July 2024: Matching donation-please help, Jamaica hurricane, Ghana's horses

Kindness to Animals has no Boundaries

July 2024

Dear Animal-Kind Friends,

First, I want to tell you about an amazing opportunity from a very generous Animal-Kind International supporter who has offered a $2000 donation to our Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program if we can raise another $2000. The $2000 donation and the match would allow us to fund 10 grant projects, more than we ever have (9 was the most, and this year, we set aside funds for 8 grant projects).

Please help us raise $2000 within the next 2 weeks (by July 27) so we don’t lose this opportunity for a matching donation!

We’d love to get some new donors to step up—we believe when you donate once, you’ll see that supporting Animal-Kind International is a great use of your animal welfare dollars. Give us a chance. Even small donations will help us raise the match.

One of our previous grantees, Nairobi Feline Sanctuary, constructed a kitty play area (and vet clinic) at their sanctuary. The matching donation will allow us to help so many more animals!

Right now, our external proposal review committee is reviewing the top 26 proposals (out of a total of 77 received). They’ll finish their review by June 21 and give their recommendations to the AKI Board. The Board will meet during the last week of July, as often as necessary to come to an agreement on the grant winners—never an easy task! Winners will be announced on our website and social media pages on August 2 (and in our August email/newsletter).

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Helping Ghana's Horses and Jamaica Hurricane Beryl

While we've been busy with our grant reviews, our Partner Organizations have been busy addressing their challenges: Read below how they are dealing with the Jamaica hurricane and Ghana's horses who need our help.

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Kingston Community Animal Welfare: Helping dogs and cats

affected by Jamaica's Hurricane Beryl

Here’s a glimpse into what Kingston Community Animal Welfare was doing during the hurricane —and continues to do— as more cats and dogs are found who have been affected by Hurricane Beryl. Below, Deborah (KCAW) tells us how she

Hours after Hurricane Beryl tore off roofs and ripped out windows in my neighborhood I was out on my hill with food visiting the more vulnerable dogs who were shut in with no food.

I had one of the squatters hold an umbrella as the rains were still coming, sometimes with extremely heavy showers.

One of my street pups live under a broken down car. He was so terrified he wouldn’t come out so I left his food. Right next door were a mamá and her pup who despite living in the bushes were lucky to have made it! They were happy to get some food!

It began to rain heavily again so I had to run back to the car.

These cats with their babies survived the hurricane but 2 haven't come back. Yet. Am still hoping. Most have been spayed but always new ones come into this colony and as you can see I have more spay and neuter work ahead once things settle down.

Feral kitties lounging after a good meal and clean water

On my way back home with little food left I saw one little pup on the street searching for food.

I had enough for him and he ate as much as his little belly could hold.

The day after the hurricane, I went out again to try to assess the situation but still there were trees blocking my way and roads were impassable. This pup was washed down a flooded gully and rescued by a man who sells breadfruit at one of my feeding stops. As I saw the man coming I knew he found a pup. Exhausted and hungry, I drove this little girl back to my house where she got a bath, a meal, and slept. She’ll be available for adoption soon. I named her Dibbles.

Unfortunately, it turned out that Dibbles was sick. She was barely eating and passing blood in her stool. She was diagnosed with coccidia. I've had her on medication 3 days now and she is doing fine.

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The Six Freedoms-Ghana (@thesixfreedoms): Helping Ghana's Horses

We’re excited about this important new initiative that our Partner Organization, The Six Freedoms-Ghana, will be undertaking. It’s sure to help many horses now and into the future and make some real, sustainable changes…..and could be a great model for other African countries. Read about the Six Freedoms’ plans and why horses in Ghana NEED OUR HELP:

Helping Abused, Neglected Horses in Ghana

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Thank you so much for your kindness and your much-needed and appreciated support. Together, we’re changing the world for the better for animals.

Karen Menczer, Founder/Director

& the Animal-Kind International Board

AKI has Partner Organizations 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 2023 (6th annual) Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program grantees work in: Zimbabwe (2 grantees), Tanzania (2 grantees), South Africa (2 grantees), Morocco, and Namibia.

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 are used to support our Partner Organizations & our Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program.