We are a non governmental, non profit organisation, based in Austria, dedicated to supporting animal welfare and health in communities, through the development of sustainable street animal management programmes in areas where our work is needed the most.
In many places in the world, cats and dogs are left to roam freely without supervision, being at risk for suffering from serious illnesses, malnutrition, traumatic injuries or harassment.
The free-roaming of cats and dogs can also cause public health concerns, like the transmission of diseases, faecal contamination of public spaces or nuisance. Furthermore, predation and violation of livestock and wildlife, ultimately threatening livelihoods and the balance of ecosystems, presents a common problem.
In response to the overpopulation of street animals and public pressure, the responsible authorities, feeling pressured to achieve fast results, and lacking the necessary human and financial resources, can end up opting for inadequate and inhumane dog population management measures (e.g poisoning, electrocution).
In order to avoid the consequences of free-roaming, and mostly with good intentions, some animals are being chained or kept inside small enclosures all their lives which can not only result in behavioral problems but ultimately in an unhappy existance. Dogs are after all domestic animals and keeping them without stimuli or social contacts to humans or other dogs and keeping them without sufficient food, water or shade are major animal welfare concerns.
The situations mentioned above are the motive behind who we are and what we do. Our efforts are focused on preventing those scenarios to ever happen again.
To provide veterinary care to street animals, raise awareness and support communities to responsibly care for their animals.
Vision
We envision communities where animals and human beings can live healthy and in harmony with each other and with the environment.
Our small team of dedicated and passionate veterinary professionals, educators and animal welfare supporters with diverse backgrounds and perspectives is united in our commitment to each community.
Herwig Zach
2023 and 2024 had been years of transformation for CoVets (previously Bons Amigos from Austria). We began the process of finding a name, creating a new logo and establishing our own identity, so as to better reflect our new strategy, which is to take animal health into the communities we work with. We are now CoVets – Community Veterinarians.
CoVets continues to work in Cabo Verde, and in 2023 we inaugurated a project in Azores, Portugal. According to our new strategy, CoVets can work in any geographic region where our support is needed, provided there is collaboration with the relevant local authorities and a commitment to continuous, sustainable and long-term interventions.
Today, we feel that there is greater knowledge, better guidelines and more tools to improve animal welfare and health. The challenge, however, remains immense. In 2025, the association celebrates 25 years of activity, with much pride in what we have achieved.
She returned to her homeland, Austria, troubled by the general neglect of street animals and the lack of professional veterinary care.
Together with a team of veterinarians and volunteers led by Herwig Zach, Henriette came back to Cabo Verde for the first castration campaign ever organised in the country.
The group present in the first castration campaign in Cabo Verde founded the association Bons Amigos (“Good Friends”) in Austria. Bons Amigos returned to the island numerous times thereafter.
The Austrian team, together with a local group, registered the association Bons Amigos in Cabo Verde. From 2005 to 2022 the international organisation worked closely with the organisation from Cabo Verde, organising and implementing all the activities together.
In the first few years, a facility in Ponta D’água (a district in Praia city) was used to offer more permanent first aid care for animals.
Sadly Henriette passed away in 2009, and Herwig, who had already been involved since the first day, became the President of Bons Amigos in Austria, enabling the work to continue and initiating and facilitating further growth and development.
A veterinary centre was inaugurated in Achada Grande Trás (a district in Praia city), built with national and international support.
The association in Cabo Verde grew and given the desire to diversify its areas of intervention and the need to respond to new challenges, it was decided that Bons Amigos Cabo Verde and Bons Amigos Austria would start working independently from the beginning of 2023.
We may have a new face, but the essence of our work remains unchanged. Henriette and the first team’s commitment to improving animal health and welfare in the most needed areas continues to inspire CoVets’ work today.
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