SPANA celebrates 100years of existence

Harare:Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad popularly known as SPANA officially held its centenary (100 years) celebrations in Zimbabwe.The celebrations took place at the ‘Wild About Animals’ Education  Centre situated at Lion Park

SPANA has footprints in 23 countries across the world with their mandate being the transformation of lives for working animals – such as donkeys, horses, camels, mules and oxen.Their operations in Zimbabwe date back to almost 18years.

SPANA was founded by two ladies of  British descent,mother and daughter, Kate and Nina Hosali, who travelled across North Africa in the early 1920s. As they toured the souks and rural communities of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, they were struck by the poor conditions and neglect of many of the working animals they encountered. These included working donkeys, horses and camels, who were often malnourished, suffering from wounds and carrying excessive loads. The lives of these working animals were hard. With no access to professional veterinary care, they had to carry on despite their injuries, working through the pain.

Touched by the plight of these animals  Kate and Nina decided, upon return to their base  ,that working animals deserved better than a life of suffering. On 2 October 1923, they established SPANA (originally standing for the Society for the Protection of Animals in North Africa ) and set about creating a more compassionate world for working animals.

In an interview with Express Mail Zim,SPANA country director Dr Keith Dutlow spoke of the incredible work they are doing in Zimbabwe and abroad,the many programs they have in place to conscietise and train owners on the need for good animal care:

“I think we are doing a good job in that we first treat the animals so there is free vet treatment for sick and injured animals and also preventative care so things like dipping,deworming so that the animals are stronger.Once the people(owners) are coming to us for things  we conscietise them on how long you can work an animal in a day,giving it shelter giving it food,giving it water ,not so that it is pampered but so that its animal needs are met as well and so that it can work.I think we are treating 80 000 animals  a year and we have an education program that has seen 73000 children since it started five years ago….”

Dr Keith went on to state that regardless of the strides made thus far they feel as SPANA they can do more.

Also present at the centenary celebration was Linda Edwards ,CEO of SPANA .In an interview with this publication she spoke of the priveledge to be in the country at this momentus occasion:

“Its an absolute priveledge to be here in Zimbabwe today,two reasons,one to celebrate our hundreth year as a charity focused on working animal welfare and secondly to actually come and  spend time with our incredible colleagues here at SPANA in Zimbabwe who have been working here,focused on  animal  welfare,for just over 18years….”

SPANA Chief Executive also devulged the organisation’s focus based on what she termed the ‘four T’s’:

“Our focus is on four areas,four T’s,basically we treat ,we train,we teach ultimately focused on transforming and  so what we do is we work with communities focusing on the areas most important for working  animal welfare …..”

SPANA signed a Memorandum of  agreement with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe to run animal welfare clubs throughout the country.

Hermina Simoyi of SPANA organization has been coordinating with the Ministry in facilitating children’s education, in teaching them how to harness and work with working animals.
“This initiative has been very useful in impacting knowledge in children who are future owners on how to take care of working animals which are important in advancing people’ livelihoods,” said Hermina .

Recently  SPANA Morroco were part of the few agencies allowed to work in Morroco  in responce to the devastating earthquake in the High Atlas mountains.

A number of special guests took part in the celebrations , including representatives from the Ministry of Primary & Secondary Education and various local veterinary schools.