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Dog Bite Prevention Challenge 2012

posted Oct 29, 2012, 7:23 PM by Morris Darbo

Dog bite has been a serious concern in Foya District since the end of the war in 2003. In 2008, there was a mass killing of dogs in Foya as means of curtailing the spread of rabies and addressing the issue of dog bite in the District. This method failed to eliminate the spread of rabies or even significantly reduce dog bite cases in the district. Foya District is bordering with Guinea and Sierra Leone. There has always been an influx of unvaccinated dogs from those countries. The presence of large number of strange dogs in the districts has also been a threat in controlling dog bite.

Every year, there has been report of two or more deaths as the result of dog bite. Children have been the main victims. In May, 2012, the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society in partnership with Doggone Safe Canada took up the task to educate children in Foya District on dog bite prevention. The Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society visited 10 schools and 4 communities with the education program. 15,520 children were educated on dog bite prevention. In August, we visited the hospital in Foya to ascertain the number of dog bites since our intervention with the education program.

We were told by the hospital that since May, there has been no report of a dog bite case in the hospital.

We at the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Doggone Safe Canada for their support in empowering LAWCS to reach large number of children in the society. Our dog bite prevention program also ensures that today`s children grow up with compassion, empathy and respect for their dogs, as well as each other. We encourage compassion and responsible behavior toward dogs, as well as inspiring them to make a difference.

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Anti-Pet Eating Campaign: 2012 Activity Report

posted Apr 3, 2012, 3:55 PM by Morris Darbo [ updated Apr 3, 2012, 3:59 PM ]

The Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS) is a locally based animal welfare organization established in 2000 and legally registered with the government of Liberia in 2004. LAWCS renewed its legal status with the government of Liberia on January 3, 2012.

The overall aim of LAWCS is to contribute to the conservation of nature by promoting the well being of animals, humans and the environment, thus fostering the ideals of the animal welfare movement and conservation of nature in Liberia.

The vision of LAWCS is to create a society where the welfare of all forms of nature matter.

The campaign against pet eating was organized to discourage people from eating pets and encourage them to show their innate love, compassion and to have empathy for their pets.

Liberia is home to many thousands of companion animals. Animal Welfare in Liberia is an important issue though usually overshadowed by other issues deemed as having higher priority toward the development of post-war Liberia. Animal Welfare in Liberia is a major challenge since cruelty to animals is rampant. Sixty percent of households in Liberia raise pets. Forty five percent of these eat pets. The method of killing these pets is unethical and inhumane. Dogs and cats are killed through beating and strangling. These acts are very common in all parts of the country.

One major obstacle to animal welfare in Liberia is lack of awareness education to discourage people from eating pets and lack of supportive legislation.

With funds from Alice Morgan Wright/Edith Goode Trust and Best Friends Animal Society, USA, the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society was able to reach and inspire many Liberians with focus on the younger generation.

We believe that in order to end pet eating gradually in Liberia it must take root in the hearts and minds of the younger generation, with their participation in spreading the message to promote the welfare of pets in their families. This was the first time in Liberia that people were encouraged to love their pets and stop eating them as food.

The awareness will give people the courage to say “No” to cat and dog meat. Pet eating cannot be totally eradicated right away. But, we believe that encouraging people to say “No” to cat and dog meat is an important step that will influence people to develop the passion to show their empathy and innate love for their pets.

Some of the achievements during the campaign

We visited 15 schools and 9 communities.
We reached 2073 children and 1040 adults with the education program.
We held three days of a radio talk show in three of the seven districts in Lofa County.
We printed and distributed 2600 copies of literature on ``What wrong with eating pets``.
We organized an Animal Kindness Club in each of the 15 schools with 15 members each to spread and promote the message in their respective schools and communities.
We prepared, printed and distributed forms to all the 15 schools for students who believe that our campaign program was useful. Students who agreed to stop eating pets wrote their names on the form and signed it.
We received 806 signatures during our campaign from students who said that they will stop eating dog meat.

