## **Compassionate Paws International (CPI)** **Annual Report 31[st] March 2024** Compassionate Paws International 1 ## **Mission** Our mission is to prevent and alleviate the suffering of street animals. ## **Strategy** We have three main areas of work: - Sterilisation & Vaccination - Veterinary care - Education ## **Location** We operate Sierra Leone. We are registered in England & Wales, and in Sierra Leone. Compassionate Paws International 2 ## **What We Know About Free-Roamin Do s in Freetown g g** CPI conducts regular household surveys in our intervention areas. This data allows us to understand the needs of dogs and their owners, monitor our progress towards achieving our goals, and plan future interventions. **Human : Dog Ratio 12:1** **Male : Female 89% of owners let Dog Ratio their dogs roam in 2.6 : 1 the street** This is because females are In the street, they much more likely to be reproduce, pass on abandoned and then die, than infectious diseases and are males. Our research also at risk of injury. shows that females are more 95% of owners cite ‘security’ likely than males to be as the main or only reason underweight and in poor for owning a dog. Male health. dogs are preferred. This indicates a much higher density of dogs than the expected average human : dog ratio for urban Sub-Saharan Africa of 21:1. Compassionate Paws International **33% of roaming dogs have a visible health condition** Over 50% of dogs also have an underlying blood-borne disease such as erlichia, anaplasma or heartworm. 3 ## **Long Term Changes Required** ## **CPI** - **Current Activities Programmes** - **(March 2024)** Higher proportion of **Vision** sterilised dogs in - 1. Intensive CNVR projects (Catch, Freetown Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) using • Dog Less or no free - international vet teams Population roaming dogs - 2. Rabies vaccination At least 70% of dogs - Management - 3. Data collection – mapping, recording & vaccinated against rabies • Eradication of - analysis of dog demographics rabies - Better knowledge of • - rabies prevention and All dogs have - 1. Skin treatments Veterinary animal care among access to high - 2. Emergency care during CNVR weeks Care people standard veterinary care - Qualified and competent • Improved - veterinary services exist in - 1. Animal Compassion Club in one Sierra Leone education on pet - school Education ownership - 2. Training of 1 community animal health worker and animal care Closer collaboration of all - assistants (CAHW) major stakeholders – - governmental, national, local Compassionate Paws International 4 ## CPI Impacts – April 2023 to March 2024 ||Compassionate Paws International
Sterilisation & Vaccination – Female
68
Sterilisations & Vaccination - Male
15
Total Sterilisation & Vaccination
83
Veterinary Treatments
134
Students Receiving Animal Welfare
Club classes
28| |---|---| ||| 5 **Dog Population Management April 2023 to March 2024** Compassionate Paws International 6 This year, we held only one spay-neuter clinic instead of our usual two as we replaced one to accommodate a mass rabies vaccination programme later in the year. We would like to thank Animal Friends pet insurance for providing us with a grant of £2000 to complete our November spay-neuter clinic. We were privileged to host another top quality team of vets and vet nurses. We welcomed Katharina Venz and Julia Weber for their first visit from Germany, and returning volunteers Hugh Duffin (UK), Becky Wade (UK) and Angela Elia (USA). Above: Hugh Duffin and Julia Weber 7 Compassionate Paws International ## **November 2023 Spay-Neuter and Rabies Vaccination Clinic** ## **5 days** ## **Im acts** : **p** - 83 dogs sterilised – 68 female and 15 males - 1 cat sterilised - 91 dogs vaccinated against rabies - 125 dogs received treatment for internal and external parasites – - including three severe cases of mange - 1 dog treated for severed ear and large infection - Above dog, which had been abandoned for its ear problem was found - a new owner - 1 life saved from uterine infection - 1 life saved from retained testicle removal - 1 orphaned neonatal dog and 1 orphaned neonatal goat provided with - care and on-going support - 5 dogs initiated life-saving TVT treatment – to be continued over the - next month - 1 Community Animal Health Worker trained to full competency in - catheterisation and TVT treatments 8 Compassionate Paws International ## **Video: A Week at Compassionate Paws International Click Image to View** Video footage was recorded during our November 2023 spay clinic week. Click image to view → 9 Compassionate Paws International Veterinary Care ril 023 to March 2024. paMionat• Paws Int•rnatlonal ## **Survivor** Survivor was discovered hiding in a drain. He had been abandoned by his owner for having a severe injury to his ear that had severed and become infected. Our visiting volunteer team operated on the ear and was able to castrate him at the same. A neighbour offered to look after Survivor while he recovered from the operation and was being treated with antibiotics. The neighbour then decided to keep Survivor. Close follow-up was provided by CPI to ensure that Survivor continued to do well and thrive in his new home. 11 Compassionate Paws International ## **TVT Treatments** Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a highly contagious, malignant cancer that affects dogs and is spread primarily through mating. They are endemic in Sierra Leone, extremely painful and cause death if untreated. Unfortunately, the treatment is not available in Sierra Leone and there has been no professional in