Here in the small African town of Kasane, on the banks of the River Chobe, the sheer abundance of wildlife is unfathomable. An unrivalled elephant population, buffalo grazing by the hundred, the river teaming with hippo and crocs… Kasane has developed out of the love and fascination for these animals. Sadly the plight of those that attract (arguably) less photographic interest is only too evident.
Kasane SPCA was born to aid these dogs as well as protect the local people and wildlife from disease and disruption. With household finances limited and vets scarce there's a plethora of dogs in poor health roaming the streets. Many are skin and bone, many are riddled with disease, many are aggressive, many hunt the wildlife. Not only for their sake was SPCA Kasane born: aggressive, sick dogs are a danger to both the local people and wildlife population. Disease can be passed to wildlife; rabies is not unheard of. With limited funding and currently no facilities or resident vet, our capabilities are limited to the following:
1. Sterilisation and vaccination programmes. Dependent on funds available we do a 4-6 day campaign annually, sterilising and vaccinating 90-130 dogs. We currently rely on the Maun Animal Welfare Society to provide all equipment, drugs, vet nurses and vets.
2. Prevention of Cruelty. As an SPCA, we are able to intervene in cruelty cases and confiscate animals being treated cruelly. In addition we can organise the euthanasia of animals too sick or injured to help. But with no facility and/or we have limited capabilities when it comes to treating the sick and injured.
3. Fostering and re-homing of animals and puppies that have the potential to lead a happy, healthy life.
4. Humane Awareness Education. Cruelty is often inflicted out of ignorance and lack of education. Providing proper information and advice on animal welfare is an ongoing objective. We aim at promoting better attitudes towards animals by making people aware that
all living creatures are equally important and deserve to be treated with respect and humanity. Our big objective for the future is to have our own shelter and facilities with a resident vet and nurses in order to:
1. Carry out regular spaying campaigns, quarterly, monthly or whenever needed
2. Treat sick and injured animals
3. Shelter animals looking for a home
4. Hold educational days
To achieve this we need to:
1. Source our own equipment and surgery tools in order to carry out sterilisations as well as routine operations and consultations
2. Buy a container and kit it out as a surgery and storage unit for all equipment
3. Acquire a piece of land in order to keep the container and build a shelter/permanent veterinary facility (dependent on conditions of land use)
4. Source volunteer vets from overseas and vet nurses locally
Resident vets and proper facilities will also give us the ability to hold spaying campaigns further afield, in villages such as Lesoma, Kachikau, the Enclave and beyond, where no facilities exist and where there is no charitable assistance
