improving the lives of working animals in botswana with veterinary care, education & humane equipment

Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) are our new partner group in Botswana. Recently, they completed an outreach trip for working animals in the Seronga area. This included education for owners and local children about proper care and welfare for animals, and issuing humane equipment. The high turnout demonstrated just how needed these services are in this area.

Read their full report below:

Overview

In May, the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) finally managed to pull together all the logistics needed to reach the Seronga area.

Getting there is a big challenge and what prevented us from visiting earlier — first a tar road full of potholes, then a long, punishing sand track that could easily destroy our vehicles, which are the lifeline of our work.

Thanks to the combined efforts of several organisations and companies, we made it happen. Over the course of a week, the team travelled by road and boat to visit six villages: Seronga, Gunotsoga, Beetsha, Eretsha, Gudigwa, and Sepopa.

As in our past campaigns, we provided sterilisation, vaccination, and parasite treatments for dogs and cats, while also caring for donkeys and horses.

Services included parasite treatment, wound care, hoof trimming, harness checks, and conversations with owners about how to better care for their working animals. The turnout was far beyond what we expected — especially for our very first visit — showing just how much these outreaches are needed and appreciated in remote areas.

Our team was made up of volunteer veterinary surgeons Dr. Michael Colgan and Dr. Wendy Colgan, along with MAWS’ assistants Ansie, Carmen, Thomas, and Vasco.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our partners:

• Animal Aid Abroad for sponsoring the equine clinic.

• CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably) team for their groundwork and financial support.

• SwampStop and Lance Dixon for boat transfers to and from Seronga, and helping to spread the word in Sepopa.

• Louise and Herman for hosting the team at Jumbo Junction and keeping spirits high with delicious meals.

• MackAir for flying in extra rabies vaccines when the number of pets needing care was far higher than expected, ensuring every animal could be treated.

Team on the boat to Seronga.

Unloading supplies with the CLAWS team.

MAWS vehicle on the road to Seronga.

Horses at the clinic.

Donkey and Horse Mobile Clinic

Given the remoteness of the villages we visited, working equines are used in multiple roles, including mounted transport, passenger transport, draught work involving the pulling of carts carrying both goods and people. As such, the welfare of these animals is key to the livelihoods of many families in these communities.

We offered assistance and advice/education on deworming, tick treatment, exchange of equipment, wound care, as well as hoof care. Significant amounts of replacement equipment were given out as there was a large amount of ill-fitting, damaged or homemade equipment in use that was causing injury.

We treated the equines for parasites with Panacur for the internal parasites and dip and tick grease for the external. Thomas - a farrier residing in Samochima village - volunteered in our clinics and we were able to offer hoof care to all the equines in need of it. We also treated wounds when necessary. Most of the wounds were from bad equipment (on the chest or from hobbles/saddles) and bite wounds.

All equine owners were registered with us, their contact information, brand marks, health of the animals and this will form part of the register that we are compiling on all equines that have been treated so that we can competently follow up where necessary.

Alongside our clinic, we took advantage of the attendance of many school children to distribute information to them and involve them in activities around care of their animals.

Wendy checking an infected eye.

Donkeys with new harnesses provided through Animal Aid Abroad funding.

Equipment and Harness Exchange

Many equines arrived with ill-fitting saddlery and harnessing, which causes injury. We removed and kept the inappropriate equipment and replaced it with bits, bridles, harnesses and blankets.

Owner holding old versus new bits — showing improvement in equipment quality.

Old harmful harness were exchanged for new equipment.

Donkeys at the Seronga clinic.

Wound Care

Most wounds encountered were caused by ill-fitting equipment — saddle sores, hobble injuries, bit wounds and rope burns. The team treated all wounds on site and where injuries were severe, owners were advised to rest the animal.

Saddle wound requiring treatment.

Mouth wound from rope bit.

Storm – Crocodile Attack Case

On our way to Seronga boat station on the last day, the team had to assist one more animal. Storm had been attacked by a crocodile and had a bad wound on his left leg.

Wendy treated the wound and gave the owner advice and materials so he could continue the treatment. Fortunately, the joint or bone were not affected and the prognosis was good.

Community Engagement & Education

Animal welfare education of the youngest is part of our mission during outreaches.

Children in the villages participated enthusiastically, learning about animal care through drawings and activities.

Animals & Proud Owners

Here are just a few of the animals we helped during our outreach, and some very proud and caring owners.

Proud owner with his donkey fitted with a new halter.

Horse fitted with new bridle and equipment.

Donkey owner with new harness provided.

Donkeys waiting for harnessing — Seronga outreach.

Equines awaiting treatment under the Animal Aid Abroad banner.

Farmer with his replacement tack.

Acknowledgements

We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this outreach possible. Your support directly improves the lives of working animals and the communities that depend on them.

• Animal Aid Abroad — for sponsoring the equine clinic and making this work possible.

• CLAWS team — groundwork, financial support, logistics and community outreach.

• SwampStop and Lance Dixon — boat transfers and logistical support.

• Louise and Herman at Jumbo Junction — hosting and hospitality.

• MackAir — emergency delivery of additional vaccines.

• Thomas — volunteer farrier from Samochima village.

• Dr. Michael Colgan and Dr. Wendy Colgan — volunteer veterinary surgeons.

• MAWS team: Ansie, Carmen, Thomas, and Vasco — for their dedication throughout the week.

As always, thank you to all of our incredible donors and supporters. You are helping us reach working animals in Botswana to improve their welfare and quality of life.