Cheltenham-Based Charity Awards £10,000 to Tackle Global Animal Welfare Issues
Naturewatch Foundation, a Cheltenham-based animal welfare charity, has recently announced that it has awarded £10,000 in grants to support four impactful projects tackling urgent animal welfare issues around the world. The funding, provided by the foundation, will be distributed among projects in Pakistan, Rwanda, Jamaica, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, each focused on reducing suffering, improving public health, and creating lasting change for both animals and communities.
According to Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation, this grant reflects the World Animal Day mission of improving animal welfare around the world. “We’re proud to support four amazing projects that will make the world a kinder place for animals,” says Carr.
Rabies Vaccinations in Pakistan
One of the projects supported by the grant is the SAVERS project in Pakistan, a student-led veterinary society that aims to vaccinate 250 stray cats and dogs against rabies. This campaign is a collaborative effort between veterinary students and qualified professionals, providing students with valuable hands-on experience while also combating a fatal disease that poses a significant risk to both animals and humans.
The project directly contributes to the global goal of ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, a target set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. SAVERS hopes that this project will set an example of the action that needs to be taken by other animal welfare organizations throughout Pakistan.
Mass Vaccination and Education in Rwanda
In Rwanda, where up to 78% of human hospitalizations are linked to dog bites, the Rwanda Animal Welfare Organisation (RAWO) will use the grant to vaccinate 800 stray dogs and educate 2,000 children on responsible pet care, dog welfare, and the Five Freedoms. The project will also distribute 800 educational leaflets to existing dog owners.
By combining mass vaccination with an education program, RAWO aims to tackle both the cause and effect of rabies outbreaks. The project will focus on regions with the highest number of rabies cases, such as Nyange, Kinigi, Musanze, and Shingiro.
Street Animal Clinic in Jamaica
In the inner-city area of Montego Bay, Jamaica, the grant will fund a one-day pop-up clinic by the Montego Bay Animal Haven. The clinic will offer spay/neuter services and free or low-cost wellness care, such as examinations and vaccinations, to street animals and pets from low-income households.
The clinic’s goal is to neuter five strays and provide wellness checks to at least 30 others, building on the Haven’s mission to reduce the overpopulation of street animals and help owners meet the welfare needs of their pets. Sabria Hector, Managing Director of Montego Bay Animal Haven, Jamaica, expresses her gratitude for the grant, stating, “We are very grateful to be recognized in such a way for our work to change lives, both animal and human. We cannot thank Naturewatch Foundation enough for considering the application and the generosity of the award of the grant.”
Warm Shelter for Stray Cats in Bosnia and Herzegovina
While support for stray dogs exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, cats are often overlooked, despite there being hundreds in need. With its share of the grant, WagWag, a grassroots animal welfare group, plans to build a ‘Cat Hotel’ in Banja Luka, a safe and insulated shelter for 20–30 stray cats.
The cat hotel will be equipped with information boards explaining the need for the project and will be visited by volunteers who will maintain the shelter’s cleanliness and provide food to the cats residing there. Winters are tough for animals living on the street, so Naturewatch Foundation hopes that this project will provide safety to animals that would otherwise be vulnerable to cold weather conditions.
A Global Impact
These four organizations were selected from Naturewatch Foundation’s global network of World Animal Day Ambassadors who work year-round to protect animals in their countries. The charity, which coordinates World Animal Day on October 4th from its Cheltenham office, believes that small-scale, grassroots projects can create wide-reaching change when given the right support.
“Many of our ambassador’s organizations rely on volunteers and limited funding,” says Sarah Carr, CEO and Campaign Lead for World Animal Day. “Through World Animal Day and our grant program, we’re helping to support vital initiatives that otherwise might not go ahead.”
Updates on the grant recipients and their progress will be shared on the World Animal Day website in the coming months.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.