Fire will need surgery but his owner can't afford it, will AKI be able to help? I said yes, the emergency fund is for dogs like Fire.

She said Fire will get his operation on Monday morning and she is beyond thankful for AKI's emergency fund as Fire otherwise would have to be put down, and that would be only because Fire's clearly caring owner can't afford the operation. This would have been terrible and traumatic for him, his family and also not easy for the vet!

Fire is now recovering at home, he was of course also neutered, vaccinated and treated against parasites. He received his vitamin injection to boost his healing and of course pain medication! All thanks to AKI!

On January 27, we heard from Geesche about Wagter:

Wagter came in with an ingrown collar. Yes, this is something that is easily preventable and I'm sure the family learned their lesson, but more important is that Wagter received help!

Wagter was in pain and he would have died eventually and his family would not have been able to do anything about it without AKI's emergency fund. Because of AKI it was no question Wagter will get what is needed in order for him to heal!

Dr. Baines removed the collar, cleaned and stitched the wound, neutered and vaccinated Wagter and treated him against parasites. He got a vitamin and a pain injection and antibiotics. In short, poor Wagter got a second chance to live a happy and healthy life! All only because of AKI!! Can you imagine the relief his family experienced when they realised Wagter will be helped when they thought there is no help for him? AKI took a big burden off their shoulders. Not to mention how Wagter must feel now-no more pain!! Thank yous are not not enough. (See picture of Wagter).

Besides the Emergency Fund, we're still supporting HAH-Namibia booster shots and parasite treatment for pets brought back to the HAH-mobile clinic. On February 19, Geesche told us:

We saw a total of 111 dogs and 2 cats on our vaccination day, all of them received anti-parasite treatment and 50 of them were due for their booster vaccination.

Up to date vaccination is so important as we have lots of parvo and also some distemper deaths in this area.

And of course we have a huge problem with mange and lots and lots of fleas, ticks (all houses are built on plain sand) and worms - only a handful of houses have running water. Parasite treatment in dogs and cats is essential to keep not only animals but also their families healthy. And while we are there, nail cutting if need is of course also done.

Also, thanks to your donations, we were able to support booster shots and parasite treatment at the Karibib and Usakos HAH mobile clinics in February:

HAH vaccinated and provided anti-parasite treatment for 37 dogs and 1 cat in Kamanjab, and in Khorixas 15 dogs and 3 cats! Geesche wrote, "Thank you so so so much! Especially Khorixas is somehow a "forgetten" town but the dog and cat owners are so grateful for the support!"

Here's one of the very grateful clients: Hendrik Gawiseb and his children are very thankful to Have a Heart and AKI about the ongoing support they got for their dogs Beauty, Brownie, and Witfoet (White Foot). All three came to see us during the vaccination day and received their needed vaccinations and parasite treatment! (See picture)

But we saved the best for last.....a happy pig, thanks to HAH, your donations, and AKI!

From Geesche: 27 January, we had a very special customer asking for help in Khorixas: Pinky, a little piglet (first time we were asked for help for a pig or piglet!) was brought in to Dr. Baines. Pinky had a big hernia. Luckily Dr. Baines has been able to help Pinky and the little one is already feeling so much better!

In Germany we have the so called "Glücksschwein". Translated it's a lucky-pig. Such a Glücksschwein is supposed to bring you lots of luck and money :-) So I hope Pinky will be super busy in 2019 and will bring you tons of both! We are only able to help little Pinky because of AKI and we are also very happy about the fact that Pinky's family brought the little one to a vet in the first place. Pigs are just random animals for food here in Namibia. They are not mistreated in general but they are also not something special, but the fact his owners cared about the potential dangerous situation for Pinky and made the effort to present it to a vet, shows, this lucky piglet is in caring hands that worry about his well being and it is respected as a living creature. Thank you so much AKI to make it possible for us to support such great people without even having to think about it twice! Pinky and his family shows, the world still has good people!

Thank you to our donors for all this great work that HAH has been able to accomplish for Namibia's dogs, cats, and pigs!

Peet's xray-leg broken in 2 places!

Peet returns to the HAH clinic on Feb 19

Fire's xray-another broken leg treated by AKI-HAH

Fire's owner takes him home

A booster-parasite treatment client

A kitty gets parasite treatment & booster shots

Feb 19 client for parasite treatment & shots

Kids bring their pets 4 parasite treatment & shots

Hendrik Gawiseb's family-grateful to HAH & AKI!

Wagter had an ingrown collar-Emergency Fund helped

Pinky the pig-had a hernia!

Dr. Baines removes Pinky's hernia

Dr. Baines and Pinky

Links:

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