Case reports and investigation
The Issue
Every day, animals fall sick or are injured, through accident, misadventure, mistreatment or neglect. Many animals are free roaming, or strays, and have no one to care for them. But even when there are concerned well-wishers, there are very few affordable emergency response services.
In 2021 KSPCA Nairobi alone received more than 6 000 calls to respond to emergencies ranging from donkeys, cats and dogs in road traffic accidents, to birds of prey stunned by power cables, to animals caught in snares or fallen down holes, to cases of suspected rabies, to deliberate criminal injury or neglect.
In addition, our work in communities means that we often come across animals with medical needs that will not be met without our help.
Our Programmes
KSPCA is at the front line of responding to animal welfare emergencies. Our small team of inspectors responds to emergency calls as quickly as possible. In most cases, we recover the animals and bring them to one of our centres in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nanyuki or Mombasa, where our medical staff assess the animal’s condition and offer medical care when possible.
Likely the animals will be kept in our medical and recovery facilities at our shelters, and if there is no one to claim them, they will be rehomed when recovered, sterilised, vaccinated and microchipped. If animals have come in from our community work, we return them to their homes if appropriate.
On any given day, there can be up to 800 animals in KSPCA shelters, including dogs, cats, horses and donkeys. Many of these animals need specialist care as well as basics like food, health care, exercise and loving socialisation.
We are very lucky to have a small network of foster carers who agree to take in animals that need special care before they are ready for adoption. Baby animals are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases in the shelter and often need special care. Horses also need expert care. They do best with foster families and we try to avoid keeping them in the shelter if we can.
When ready for rehoming, animals are assessed and advertised through our adoption service. Potential adopters are screened to make sure that we make the right match, and that they are able to care for the animal. Adopters will sign an adoption contract committing them to good care, and the adoption fee helps pay for vaccinations, sterlisation, microchipping and other care.
The emergency response and shelter work are only part of what KSPCA does – we know that lasting solutions include work in communities. But it is a vital part of the work.
Our Work in Action
Q came in to our Nairobi shelter in a bad state. Somehow his back was broken and he was unable to move his back legs. He is also a young, friendly boy and needed us to give him a chance. With the devoted attentions of our vet, especially our amazing vet interns, he seemed to regain some movement in his rear end. His spirit was infectious.
Even on two legs, he could drag himself around at high speed. We thought he would do well in a wheelchair. Eventually, after several months of physio, Q was well enough to try out the wheelchair donated by well-wishers. He showed a turn of speed on his very first attempt! Q will always face challenges but he is now comfortable and happy at the home of one of the vet interns who fell in love with him. Go Q!
Duffy was rescued from the street, likely near death. He was obviously severely emaciated, but the truly striking thing about him was that when he arrived, all he wanted to do was give us kisses.
Our vets could find no medical reason for him to be so thin – he was simply starving. Gentle care saw him gradually put on weight, and his personality shone even brighter. His rescuer couldn’t get him out of her head, so when he was well enough he went home to join her family.
How You Can Help
Support running costs of our Nairobi vet clinic, ensuring medical care for up to 800 animals housed in shelters in Naivasha, Mombasa, Nairobi on any given day, spaying, neutering, and vaccinations – one year – KES 6 120 000 or US$ 55 636 approx.
Cost of one senior vet per year – KES 1 800 000 per year or $16 363.
Construction of vet clinic facilities in Nairobi – a modernised clinic facility with recovery kennel capacity for acute medical and post-operative care – funding target is KES 15 000 0000 or $136 500 approx. Funding gap is KES 10 000 000 or $90 910 approx,
Essential equipment to equip vet clinics in Nairobi and Naivasha – around KES 1 000 000 or $9 100 approx.
Quarantine and recovery kennels for the vet clinic – KES 5 000 000 or $45 455 approx.
Spay, neuter and vaccination campaign as part of our Care in the Community programme in Nairobi – 300 – 400 animals – KES 1 500 000 or US$13 640 over 6 months – preventing birth of thousands of unwanted animals. The more we can raise for this the more communities we can reach.