This project was started by a devoted animal lover, Anna, more than 10 years ago, after witnessing the mistreatment of working donkeys. Over time it has evolved to not only a sanctuary for donkeys and other animals, but also animal rescue and veterinary treatment too and is one of few that give medical treatment to animals in Zanzibar. Over the years the project has used its very limited resources to help all and any animals in need including the Zanzibarian livestock, cows, donkeys and goats, and the occasional monkey or bird
The project is based in the countryside just a ½ an hour’s drive outside beautiful Stone Town, a UNESCO world heritage site, on the tropical East African island of Zanzibar. The clinic is a hub of activity for local animals requiring treatment, surgery, vaccination, and medical care. No animal is turned away and patients include dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, goats, cows, monkeys, and occasionally, birds.
The project’s aims are to:
• Establish care, support, and animal protection services to suffering animals in Zanzibar and Pemba.
• Educate the community on animal rights
• Tackle the stray animal population- sterilisation is key here
• To stop animal overloading, beating, mishandling and animal cruelty especially with working animals like donkeys.
• Provide education and awareness to local communities and encouraging the active participation of the community in the process of self-empowerment with animal husbandry skills.
The clinic accepts up to 4 volunteers at a time normally and you do need to be qualified or studying some form of veterinary medicine, in good physical health, have a love of animals and to be able to adapt to change as each day is never the same with the lifestyle far more laidback than in the UK, Europe and the USA. Please remember there are cultural differences too which you will need to adapt to.
Only basic medical equipment is available in Zanzibar, which means the work environment can be challenging. More gets done with less and as much as it can be difficult sometimes it is also immensely rewarding to treat an animal or save its life with almost no means.
The workload varies throughout the week and the year but generally the vet is busy spaying, castrating, responding to emergency and house calls as well as attending to animals brought directly to the clinic. Please be aware that house calls often mean a lot of time driving around the island in the clinic’s car with the veterinary doctor, but this is the perfect time to take in the wondrous sights and sounds of Zanzibar and take in your surroundings
Vets and vet students are encouraged to take part in all aspects of diagnostics, medical care, treatment, and surgery. Nurses and nursing students can participate in all nursing duties carried out at the clinic.
On Saturday mornings there is an open community clinic where the local people bring their cows, goats, and dogs for free dip-washing and free rabies vaccinations. The vet also attends to any animal brought in for medical treatment; be it cows, goats, dogs, cats or the occasional chicken or rabbit. Often over 50 animals pass through the clinic on any given Saturday so things can get very busy.
You will be shown how to assist and participate at the clinic and during house calls. There is enough to do around and everything is as important and helpful.
Monday: Nungwi/Kiwengwa area house visits
Tuesday: Clinic day
Wednesday: Paje/Jambiani area house visits
Thursday: Clinic day
Friday: Nungwi/Kiwengwa area house visits
Saturday: Clinic day plus Pongwe clinic
Your volunteer duties may include a combination of animal husbandry and veterinary work depending on your skills and studies:
Animal Husbandry Work
- Maintenance & cleaning of kennels, cattery, stables and paddocks
- Dog walking and grooming
- Donkey grooming
Veterinary Work
- Sterilisations, vaccinations and surgeries
- House-calls around the island
- Treatment of animals brought to the clinic
- Saturday open Clinic for the local community
- In the week there can be outreach clinics in different parts of the island
Volunteer Duties:
- Changing bandages, bathing animals, providing medication
- Bathing animals suffering from parasite or skin problems
- Feeding cats, dogs, horses and donkeys
- Nursing sick animals with the Vet’s guidance
Those studying Veterinary Medicine or Nursing will work alongside the Veterinary doctor and learn academic and clinical skills:
- Participate in supervised surgery Help spay and castrate animals
- Develop skills in wound care and management Learn to splint/cast and manage broken legs
- Scrub in to soft tissue surgeries
- Develop clinical confidence by participating in consultations
- Learn how to diagnose diseases without laboratory test facilities
- Learn to triage emergency cases
Mondays to Fridays is the time for treatments at the clinic and house calls
Saturdays have the open Community Clinic in the morning and afternoons are free for your own enjoyment
Sundays are free days
If you have any specific skills, studies, or qualifications that you feel could be of extra help, please let us know
