new partnership leads to better care & welfare for donkeys in namibia
The Namibian Animal Welfare Association (NAWA) are one of our newest partner groups in Africa. Their team have recently been hard at work attending to 31 animals in need, making 40 humane harnesses, and educating adults and children about basic care, welfare and respect for working donkeys.
recent achievements in collaboration with AAA
Since our partnership with AAA began, NAWA’s Project Donkey team have been to the rural settlement of Witvlei and completed two day trips to Groot Aub.
We assisted 31 equines last month, and also educated 22 adults and countless children about proper care and respect for working equines.
NAWA also used your kind donations to make 40 humane harnesses and 40 bridles. In addition, we made four new prototype yolks, which we have tested and found to work wonderfully in alleviating the neck injuries.
We were also able to restock our medications, vaccinations, disposables and basic wound-care items using AAA funding.
Our NAWA farrier, Johan, attended one of our Groot Aub day trips and attended to eight horses who desperately needed their hooves trimmed.
horse specialist hired
In August, we hired a horse specialist for our Groot Aub area. He received two full days of training regarding the unique way we introduce ourselves as service providers, guidance givers and educators.
He was trained in how to look for wounds caused by poor tack and equipment, and when to confiscate and replace equipment in the respectful manner NAWA uses.
Dr Courtney also taught him how to check pulses, temperatures and provide general health assessments for working animals.
Rose’s story
Rose is a 10-year-old mare who we saw after she had just foaled.
When she first came to the Groot Aub practice she could not walk at all. Dr Courtney suspected Monday morning sickness - clinically known as exertional rhabdomyolysis or azoturia. She was first seen on July 2nd but has been back four times now and is improving immensely.
Her owner, Markus, understands that this is a painful muscle-cramping syndrome and Dr Courtney explained it happens when a horse rests for one or more days with no work, but keeps eating a full, high-energy grain diet. Markus does not ride or harness Rose, nor buy high-energy food, so we think she found someone’s bag of food and ate too much.
Markus has returned regularly to obtain the medications Rose needs. He is truly grateful and is pleased Rose is steady on three legs at the moment. We are hoping her last leg will gain strength again shortly.
Finally, there were plenty of donkey kisses all round!
Thanks to our new partnership and your fantastic ongoing support, we will continue to deliver proper care, improved welfare and dignity for working donkeys in Namibia.