SAWS plans to sterilize 150, and provide basic veterinary care to at least a further 240 cats and dogs from low income households in rural Eswatini. Due to high incidence of poverty, these households are not able to cater to the needs of their animals, which results in high mortality rate caused by diseases, uncontrolled breeding and emaciation. This project will improve the quality of life of cats and dogs in selected communities in need by providing them with the much needed veterinary care.
In Eswatini, many cats and dogs are kept for rodent control and security rather than as companion animals. Due to poverty, limited access to affordable veterinary care, and low awareness of responsible pet ownership, sterilisation and basic healthcare are often neglected. This results in uncontrolled breeding, preventable disease, high mortality rates, and ongoing suffering among vulnerable animals in both urban and rural communities.
Due to the current Foot and Mouth crisis, large rural spay clinics are not possible as veterinarians are focused on disease control. Instead, SAWS will register animals from rural communities, transport them to partner vets for sterilisation and treatment, and return them after care. This approach ensures continued access to essential veterinary services, prevents uncontrolled breeding, and improves the health and welfare of vulnerable cats and dogs.
Long-term, the project will support a more stable and humanely managed population of cats and dogs through ongoing sterilisation and access to veterinary care. By reducing uncontrolled breeding and preventable illness, animal welfare will steadily improve. It will also encourage responsible pet ownership, helping communities care for their animals more effectively and fostering a more compassionate and sustainable human-animal relationship in Eswatini.
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