the country trained to provide the treatment. In March 2024, international volunteers, Katharina and Julia were able to train Community Animal Health Worker, Andrew Bockerie, how to safely give the treatment, and CPI was able to provide him with the chemotherapy drug. Andrew has, so far, successfully completed treatment on 5 dogs, under the remote supervision of our veterinary director, Rebecca Dobinson. Above: Vet, Katharina Venz and vet nurse, Julia Weber prepare a dog for TVT treatment Above: Vet nurse, Julia Weber with Community Animal Health Worker, Andrew Bockerie 12 Compassionate Paws International ## **Brownie** Brownie’s owner came to us in a state of distress as his landlord was threatening to kill Brownie. His owner realised that he could no longer keep Brownie safe, and he was asking us to find a new home for him. Finding good homes for dogs in Freetown is immensely difficult but we were lucky enough to have an offer from Mr. Simon Sossah who runs an eco-tourism business and farm. We were able to relocate Brownie to his new home, where he now enjoys life with his two adoptive sisters, Daisy and Juliet, surrounded by nature. **----- Start of picture text -----**
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Above: Brownie (back) with sister, Juliet. We were able to treat Brownie for mange and also castrate him. 13 Compassionate Paws International ## **Mother and baby goat** A man brought a lactating mother goat to see our international team of vets during the spay-neuter week. The mother goat had bloat. Despite attempts to save her, she had sadly arrived with us too late and she passed away. We were able to provide the owner with baby milk powder and show him how to care for the baby goat to give it the best chance of surviving without its mother. 14 Compassionate Paws International Iiii"-ill Education a April 2023 to March 2024 ## **Animal Compassion Club** This year, our Animal Compassion Club began with 28 students in Number 9 Comprehensive Primary School, which is inside our intervention area. Classes run on Fridays. It’s aims are to: - Teach students about the needs of animals - Enable students to become role-models by showing kindness, empathy and compassion for animals in need. - Provide a forum for students to discuss important issues relating to animals in their own communities. The programme is led by our programme co-ordinator, Alie Turay, who is a former teacher and school manager. Lessons and activities have been planned by CPI co-founder, Sarah Morris, a teacher. Students’ knowledge and attitudes towards animals were assessed at the beginning and end of each term to evaluate learning. Students receive certificates at the end of the term. 16 Compassionate Paws International Balance Sheet FinanciaLs Compassionate Paws International As at 31 March 2024 31 114R2024 Current Assets C*shatbatyk¥nd ￿ hind 5J8026 Elhis isthefigu¥ethatourvdunteersspent ont￿lf travel to &erya Leonefrom theiro*m mrxy. wreimt￿rSIng￿I￿lrtee￿sand ha¥ingitthnated itallowsusiorÉrei¥e25 ofthe total in GiftAid. cpi Compassionate Paws InternationaL 18 ## **Financial Summary** We would like to thank the kind individuals who continue to provide support to us in the form of a monthly donation. These donations, typically of between £10 and £25 a month, allow us to do ad-hoc activities such as skin and TVT treatments. Other notable income this year came in the form of a grant of £2000 from Animal Friends Pet Insurance, and £4727.85 in Gift Aid. We have also been incredibly lucky to have received a lot of donations of medical equipment and drugs from volunteer veterinary professionals, who not only dedicated their time and travel expenses to us, but also came out to Sierra Leone with bags full of supplies. 19 Compassionate Paws International ## **Supporting Organisations** We are very grateful to the following organisations for their extremely generous contributions of funds and supplies: - Animal Friends Pet Insurance - Philadelphia Adult League Softball (PALS) - Flash Vehicles - Tierarztpraxis Dr. Claudia Pastor & Tierpension Pastor - Hawthorne Lodge Vets - Willows Veterinary Centre - Medivet Leamington Spa - Dentistry @The Gallery - Animal House Veterinary Surgery - Eastlands Court Business Centre Compassionate Paws International 20 **Structure, Governance and Management** Compassionate Paws International is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered in England (number 1191988) and Sierra Leone. Trustees are recruited from current volunteers and the general public via adverts and social media placements. Trustees serve an initial term of two years, with board meetings held four times a year. New trustees undergo a period of on boarding to bring them up to speed with current issues and their responsibilities. **Public Benefit** The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding activities undertaken by the charity. The trustees are satisfied that the information provided in the report and accounts meets the public benefit reporting requirement. www.compassionatepaws.org facebook.com/ compassionatepawsinternational Registered Address: 54 Martello Gardens, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7LE **Risk Assessment** The trustees are fully aware of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have taken steps to manage those risks. **Reserves Policy** The trustees aim to hold a minimum of three months running costs in reserve at any point in time. ## **Board of Trustees:** Rebecca Dobinson MRCVS Hugh Duffin MRCVS Karen Malia Sarah Morris Sea Ramanat Raj Rajput Compassionate Paws International 21