The Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (TAWI) cares for the animals in remote villages within the Eastern Cape. They are growing to include more villages and are expanding their reach to touch as many lives as possible.
TAWI was set up in 2008 by Richard Norton who recognised a problem and set about working towards a solution. Since then, TAWI has been operating as a Primary Animal Health Care (PAHC) service, for domestic dogs, to 16 rural communities surrounding the TAWI Bush Camp.
The basic medication, education and support that TAWI has provided in these 16 villages has resulted in real improvements in the communities’ ability to manage the size of their dog populations and ensure that the dogs they have are healthy and well nourished.
Their programmes include sterilisation and during a recent trip, he met an amazing man who cares for his dog so deeply it is actually emotionally moving.
Thobela is a local Sangoma, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He had been walking really far and feared that the distance and heat would be bad for his faithful pet. Thobela picked his dog up and carried him on his back. While walking through the town he noticed TAWI and was able to have his dog sterilised.
The initiative relies on public funding to help them make a difference in these remote communities. It is an incredible and selfless task. To find out more about TAWI or to donate to the cause, you can click on their Facebook page here.
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