Kindness to Animals has no Boundaries February 2022 Dear Animal-Kind Friends,
So many causes are fighting for your attention and donations - we are grateful that so many of you have kept the cause of animal welfare in poor countries in your heart. It doesn’t take much in the countries where we work to have a big impact. For example, in the last half of 2021, our Partner Organization, Have a Heart-Namibia, used the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund to help 7 dogs and 8 cats; mending broken legs, eye removal, and amputations were some of the types of care provided. The cost for all 15 cases: about US$1200! In most states in the US, that’s about the cost of one emergency vet visit (from my online search, “The average cost of an emergency vet visit in the U.S. is $800-$1500.”)
We promise to continue to value your donations as though they are our own (and some are!) and we will continue to use all donations as wisely, effectively, and humanely as possible to help animals who most need us (especially in Africa), while also helping the people and strengthening the organizations that are helping animals.
In February’s AKI Blog, get detailed information about how two of our Partner Organizations and one of our Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant Recipients have used your donations and read the riveting story of Mr K, a horse used for racing in Ghana, who will never again have to suffer through the pain of another race.
AKI Grantee: HorseSafety-Ghana: With the Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant from AKI, HorseSafety provided care for a total of 12 horses, including some who were rescued during the grant project. This AKI Blog post tells their stories.
Above: Charlotte (at 1st, HorseSafety though her name was Sharon, which she is called in the article), a neglected old mare, was seen wandering the streets of Accra when she was reported to HorseSafety. HorseSafety spoke to Charlotte’s owner, who agreed to give her up to them-he admitted he was unable to care for her.
HorseSafety-Ghana: Mr K’s Story: Ulla saw Mr K at the racing grounds outside of Accra, where he was in bad shape, yet forced to race. That was his last race-thanks to HorseSafety-Ghana. This is his story.
Save Animals-Armenia: February 2022: Save Animals-Armenia (an AKI Partner Organization since 2010!) already knew how they’d spend the AKI funds recently received-food for the shelter dogs, food for the street dogs, and spay, spay, spay, spay (at least 4 spays and more if funds last).
Liberia Animal Welfare & Conservation Society: Update: This post is about how AKI Partner LAWCS used AKI funds during the last half of 2021 - they held Community Animal Care Clinics at which 1,118 dogs and 32 cats were treated - and that’s just the beginning!
In brief, here’s more from our Partner Organizations:
Bam Animal Clinics-Uganda is currently holding humane saddle making training workshops and community donkey vet clinics in eastern Uganda. AKI donors cover the costs of Bam’s donkey welfare work. I like what Boniface Obbo (a District Veterinary Officer) said on social media as his explanation of why sometimes fewer owners with their donkeys show up at Bam community clinics: “…because of your [Bam Animal Clinics’] intervention the health of donkeys has improved and therefore no need for treatment. Thanks for the good work.” (What more could we ask for?!)
Above: Preparations for one of Bam’s humane saddle making training workshops. The saddles are made with sisal sacks (cheap, easily accessible) and stuffed with dried grass, old t-shirts, just about anything available that gives some cushion to the donkeys’ burdens.
Helping Hands for Hounds of Honduras is continuing to work with their 1st community in Tegucigalpa that has pledged to spay all the street dogs in their area and provide feeding stations for them. Community members are covering some costs; and thanks to AKI donors, Helping Hands for Hounds of Honduras is covering the remainder. Monchita (picture below), the most recent street dog to be spayed (on Feb 21) was full of ticks, as street dogs in Tegucigalpa tend to be, so she was also treated with tick prevention meds.
Kingston Community Animal Welfare -as usual- is busy with daily feedings, care, and spay/neuter of Kingston’s street dogs and cats and with helping no/low income families care for their pets, and they’ve recently added more cats and dogs to a list that never ends (for example, these cats).
Above: This kitty (1st picture) is one of a group of cats (2nd picture) living at a Kingston country club, where Deborah set up a feeding station and has been getting them spayed and neutered. One morning, she noticed the kitty unable to stand and shaking violently. She was so hungry, she had to drag herself to the food-these were signs of neurological damage, so off they went to the vet. At first, the prognosis looked bad. But by the end of last week, the kitty was ready to go home! Deborah discovered that a kitchen worker had kicked the kitty when she was begging for food too close to the kitchen area (and has threatened worse). He’s already been reported to the manager (we’re waiting to hear the outcome).
Uganda Society for the Protection & Care of Animals has broken ground on their new location (picture below left), and the site is now ready for 8 new pens (currently being constructed). Once the new pens are placed, the cats and dogs can be moved and the pens at the current Haven can be dismantled and moved. But meanwhile, dogs and cats keep arriving at The Haven, like this truck load of dogs (picture below right); the owner dropped them at the shelter because he could no longer take care of them (thank you for not dumping them on the street!) And AKI donors continue to support the USPCA’s ongoing needs, such as shelter rent, staff salaries, dog and cat food, and other USPCA priorities.
We have a new version of Pet Portraits for AKI—Pet & People Portraits. This is an example of what you can get for a $12 minimum donation to Animal-Kind International (thanks to Paterne, from our Partner Sauvons nos Animaux in the DR Congo for modeling the new Pet & People Portrait!)
With Gratitude for your generous support, your kindness, and for putting your trust in us,
Karen Menczer, Founder/Director
&
the Animal-Kind International Board
AKI has Partner Organizations in Uganda (2 partners), Namibia (2 partners), DR Congo, Ghana, South Sudan, Liberia, Honduras, Jamaica, and Armenia. Our 2021 grantees work in: Ghana, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (3 grantees).
AKI: Since 2007, helping animals and the people who care for them in some of the poorest countries. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; donations to AKI are tax deductible in the US to the extent the law allows. 100% of your donations go to our Partners & Grant Program.