Summary:

Lofa County has seven districts, LAWCS reached three of the seven districts. Five schools were selected in each of the three districts. Town hall meetings were held in three communities in each of the three districts with the community people to educate them on the welfare of companion animals and encourage them to show their compassion, empathy and innate love for their pets. The message was also given to the public through the local radio stations, where people were allowed to call in and ask questions concerning the welfare of animals. The Animal Kindness Clubs were established in the schools among the children so that they can serve as agents of change and also inspire their friends to show innate love for animals. Questionnaires were used to ascertain the students’ perceptions about pets.

Challenges/Constraints:

Inadequate funds to reach more communities and schools.
Inadequate capacity in animal welfare/rights education.
People’s perception about animals.
Poverty and ignorance.
Few or no animal welfare policies/laws.

Recommendations:

The Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society needs funding to reach more communities and schools with the campaign program so that the event can become a national issue.
There is a need for international animal welfare training institutions/organizations to provide scholarships for LAWCS members to acquire skills in veterinary science, animal behavior etc.
All those individuals/organizations that have animal welfare at heart and are willing to empower LAWCS to help the animals in Liberia can donate online at www.liberiaanimalwelfaresociety.org or can contact us at lawslofa001@yahoo.com for other means of donating to us.

Appreciation:

We want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Alice Morgan Wright/Edith Goode Trust and Best Friends Animal Society for their support toward the implementation of our campaign against pet eating. It would have been possible for the implementation of the project without their support. In particular, we want to thank Joan Orr of Doggone Safe Canada, Donna Pease of Humane Society International and for recognizing and supporting the work of the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society.

We would also like to thank all those who worked with LAWCS to implement the activity.

How You Can Help:

Donate online at www.liberiaanimalwelfaresociety.org or can contact Morris Darbo at lawslofa001@yahoo.com for other means of donating.

World Rabies Day Celebration 2011

posted Oct 14, 2011, 9:19 AM by Morris Darbo [ updated Oct 14, 2011, 9:20 AM ]

The Liberia Animal Welfare Society is a local community based animal welfare organization registered with the government of Liberia in 2004 with the aim of promoting a peaceful society where both animals and humans can live in as companions.

In partnership with a non-profit organization- Doggone Safe, LAWS was able to celebration this year World Rabies Day. This year World Rabies Day celebration focused on dog bite prevention among children. Little is known about this deadly and neglected disease in Liberia. Educating school children about this disease and how to prevent it, helps to spread the information in various communities in Liberia.

Dogs are the main carriers of rabies in Liberia. Children are the main victim of dog bite.

The Liberia Animal Welfare Society carried out dog bite prevention in ten (10) schools and four (4) communities. 1,200 school children and community children were trained in dog bite prevention. The celebration was very successful. The children fully participated in the sessions. Teachers in those schools were also part of the training. During the training, we encouraged the children to report all dog bite cases to the nearer clinics or hospitals. They were also taught on first aid treatment before getting to the clinics or hospitals by thoroughly washing the wound with soap and lot of water.

LAWS would not have done this without the assistance from Doggone Safe through it President Joan Orr; therefore, we want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Doggone Safe.

We are hoping to receive assistance from other groups to help continue this program.

Thanks,

Morris Darbo

Coordinator

Liberia Animal Welfare Society

+3216844236

Campaign Against Pet Eating

posted Jun 10, 2011, 9:18 AM by Morris Darbo [ updated Jun 10, 2011, 9:43 AM ]

Liberia is home to over millions of companion animals. Animal Welfare in Liberia is an important issue though usually overshadowed by other issues deemed as of more priority toward the development of post war Liberia. Animal Welfare in Liberia is a major challenge; cruelty to animals is very rampant. 80% of Liberians raise pets. 75% of the numbers eat pets. The process use in killing these pets is un-ethical and inhumane. Dogs and cats are kill through beating and strangling. These acts are very rampant in all parts of the country.

