Have-a-Heart reaches a milestone
The Have-a-Heart Namibia animal welfare organisation recently reached a milestone when they operated on their 15 000th pet.A group of volunteers established Have-a-Heart Namibia in a bid to further the late Lindie Prinsloo's dream. The organisation strives to sterilise and castrate pets from low- or no-income homes in small or informal settlements free of charge.
Have-a-Heart, which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year, has operated, vaccinated and treated pets in 62 towns and settlements across the country.
This month, Have-a-Heart and Beukes Veterinary Consulting from Gobabis visited Plessiesplaas, a small settlement north of Gobabis, for the first time. Beukes Veterinary Consulting, belonging to Drs Mariette and Stefan Beukes, opened in Gobabis in 2019. They mainly work with farmers in the area who asked if they could help with the sterilisation of pets.
The vets and Have-a-Heart then began sterilising pets here and there.
According to their consulting room assistant, Rita Opperman, the couple decided to get more involved with this welfare organisation at the beginning of the year, especially in the communities where they operate.
“We started with spay days even before we had numerous inquiries from our farming clients to help in their areas. We then approached Have-a-Heart and obtained the necessary permission. It’s a pleasure for us to go out and see how the less fortunate love and take care of their animals.
“We like to help where we can, and Have-a-Heart allows us to do more. The organisation pays for the animals’ sterilisation and the vets pay for the fuel and give their time for free,” she said.
Ten dogs and three cats were operated on at Plessiesplaas in June.
Treatment
According to Geesche Neuberg from Have-a-Heart, the vets were satisfied with the animals’ condition and there was no need for further treatment. The animals were also vaccinated and treated against parasites.
“These small spay days are very necessary, especially in remote areas because otherwise the animals will never see a vet. We also visited Leonardville for the first time in May, and Aminuis in June together with Beukes Veterinary Consulting. Ten dogs and six cats were sterilised in Leonardville and seven dogs and five cats in Aminuis.”
They are in Leonardville again today (26 July).
Dr Hartmuth Winterbach and his team also operated and treated all pets taken to the Brandberg Rest Camp. A total of nine dogs and six cats were sterilised.
This year Have-a-Heart and the vets from Oshana SPCA Vet Clinic, Drs Junias Elifas, Herman Nelson and Alfeus Iyambo, visited Oshikango, Oluna north of Otapi, and Omuthiya for the first time.
“They were in the villages to catch, sterilise and release feral cats. In Oshakati alone they sterilised, vaccinated and released 33 cats. Last weekend they operated on 32 dogs in Ondangwa during the first spay day. These vets have been doing a lot for Have-a-Heart since 2021. They are stationed in Oshakati and the Oshana Animal Protection Society (SPCA) pays for their fuel.”
Dreaming big
Have-a-Heart was founded in 2013 by the late Lindie Prinsloo to sterilise and castrate dogs and cats in Outjo - her hometown - with the dream of expanding the campaigns nationwide.
A group of volunteers joined in 2018 with the aim of taking Prinsloo’s dream further.
“Our goal is to provide free castrations and sterilisations for pet owners with little or no income. Our ultimate goal is to sustainably reduce the number of stray animals, eliminating the need for mass euthanasia while improving the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats in informal settlements in particular,” Neuberg said.
Every dog and cat spayed by Have-a-Heart is also fully vaccinated and receives internal and external parasite control treatment that has direct health benefits for dogs and cats, as well as people and local wildlife.
“Have-a-Heart depends on donations and is run by volunteers. All donations received are used to help various vets for sterilisations, castrations and the necessary medication. Our volunteers go out of their way to improve the lives of animals in informal settlements by providing advice and physical assistance to pet owners who would otherwise have no access to such information or services.” – [email protected]