Testimonials

“On Saturday 12 June 2010, I went to Dedza with some friends in order to admire the beautiful scenery. While we were there, two of my friends decided to visit a certain orphanage- the Molima Family Home- and I eagerly agreed to join them. However, as we walked into the property, we were horrified to notice that, behind a gate, there were two dogs in a state of utter neglect.

The caretakers of the orphanage introduced themselves and we met the resident children before being shown to the side area behind the gate. I immediately went to assess the condition of the dogs and came to the awful realisation that they were in even worse health than I had at first thought. They were incredibly emaciated, lethargic and had open wounds on their heads and bodies. One (a female) was the thinnest of the two and her ears appeared to have been eaten away by some kind of infection. Their food bowl contained only a white, foamy 'porridge' that resembled vomit. The dogs were each tethered by a very short chain to a post.

I asked one of those in charge of the orphanage whose the dogs were and they replied that they were their guard dogs. My friends and I tried to explain that the dogs needed veterinary care and more sustaining food but our pleas were met only with excuses. We were told that the dogs were sick and the female was especially so because she had given birth to puppies. I said that it may not have been their fault that the dogs became sick but it was wrong to leave them to languish in such a state. Our hosts were obviously keen to change the subject and, as if it would placate me, I was told the horrifying news that there had originally been five dogs but three of them had died! What is more, they seemed to find my distress amusing. Feeling a sense of utter hopelessness, I begged them to at least put the dogs out of their misery.

After we had retuned to our base in Mangochi area, the image of the starving dogs haunted me. Having witnessed many occasions in my own country when concerns about animal abuse have been ignored by the authorities and well-funded yet uncaring animal welfare organisations, I thought it was unlikely that anyone would be willing or able to help. All the same, I wrote a description of the situation and e-mailed it to my mother in Australia, requesting that she forward it to any Malawian animal welfare organisation she could find.

I was thrilled to hear back that an organisation called the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals might be able to help and I phoned their number at the next opportunity (Sunday 20 June). I spoke to Dr Richard Ssuna who acknowledged the seriousness of the case and was willing to send a team to Dedza so as to educate those at the orphanage about their animal welfare obligations or, if they remained unreceptive to advice, to rescue the dogs.

It was with great happiness that I received the information that, on Wednesday 23 June, the LSPCA had visited the Molima Family Home and, after a long discussion with the people there, convinced them to surrender the female dog to the care of the Society. Unfortunately, those in charge of the orphanage refused to hand over the male dog to the LSPCA as they remained adamant they required a guard dog (although the dog was far too weak to actually protect the property).

Dr Richard Ssuna also sent a poignant e-mail to the director of the orphanage to emphasise the need to set a good example to children when it comes to respecting and caring for animals. This e-mail included the request that the male dog be brought to the LSPCA shelter in Lilongwe to receive veterinary treatment.

I am incredibly grateful to the LSPCA for the prompt action they took on this issue. It is wonderful that the female dog no longer has to suffer in such terrible circumstances. Furthermore, my pessimistic feeling that no-one would care enough to help has been replaced with a renewed faith in humanity."
Eliza Waters, Australia

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