One major obstacle to animal welfare in Liberia is lack of awareness education to discourage

people from eating pets, lack of supportive legislations. The Liberia Animal Welfare Society is currently using educational program to discourage people from eating pets. LAWS is always calling the compassions of people and encouraging people to give up eating cat and dog meat voluntarily. However, we don’t believe eating the meat of cats and dogs can be totally eradicated automatically. But, we believe that encouraging people to say No to cat and dog meat is an influential animal protection campaign that will gradually ends dog and cat eating.

Key messages:

Dogs and cats are the best friends and helpers of human being, they should not be seen as food or fur.
Eating dog and cat won’t bring any extra benefit to your health, instead there is potential threat to health.
Dogs and cats can’t be farmed or slaughtered humanely for food. Eating dogs and cats means cruelty to these animals.
Everyone can help to improve the living condition of dog and cat.
Dogs and cats are not livestock; they are pet and companion animals. That means, they are man's best friends.
Eating dog and cat meat seriously hurts the image of the country.
Dogs have emotions like human beings.
Say No to dog and cat meat.
If you have compassion for dogs and cats, help spread the message.

LAWS will carry on this campaign in schools and communities through community

sensitization, distribution of leaflets with the messages, radio talk-show with community radio stations in all the local dialect in Lofa County, planting of sign boards in various communities with the message. This campaign is expected to last for two months from October 1 to December 31, 2011.

In order to produce 1000 leaflets, purchase sensitization materials like megaphone, banners, carry on the education in 20 schools in Lofa county, hold media talk-show within the seven districts and produce seven sign boards with the message for the seven district capital cities, LAWS needs to raise USD 5,000.00 to implement the program..

LAWS is now asking other animal welfare organizations and animal lovers to help raise this fund in order to help end pet eating in Liberia.

We also accept donation through our website - click on the Donation button to the left.

Or you can contact us through our email address for our bank account information on lawslofa001@yahoo.com

We hope to hearing from any group or individual.

Thanks,

Morris Darbo

Coordinator

+2316844236

LAWS 2010 Report

posted Mar 22, 2011, 1:49 PM by Morris Darbo [ updated Mar 22, 2011, 2:18 PM ]

The Liberia Animal Welfare Society, (LAWS) is a non-governmental, non-religious animal welfare organisation established in 2001. It was legally registered and accredited with the government of the Republic of Liberia in 2004. LAWS is presently the only animal welfare organisation that is established and recognised in the country.

The overall aim of LAWS is to promote the conservation of nature by seeking the well being of all animals, thus fostering the ideals of the animal welfare movement in Liberia.

Animal welfare in Liberia is an important issue though usually belittled by other issues deemed as of more priority toward the development of post war Liberia. Animal welfare in Liberia is still a major challenge; cruelty to animals is still rampant. One major obstacle to animal welfare in Liberia is lack of humane education program, lack of resources to reach to larger communities, lack of train animal advocates and lack of supportive legislations.

Liberia Animal Welfare Society as a local animal welfare organisation in Liberia has been involved in promoting animal welfare in some communities in country through humane education program in few schools, veterinary services, campaigning against cruelty to animals.

Some of the achievements in 2010 by the Liberia Animal Welfare Society are as follows:

v 1450 dogs were vaccinated against rabies

v 353 cats were also vaccinated against rabies

v 2109 sheep were vaccinated with PPR vaccine

v 1516 goats were vaccinated with PPR vaccine

v 116 cows were given dewormer

v 112 pigs were also given dewormer

v 4 wild birds were rescued and reintegrated back in the bush

v Animal Kindness Club (Humane Education) were established in four schools in Voinjama City with 600 students

v 1500 pet owners were trained in humane education program

v 20 Community Animal Health Workers were trained in basic veterinary care and humane program

v 10 radio Talk-Shows were held with three community radio stations on the promotion of animal welfare in Liberia

v World Rabies Day was celebrated by the organisation in Liberia

v World Animal Day was also celebrated in Liberia

v Vegetable gardens were established in four schools with the aim of promoting vegetarianism among students

v A two weeks comprehensive survey was done in 10 towns in Lofa County, Liberia with 560 farmers to ascertain the causes of deforestation, reduction in the population of chimpanzees and monkeys in Lofa County

VETERINARY SERVICES PROGRAM

The veterinary services in one of the main programs run by the Liberia Animal Welfare Society. The animal sector in Liberia is one of the main sources of income for 80% of the rural farmers. The farmers raise various animals including sheep, goats, chicken, dock, pig and cow for marketing. They depend on the animals for income but the animals are not properly care for. Every year, at certain part of the season, 1/3 of these animals can die due to various diseases. The country lack train vets and veterinary facilities.

