Over the last few months, as we find ourselves amidst a pandemic, our nonprofit, like many others, are experiencing a significant decline in donations. Our partners’ needs in Nicaragua are intensifying due to COVID. Our support is needed more than ever right now. Our support offers critical assistance to our shared mission in serving domestic and working animals in vulnerable communities where veterinary care is very limited or not available due to socioeconomic situations or location.
The effects of COVID is hugely impacting the health and lives of thousands of domestic and working animals across Nicaragua. Animals are being abandoned and neglected at an alarming rate. The long-term challenges faced by domestic and working animals in developing countries is not yet known. It will be a long road ahead for countries like Nicaragua where, prior to the pandemic, the suffering and neglect was already unfathomable.
We have learned that animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are experiencing huge challenges due to limited support and outside funding. And, with the population of stray animals increasing exponentially due to lack of sterilizations, many animals are being left completely uncared for. The increased strayed animal population will also further the spread of disease and virus to the animals and humans in the communities in which they roam. The animals of Nicaragua needs our help more now than they ever have.
SPAY AND NEUTER CAMPAIGNS
The simple act of spaying and neutering offers the most positive impact on the life of an animal. It is estimated that there are 200 million stray dogs globally. We know the importance of continuing to offer our FREE sterilization clinics to dogs and cats in underserved communities. Sterilizations improves the lives of animals, prevents strays, reduces aggressive behaviors and potential suffering. In addition, sterilizations prevent transmissible diseases between stray animals, to domestic and livestock and to humans.
The pandemic has impacted our reach significantly but we continue to offer small clinics to support those most in need in vulnerable communities. Since May, we have hosted 5 clinics providing sterilizations to 151 dogs and cats in the communities of Tipitapa, Boaco Viejo, Carlos Fonseca, Leon and at a clinic in our partner’s foster home in Managua. A sixth clinic is currently being planned for in early November in Managua. We have already secured funding to offer 50 FREE sterilizations.
It’s with great disappointment that we can’t be on the ground in Nicaragua during the pandemic but we are working with nonprofit-veterinarian, Dr Lester Tapia of Aprovet and Fundacion ADAN, our animal welfare partners, to arrange and host our clinics. We have 100% trust in our partners to carry out these clinics exactly as we do when we are in country ourselves.
VETERINARY CARE AND EMERGENCY AID
During the pandemic, we have committed to supporting our animal welfare partners with a small monthly donation to aid their work and our shared mission. The monies are being used to purchase food and medicines for the 230+ animals in their care and to help pay for gas and veterinary bills. This is an unexpected expense for NicaLove but we know how critical their work is and how depleted funding is right now. We are grateful to be able to offer them this support. As the effects of the pandemic begin to ease up, we will redirect these funds to support our sterilization campaigns.
Since May, we have been able to provide our partners and domestic animals, at our clinics, with 185+ life-saving vaccines including distemper, rabies and canine flu vaccines. In July, we provided Fundacion Adan with 66 vaccines needed for a canine flu outbreak at Sanctuary Juan Carlos Sanchez. We provided, antibiotics, flea and tick treatments, medication for flu, vitamins and chemicals to disinfect the area where they live.
In addition, NicaLove has been able to provide funding for six emergency surgeries and we have subsidized the costs of dozens of new arrivals into our partners’ care. Without your support, NicaLove would not be able to do the work we are able to do in Nicaragua. Trust me when I say, first hand, our impact is already being felt in these developing communities of Nicaragua. Let’s keep making impact, together. Thanks for caring. And, thanks for your support.