Rabies is one of the deadliest viruses on the planet, killing countless thousands of dogs each year. But rabies is preventable, and with your help, we can stop this death-dealing disease in its tracks before it’s too late.
Credit: Al Rahmeh
As World Rabies Day approaches, we’re launching an emergency global campaign to vaccinate thousands of dogs in the high-risk regions of Tanzania, Kenya and Jordan.
Words can barely do justice to the horror of this lethal disease. The nightmare begins with a single bite, and within days, the infected dog is overtaken by weakness, seizures, difficulty breathing and a terrifying descent into madness or paralysis.
In the ‘furious’ form of rabies, a dog is driven to an uncontrollable frenzy, eating anything in sight, including stones and dirt, before succumbing to violent seizures and death. In the ‘dumb’ form, paralysis progresses until the dog foams at the mouth, lapses into a coma and dies.
Credit: Al Rahmeh
Sadly, the suffering does not stop there…
In poverty-stricken areas where awareness is lacking, the fear of rabies drives people to desperate, brutal methods of mass culling – often targeting dogs that are not even infected.
In Tanzania and Kenya, this fear sparks horrific dog-killing rampages, with many local people senselessly attacking every innocent creature they find with sticks and stones in a misguided attempt to protect the human community.
In Jordan, street dogs are routinely shot, poisoned and rounded up to rot or be killed in so-called government shelters – despite such killings being illegal under Jordanian law. When rabies strikes, the horrors only get worse for the animals.
These acts of cruelty are not only evil and inhumane, but they are also completely ineffective. The senseless slaughter of street dogs does nothing to solve the problem. The only way to protect both dogs and communities is through widespread vaccination programs.
Credit: Byron Seale
We plan to launch three mass vaccination drives in Tanzania, Kenya and Jordan, aiming to vaccinate and protect as many dogs as we possibly can.
Exactly how many lives we save depends entirely on the generosity of compassionate animal-lovers like you.
In Tanzania, we’re partnering with the Lake Zone Animal Welfare Organization (LAZAWO) to vaccinate free-roaming pets and street dogs across several rural areas and villages in Mwanza, where an estimated 287,000 street dogs are at risk.
In Kenya, we’re working with the KSPCA to vaccinate street dogs in Kibera – Africa’s largest and poorest slum, where recent floods have displaced many animals, increasing the risk of rabies.
Credit: Worms And Germs
In Jordan, we’re collaborating with our local partner, Al Rahmeh, to launch a mass rabies vaccination drive in the capital city of Amman where, despite street dogs being a massive problem, few are doing anything to help and protect them.
For just a few dollars or pounds, you can save multiple lives.
The good news is that rabies vaccines are relatively inexpensive in these three regions, which means that your donation, big or small, will stretch a long, long way. Here’s how YOU can make a difference:
- $7 (£5.35) will vaccinate 10 dogs against rabies
- $70 (£53.50) will vaccinate 100 dogs against rabies
- $700 (£535) will vaccinate 1,000 dogs against rabies
The more you give, the more dogs we can save.
Credit: NFA
With your support, we can help make a massive impact for these vulnerable animals.
Together, we can end the cycle of fear, suffering and agonizing death caused by rabies. Please donate to Network for Animals today – thousands of animal lives are hanging in the balance.
Gloria Davies (and Max and Flora!)
Founder
Network for Animals
P.S. Last year, you helped us combat rabies in Tanzania after an outbreak caused villagers to slaughter street animals. In just three days, we vaccinated nearly 1,000 dogs. This World Rabies Day, we want to make even more of a difference – please help by donating today.