With the presence of LAWS in Lofa County, 5660 various animals received veterinary services in 2010. Before the presence of LAWS in the county, there was always a report of rabies. Since 2010, the issue of rabies in the county has totally reduced. In most rural communities in Liberia, dogs and cats are considered as part of the family. The people and their pets sleep in the same house. The act is normal and acceptable in the culture of the people, so providing veterinary services to those pets help to reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases.

HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Humane Education Program is very important in promoting animal welfare. It helps to create a link between animals and humans. LAWS is using its humane education program to create awareness and encourage people to end cruelty to animals. This program will create students and other community members interest in veterinary science. It will encourage students to study the course after completing their high school and work in the interest of animals. In 2010, LAWS established this program in four schools in Voinjama City with the aim of creating students interest and love for animals. The program focused on the following topics:

a. Understanding the basic needs of pets

b. Recognizing the body language and facial expressions of dogs and cats

c. The important of good diets and how to prepare diets for pets

d. Recognizing common diseases in pets and how to treat them

e. The prevention of animals (dog) bite

f. The important of pets to human life and the environment

g. Housing facilities for dogs and cats

These were done through notes presentation, drawing, story telling, questionnaires, sharing of experiences, etc

In 2010, 600 students and 1500 pet owners were trained in humane education.

CAMPAIGN OR ADVOCACY PROGRAM

In 2010, LAWS used the World Animal Day celebration to campaign to local government to recognize the welfare of animals as of more priority. The day was celebrated with a street parade in Voinjama City calling on the government to include the welfare of animals in our social and health welfare policy. Over 1000 students, pet owners and other community members took part in the parade. 10 radio Talk-Shows were held in 2010 campaigning against cruelty to animals. The talk-shows also encouraged people to stop eating pets. LAWS also celebrated the World Rabies Day in Vezela Town. 450 dogs and 50 cats were vaccinated against rabies. LAWS used the day to campaign against cruelty to animals. An indoor program was held. Lot of activities were done such as dramas focussing on: consider animal in development, treat our animals with respect, my dog is my relative, my dog and myself depend on one another, and etc

CONSTRAINTS FACE BY LAWS

v Lack of train vets to handle some of the cases face in the communities with animals

v Lack of veterinary medicines

v Lack of mobility to visit more communities

v Lack of resources to construct and establish a veterinary clinic in Lofa County

v Lack of fund to establish the programs in other towns and schools

RECOMMENDATIONS/REQUESTS

v LAWS is looking for assistance from other organisations to help train some of its volunteers

v LAWS is asking other organisations to help in any way that can promote the welfare of animals in Liberia

v LAWS needs veterinary medicines to help provide treatment to animals

v LAWS believes that promoting humane education program in more schools and communities will help reduce cruelty to animals, so LAWS is looking for support in order to continue this program in more schools and communities

v LAWS is looking for financial assistance in order to construct a veterinary clinic in Lofa County

APPRECIATION

LAWS achieved much in 2010. The achievements would not have been possible without the support of some organisations and individuals. We therefore want to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those listed below for their financial, materials, veterinary medicines and technical assistance:

