March 2026: Grant Program & animal welfare during war
- Animal-Kind International
- Apr 6
- 6 min read
Kindness to Animals Has No Boundaries
AKI News: March 2026
When I was living in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean, and volunteering with animal protection organizations, we went from one emergency to the next. That was the SOP-standard operating procedure-for animal welfare, but it was no way to run a successful organization. If adequate funding had been available, many emergencies could have been averted before they turned disastrous. If we had the funds, we could actually plan and prepare and grow and become strong.
One reason I started Animal-Kind International was to avoid the scenario of going from emergency to emergency, and to help grow a more mature and respected animal welfare/protection sector. And that’s what we’ve been doing since 2007.
Of course, it’s not always possible to remain on that trajectory, and sometimes things really are out of our control, for example, the war in the Middle East, as well as conflicts that get much less attention, but equally affect us—AKI and our supported organizations. We now find ourselves facing emergencies that could turn disastrous if we don’t act. More about these and some good news about the opening of our 2026 Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program below.
News from AKI Partner Organizations
Our Partners receive ongoing support from us (via your donations). Knowing that they can rely on this source of funding allows them to plan, and often avert emergencies. Here’s how….
How we’re helping Twala Trust in Zimbabwe: Doggy Tuesday & More: From the 1st Doggy Tuesday of 2026 to the most recent, read how AKI donors help Twala Trust help Zimbabwe’s dogs: READ ABOUT DOGGY TUESDAY HERE, where you can also find out about Twala’s equines and cats and how your support helps them too.
But Twala is now facing several emergencies at once. Sarah (Twala Trust trustee) wrote: “The endless arrival of emaciated, terrified, unwanted dogs goes on, and on. And somehow we need to find the resources to care for these dogs who deserve better. We know everyone is feeling the effects of the war in the Middle East and of inflation in general. The massive fuel price hike in Zimbabwe and worldwide has hit Twala hard, and along with it, inevitability, comes more need as people abandon or surrender animals they can't afford to care for…. To add to the stress, Goromonzi is currently under quarantine in terms of cattle movement because of a Foot and Mouth outbreak, so we are sourcing about 50% less meat than usual to feed all the dogs and the predators in our care. We are ok, thanks to you and AKI, but will definitely spend more funds than usual on dog kibble as the Foot and Mouth outbreak in our area means a lot less meat for the dogs.”
Please help us make sure that these emergencies don’t turn into a
disaster for Twala Trust!
Even with ongoing conflicts and unrest in South Sudan, our Partner Organization, the South Sudan SPCA, has continued to plan and prepare for the 1st large-scale spay/neuter campaign. The insecurity, changes in government and government requirements, and lack of available supplies have delayed the campaign many times over. But some key obstacles have been overcome (rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs are now available; pre-exposure rabies vaccine for volunteers are in-country). The security situation is manageable for now: we have a window of opportunity. Every dollar more that we raise means more cats and dogs can be sterilized. Thanks to your support, we and the SSSPCA will be ready to act BEFORE disaster strikes.
During the ongoing conflict and unrest in eastern Congo, violence and sabotage are common. We’re not sure who is responsible, but someone intentionally cut the pipes that supply water to the Sauvons nos Animaux shelter, our Partner in Congo. The water supply to the shelter was cut off. This was an EMERGENCY! Sauvons nos Animaux needed money fast to avert a disaster for their 169 dogs and 28 cats! Thanks to your donations, we were able to send funds to repair the water pipes, and also for dog and cat food (with inflation, it looks like Sauvons nos Animaux will be spending a lot more than anticipated in 2026) and staff salaries.
AKI Partner Organization, the Uganda SPCA, has been moving USPCA shelter dogs to their new shelter site!
Animal-Kind International donors are the main source of funding for the USPCA. With over 250 dogs and cats, and new rescues arriving daily, the USPCA has many mouths to feed, staff to pay, vet bills, and shelter supplies to buy. As the only legitimate shelter in the country, and losing money all the time because of donations to the scam shelters/rescues instead of to the USPCA, their-and our-budgets are stretched thin!
