Setting the Scene

Tanzania, between Kenya and Mozambique on Africa's eastern coast, is a Republic formed in 1964 from the union of two former countries, Tanganyika and Zanzibar.  It's an area about twice the size of California, and contains Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,336 feet.  The country's varied terrain provides an ideal setting for its many game reserves and national parks;  its main industry, agriculture, employs  80% of the workforce.  But Tanzania is in the bottom 10% of the world's economies by per capita income: 36% of its 41 million population live below the poverty line, and are at high risk for disease such as malaria, hepatitis, typhoid and AIDS.   You can imagine, therefore, that caring for animals is not a high priority for many people there.  But one group of people in the capital city of Dar es salaam, is making great strides to create a better world for the country's animals, and that is the Tanzania Animal Welfare Society - TAWESO.    

Who is Tanzania Animal Welfare Society?

TAWESO is a group of veterinarians, teachers, agricultural workers and other members of the community, all volunteering their time and hard work to make changes in the way animals are treated.  The group was founded in April 2008, and includes 16 members, each of whom has a different specialty when it comes to animal care, and they are assisted by other volunteers from time to time, especially for cases in areas outside Dar es salaam.   Executive Director Thomas Kahema told me about the challenges they face and some of the tremendous progress they've made in various aspects of their animal welfare work.

Changing laws and educating the public

TAWESO's policy and advocacy efforts met with huge success in 2008 when the Animal Welfare Act was passed by the Parliament of Tanzania.  TAWESO members spent over a year working with government officials to help draft this bill, which will help protect animals in Tanzania by allowing prosecution of those who violate animal welfare laws.  This is a tremendous achievement, but it is just the beginning:  TAWESO is now tackling the significant challenge of educating the public on the new legislation.  Their education efforts don't just focus on the legal aspects of animal welfare;  TAWESO spends time in schools and local communities, teaching children and adults about responsible pet ownership and love of animals;  they also distribute humane education leaflets to help people understand that animals are sentient beings that deserve care and kindness.  These education programs are designed not only to help domestic pets, but also to encourage better treatment of stray animals.  

Helping stray and neglected animals

In Tanzania, stray animals may be harmed or maltreated because they compete with street children for food, and can transmit serious diseases such as rabies and hydatidosis (a parasitic infection caused by tapeworm larvae). TAWESO aims to reduce these instances of cruelty through its education efforts in the community. They also provide veterinary care to stray and neglected animals -- treating illnesses and wounds, medicating animals against mange, fleas and ticks, and providing rabies shots and deworming cures, as well as spay and neuter programs to reduce the stray population.  TAWESO has a small shelter which accommodates up to ten animals, though adoption rates are low and some dogs and cats have to be released after treatment due to lack of space at the shelter.  But TAWESO works to find adoptive homes whenever they can, and two recent successes involve a puppy named Scubby, and a female pig.

Scubby

A few months ago, after one of their educational visits to a primary school in Dar es salaam, TAWESO found a stray puppy in very poor condition, dehydrated and with parasites.  Their clinical staff treated the puppy and provided fluid therapy as well as antibiotics, deworming and multivitamins.  The dog was then taken to TAWESO's shelter for continuing medical care; at the shelter, he was named Scubby.  Scubby recovered well, and after a month, was fit enough to be neutered and receive a rabies shot, and became eligible for adoption.  Undaunted by the difficulty of placing homeless animals in Tanzania, TAWESO began to look for an adoptive home for the pup. Two months later an adopter was found;  TAWESO did a home-check, approved the adopter, and Scubby, who has kept his name, joined the Jonathan Lembeni family as their pet.  TAWESO visits adopted pets regularly in their new homes, and Scubby is now a happy and well cared-for family member.   

Saving a pig 

TAWESO's efforts are usually focused on dogs and cats, but recently they were told about a pig that needed their help. TAWESO didn't hesitate to spring into action, and convinced the owner of the malnourished and mangy sow to give her up. The owner regretted that she could not afford food or medical care, and agreed to sell the pig to a buyer found by TAWESO. They provided the new owner, Ibrahim Masawe, with free veterinary care for the pig, and educated him on proper nutrition. The pig returned to good health within three months and delivered her first litter of ten robust piglets a few months later.  

These are just two of TAWESO's recent happy endings;  despite the difficulties they face in their work, they can cite many more wonderful success stories where animals end up in loving permanent homes. 

Future goals - how you can help

TAWESO has a blog page on Best Friends' International Network where you can read more about their work and initiatives. Their plans and needs for the future are ambitious but consistent with the work they've successfully performed to date:

• Continue providing sterilization and medical care to stray dogs and cats
• Expand their public information campaign relating to the Animal Welfare Act of 2008, to include humane education, as well as advertising and distribution of leaflets in cities and rural areas
• Purchase a vehicle to allow better coverage of rural areas (TAWESO currently travels by public transportation, which limits their ability to do effective field work)
• Obtain and maintain equipment for stray animal control, e.g. veterinary supplies, dog catching equipment, computer

As an all-volunteer organization, TAWESO relies on donations from the public to do its excellent and much needed work.  Due to the difficulty and expense of establishing a web presence in Tanzania, TAWESO does not have a site where donations can be made.  But they will gladly accept US Dollar checks or bank drafts mailed to:  Tanzania Animal Welfare Society., P.O. Box 10268, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Photos: Courtesy of Tanzania Animal Welfare Society, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

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