AKI supports Have a Heart-Namibia's mobile efforts to bring spay/neuter and other vet care to under-served communities in Namibia, most of which are several hours from the closest vet. Here's how AKI donations have made a difference in Namibia (June-Sept).
September 2019:
As part of HAH-Namibia's spay/neuter program, Witfoet from Omaruru was neutered about 6 weeks ago. At that time, he was diagnosed with transmissable venereal tumor. Untreated, TVT is deadly. However, it's 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. Witfoet started his once/week treatments funded by AKI's Emergency Fund. His treatments were finished on September 16 and now he's healthy, happy, neutered, and as always, much loved by his family.
Lucky from Swakopmund was an HAH client last year, when he was neutered. He was hit by a car and -as you can see- got a really bad "carpet burn" on his tummy. It looks really painful, but thanks to AKI's Emergency Fund, he's under Dr. Tharina's care. She's a bit worried the skin might peel off and that he could get an infection. He is due for a follow-up visit (we'll post updates on AKI's social media pages).
Speedy from Kapsfarm area was neutered in December 2018, an HAH client. He recently broke his leg and because of AKI's Emergency Fund, HAH could get him treated at Rhino Park clinic in Windhoek. He has the saddest eyes, but he's doing fine, getting pain meds and rest...just what he needs!
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.
With funds from AKI, 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 their follow-up visits and received parasite treatments and rabies vaccinations. ALL FOLLOW-UP CARE WAS FUNDED BY AKI DONORS!
Also in August, HAH used the AKI Emergency Fund for Blik's (Afrikaans for Tin) TVT treatment. Blik had been neutered, vaccinated, and treated against parasites during the HAH mobile clinic at Kappsfarm in December 2018. But then, at the end of July 2019, his owner asked HAH for help. He noticed lumps under Blik’s skin and Blik was losing weight.
It turned out that Blik had TVT, which he must have gotten prior to being neutered. TVT can show up anywhere, even in the eyes. Blik had TVT under his skin. 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 were covered by AKI's Emergency Fund.
One of Blik's chemo treatments was on August 12, and he was already looking and feeling so much better. Soon he'll be back to 100% health!
During a 2018 HAH mobile clinic in Kamanjab, Wagter's owner had asked Dr. Baines 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 AKI's Emergency Fund. Then, during HAH's August mobile clinic in Kamanjab, Wagter showed up for his follow-up, AKI-funded visit (booster, anti-parasite), and Dr. Baines was able to get his picture taken with Wagter and Wagter's owner.
July 2019:
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!"
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. She was in horrible pain, hungry, and cold.
The person who found Ninja immediately fell in love with her and wanted to help her. He is currently unemployed, so he contacted HAH. HAH found 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. After she returned to Luderitz, we received an update from HAH: "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 how they would catchand transport 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 and HAH was able to find 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 were given good, long-term antibiotics, vitamins, and parasite prevention
For all of this and more-we are so grateful for your support! None of this would be possible without AKI donors.