Animal-Kind International News: Our Animal Welfare Grant Program-2026
AKI’s 9th annual Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program for Africa and Latin America/Caribbean-based organizations will begin accepting proposals on April 15. The deadline to submit a proposal is May 25, 2026. The 2026 documents are now available on our website:
Sisi was brought to SPCA Grahamstown, a heavily pregnant dog. Her owners didn’t want her to have puppies. Sisi was hospitalized overnight for surgery the next day, funded by AKI’s Good DOG Fund, a grant top-up award to the SPCA.
Our grant program is 100% donor funded. Since 2018, we’ve supported 8 to 13 grants each year (of course, this is in addition to supporting our Partner Organizations). For example, SPCA Grahamstown is a 4-time grantee and recipient of an extra fund, the Good DOG Fund. The Good DOG Fund has helped the SPCA avert many emergencies since 2024. Michelle (SPCA G) wrote,
“We are so grateful for the Good D.O.G Fund and the difference it has made to not only the animals and their owners, but the SPCA Grahamstown team on the ground too. Truly a miracle fund that makes the impossible, possible! Thank you Animal-Kind International and your wonderful supporters for this life-saving fund.”
In this time of war and uncertainty, we are particularly concerned about raising enough money for our 2026 Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program.
These are two grant projects recently completed (with 5 projects (or top-up awards) remaining and to be completed by April 5):
The Rivadeneira Sterilization Center (Ecuador) completed their grant project with a total of 86 cats and dogs sterilized, most of them females, and many belonging to seniors, who rely on their cats and dogs as their sole source of companionship.
then, for the great work they did—and because the need continues—
we awarded a top-up grant. With the additional funds, INADES provided vet care to the donkeys they had re-homed and placed in foster care (all were rescued from the skin/slaughter trade).
I’ll be writing the April newsletter from Honduras, where I’ll visit our Partner Organization, Helping Hands for Hounds of Honduras, other dog and cat rescue organizations, and an organization that helps horses in Honduras.
More From the AKI Blog
Bam Animal Clinics protects donkeys in eastern Uganda: With AKI support, Bam helps 1000s of donkeys every year to live healthier, more comfortable, and safer lives. READ ABOUT HOW WE’RE HELPING UGANDA’S DONKEYS HERE.
Liberia Animal Welfare: Monitoring Results of Humane Education: In the February AKI newsletter, we wrote that AKI Partner Organization, Liberia Animal Welfare & Conservation Society, was paired with a mentor as part of our Friendly Audit Program, who is helping them develop and implement a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan. READ HERE ABOUT THIS CUTTING EDGE MONITORING PROGRAM (and as always, see some great images from LAWCS).
Reminders
Our Annual Report-2025 is available on our website (or send an email message and I’ll send it to you). The report has all the details about how we helped our Partners in 2025—and their achievements, about our Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program, and so much more. This year the annual report includes a new section, Way Forward, where you can learn more about our plans for 2026.
MONTHLY DONORS: I sent all end-of-year emails (with total donated and what your donations helped us accomplish) in mid-December. If you haven’t received yours, please get in touch and I’ll gladly re-send it.
We are gratefully yours,
Karen Menczer, Founder/Director
& the Animal-Kind International Board
Our Partner Organizations work in Uganda, Namibia, DR Congo, Ghana, South Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Honduras, and Jamaica. You can donate to AKI’s general fund or designate your donation to one or more of our Partner Organizations.
Our 2025 (8th annual) Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program grantees work in: Kenya, Tanzania (2 grantees), South Africa (2 grantees), Cameroon, Namibia, Israel, Haiti, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile.
AKI: Since 2007, helping animals and the people who care for them in resource-poor areas.
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 are used to support our Partner Organizations & our Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program.