1. Veterinarians Without Borders, USA

2. World Animals Net, UK

3. Well Fed World, USA

4. Dr. George Nipah, Veterinary Epidemiology consultant- FAO/ CARI Liberia

5. Dr. Joseph Adongo Awuni, Veterinary Laboratory Expert, FAO/Fendell Liberia

6. Pet owners in Lofa County

7. Doggone Safe, USA

Expenses for 2010

DESCRIPTION	TOTAL
Stationery	$300USD
Local Travel	$ 1,000USD
Celebrations	$ 600USD
Compensation to volunteers	$ 5,100USD
Vegetable gardens	$ 1,000USD
Office rent	$700USD
Workshops	$300USD
Grand Total	$ 9,000USD

This report was complied by: Mustpha L. McCarthy

Admin. Officer

Approved by: Morris Darbo

Coordinator

Liberia Animal Welfare Society

+2316844236

Spay Day 2011

posted Mar 8, 2011, 10:35 AM by Morris Darbo [ updated Mar 8, 2011, 10:43 AM ]

The Liberia Animal Welfare Society will educate community people and students about the important of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. In Liberia people are not educate on spay and neuter asa the result there are lot of stray dogs and cats because people are not able to feed all the dogs and cats they have. Some times, when there is an out break of rabies in a community, people will kill all the dogs as means of controlling the spread of rabies and controlling the Birth rate of dogs and cats. LAWS believes that if more awareness and education are done in various communities and in schools, people will prefer to spay/neuter their dogs and cats than killing them to control the birth rate. This is also help in reducing stray dogs and cats in the various communities. LAWS will engage in creating awareness in four schools in Voinjama City, namely: SDA School, Voinjama Public School, Child Welfare Community School and Newlife Community School. The activity will be done in Vezela, Voinjama City, Galam, Lawalazu, Sarkonedu and Selega. This event will be done in February, 2011.

Read more...

Fighting Rabies in Liberia

posted Oct 15, 2009, 8:02 AM by Morris Darbo [ updated Mar 8, 2011, 9:56 AM ]

Theme of the day

The theme of the day was pretty straightforward, “Kick Rabies out of Liberia!”

The regional coordinator of LAWS, Morris Darbo, gave the keynote address, announcing that this was the very first time that World Rabies Day had ever been celebrated in Liberia, and that this marked the start of raising awareness in the way that is really needed to combat this disease. Rabies can only be “kicked out of Liberia” if everyone recognizes that it’s a disease of both animals and humans — and we can only have a healthy society when the health of both humans and all living creatures is important to all of us.

He expanded this to other zoonotic diseases, “Our pets are our relatives; they are part of our families,” calling on the government to include animal health concerns along with human health concerns. The government must provide rabies vaccines for dogs as part of community health care in Liberia. To defeat rabies, it is essential that a veterinary facility be provided with the rabies vaccines and that rabies education be included in the school curriculum.

He pointed out that in cases where authorities have responded to a rabies outbreak by killing the dogs that this has only made the problem worse, since dogs from outlying areas then move into the cities to fill the void left by the dogs who have been killed. The best defense against rabies is a stable population of dogs who have been vaccinated against rabies.

Liberia

posted Oct 15, 2009, 7:59 AM by Morris Darbo [ updated Mar 8, 2011, 9:57 AM ]

The Liberia Animal Welfare Society Lofa Branch has been working with two organisations in administering free vaccines and other treatments for animals in some part of Lofa county.
the below information will give you the detail about the work:
we worked with Vets Without Borders team from America in administering rabies vaccine to dogs and cats, and dewormer to cattle, goat and sheep. The vaccination provided by Vets without Borders team from America were given to animals in Foya District, Lofa County.This activity took place on April 15 and 16 2010.

The other free treatment was provided by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) This activity took place from April 18 to the 25, 2010. All the activities were done in very few communities in two districts. Foya and Voinjama districts. Lofa County has seven districts. We are appealing to other organisations to help the Liberia Animal Welfare Society to provide treatments for animals in this part of the world. Since 1985, there has been no facility to provide treatments and protect the welfare of animals in Liberia. This organisation needs fund, technical assistance and other resources to provide full protection and treatment for the welfare of animals in Liberia.

Sincerely yours,
Morris Darbo
Regional Coordinator
LAWS, Lofa branch

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