Supporters of AKI have an amazing opportunity to help small, local animal welfare organizations in Namibia. Without the help of Erika von Gierszewski we never would have found these organizations—and wouldn’t have been able to make the important connections that Erika already has, to ensure funds we raise go directly to helping the animals in need. Karen Menczer, founder of AKI, recently spent five months in Namibia, and on weekends she walked dogs at the Namibia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Windhoek, where she met Erika. Erika is from Namibia and has volunteered with the NSPCA for many years. For 11 years, Erika was on the NSPCA executive committee. Now, she volunteers at the shelter, walking dogs, fundraising, and doing anything and everything that needs to be done for the dogs and cats at the shelter (including baking yummy dog cookies that she gives to the shelter dogs every week for their Sunday treat).
Erika has agreed to be our "eyes and ears" on the ground in Namibia. She’s already identified five SPCAs in rural parts of Namibia that desperately need funds and supplies. She’ll also alert us about worthy animal welfare causes and specific campaigns that need funding, such as low income spay-neuter days. Over the coming months, Erika will fill us in on with more details about these SPCAs. She tells us they all need food, bowls, leashes, collars, fuel for their personal vehicles that they use for SPCA business, and blankets (it gets cold in Namibia!). Some of them would like to upgrade their kennels—others just dream of building kennels.
Madam re: SPCA KEETMANSHOOP I am the Chairman of the SPCA Keetmanshoop which was eventually launched in May 2008. We were initially only eleven members but can happily report that our membership is increasing daily and that we presently have 30 members. Our funds are at this stage generated solely by members’ subscription fees. We do not have our own premises yet but one of our members has stated her preparedness to erect three (3) kennels and a run for injured animals on her existing business premises. Our needs at this stage will be:
If Mrs Menczer is able to assist in anyway our organization will be extremely grateful. Regards: CHAIRMAN: SPCA KEETMANSHOOP
Namibia SPCA-Windhoek The NSPCA-Windhoek is the largest of Namibia’s SPCAs. Since we are focusing on the more rural areas, we won’t be raising funds directly for them, but we are happy to be a conduit for anyone who wants to donate funds or supplies. During the months I was in Namibia, I saw so many dogs and cats enter the shelter, many terrified, slinking down on their bellies at the touch of a hand. Within a couple weeks, I saw most of these dogs turn into happy, trusting, loving At any time, the shelter has about 200 dogs and 100 cats in its care. Something that is so striking is the number of purebreds that enter the shelter. And like with mixed breeds, their owners just don’t want to have the responsibility of caring for them any longer. In the five months I volunteered at the
shelter, I saw two Dalmatians, two Weimeraners, numerous dachshunds,
poodles, maltese, Jack Russells, German shepherds, two border collies, an
Aussie, a miniature collie, and many other wonderful pure and mixed breeds
enter the shelter, most because they were no longer wanted by their
families. Thanks to the NSPCA-Windhoek, these dogs are well taken care of, and about 1/3 are placed in happy, loving homes. All of the dogs and cats at the shelter get the best of care while they live at the NSPCA-Windhoek. The Ramatex Story
Animal cruelty obviously crosses national boundaries. While most animal welfare issues in Namibia can be traced back to poverty and ignorance, there are also many cases of overt cruelty, the Ramatex case being one of the more horrendous examples.
Johanna Amakali Johanna has animal welfare in her heart and is now finding her voice.
I came to work here up north and met Karen at one of our meetings and it was so lovely to find someone with similar feelings towards animals. Ever since that meeting we have kept in contact and she has really gone out of her way to get me information, which I have displayed at our info desks or rather “info pigeon holes.” The only difficulty I have is that most of the information is in English and not the local language, but I was thinking that if that information can reach the schools then I’m sure it will curb this language problem as the kids can then inform their parents or guardians. And I also think it’s more effective if the kids are informed as they can make a change. I really believe that education is so important and information dissemination to all dog keepers/owners is so important, if we can get through to them then half the battle is won, if we can change the mindset then hey we did something. We still have a long way to go but with people like Karen and Raphael from WSPA-Africa we will get there!!!! May all of us work together and make the lives of our animals more bearable through educating their keepers and everyone on keeping them safe. They truly bring so much joy to a persons’ life, you grow to love them so much. JOHANNA WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE HUMANE EDUCATION MATERIAL AND ANY SUPPLIES SHE COULD USE IN SCHOOLS TO HELP KIDS CONNECT TO ANIMALS. SHE ALSO WOULD LIKE FLEA AND TICK SHAMPOO TO HELP HER NEIGHBORS TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR DOGS. |
Erika also raises funds for other animal welfare organizations in Namibia. She sews and sells beautiful cotton bags and pillowcases, with African designs, and 100% of the money she makes from sales of these items goes to help the Namibia SPCAs.
Through Erika, we are helping the following SPCAs:
dogs. These transitions happened because of the wonderful staff and volunteers at the NSPCA-Windhoek.
In April 2008, the NSPCA was notified about cats and dogs that were left at an abandoned factory that was vacated by an Asian company, Ramatex. Hundreds of cats were left locked inside the factory and in living quarters of the staff. At other staff quarters, dogs had been abandoned. NSPCA had to quickly move into action to save as many animals as possible. While many died, the NSPCA and the Cat Protection Society were able to save many of them, rehabilitate them mentally and physically, and are working to find them homes. This put significant stress on the NSPCA --on funds and on volunteers, including foster homes. 
"I have always loved animals so much so that my family thought I was crazy because I would not even kill an ant or a harmless spider. I further went and completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science); however I was surprised to find so many aspects during my studies that were hard to cope with. Those were especially during my practicals were I had to castrate, dehorn and sometimes brand the animals it was terrible but I had to do it. I went into that program (Animal Science) thinking it would be something related to for example SPCA. Man was I wrong. To make things worse there was no course on Animal Welfare which I know would be useful for softies like me.