We develop continuous and long-term cat and dog population management programmes in collaboration with local entities.
We work in remote places where there are no or not enough qualified animal health professionals to provide quality services, leading to risks related to animal health and welfare as well as public health.
Our community-based projects are organised remotely and coordinated directly with the local partners. The selected teams travel to the area at the agreed date and carry out the programmed activities in collaboration with the local authorities and according to the community’s needs.
Our working method follows the dog population management guidelines developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM), which are subsequently adapted to the reality and specific needs of each location and community where we work.
We embrace the One Health concept, recognizing that resolving complex issues at the human-animal-environment interface requires a multidisciplinary approach. When people care responsibly for their pets—providing proper nutrition, living conditions, healthcare, and supervision—animals are healthier and less likely to be abandoned to roam freely. This reduces harmful interactions with other animals (wild and domestic), lowering disease transmission risks among pets, wildlife, and people, ultimately improving health and welfare for all.
Our street animal management and disease surveillance efforts align with the UN’s 2030 vision in which “humanity lives in harmony with nature and in which wildlife and other living species are protected”, directly supporting at least two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We travel from community to community with our team, material and equipment setting up a mobile clinic for the days or weeks needed, depending on the number of animals and the demand within the community. This approach allows us to reach animals that otherwise would not have access to veterinary care.
During the campaigns we treat owned animals, community animals and stray animals. We perform health checks, spay and neuter procedures, administer parasite treatment, and provide any other medical or surgical treatment needed. The work is done by professional vets and animal health workers with experience in High Quality High Volume Spaying and Neutering (HQHVSN) and according to rigorous veterinary standards.
When animals are not brought, we go to fetch them, helping to maintain a stable and healthy street population, reducing turnover among stray populations and unwanted litters.
During the campaigns there is always a team on the street with a vehicle, either raising awareness among caregivers – encouraging them to either transport their animal to the campaign or to hand the animal over to be transported by the team – or trapping animals (cats and dogs) found on the street unsupervised. These animals are captured manually or using appropriate equipment.
When the animals arrive at the campaign they undergo a health check, parasite treatment, castration procedure, other necessary medical and/or surgical treatments, registration and marking. Once fully recovered, the animals are returned to the place of capture or to the caregivers.
Many of the cat and dog owners live in remote areas with no vehicles or expendable income. Getting their dogs to the campaign’s location during the opening schedule is often simply not possible. Sometimes they make an effort to do it once, in order to have the animal castrated, but then do not return for subsequent health checks or parasite treatment.
Door-to-door visits enable us to:
Only since 2021 has the abuse or neglect of companion animals been illegal in Cabo Verde. However, the law is not clear or enforced and has not been accompanied by any change in human behavior or their attitude towards animals or a shift in what people understand to be responsible pet ownership, leading to a reduced impact on animal health and welfare.
We include a variety of education and awareness-raising activities in our campaigns. We believe that the only way to truly and sustainably have a positive impact on the lives of animals is to work directly with people and communities towards an enhanced human-animal relationship. Our educational programme focuses on engaging community members and giving them tools and information to improve the health of their animals and animals in the community, as well as public health.
In order to reach out to the young we visit schools and offer educational activities about animal welfare, how to read canine body language or basic animal needs. Our methods include presentations, games, storytelling, cinema sessions or paintings development (with the collaboration of local artists).
During the campaign and the door-to-door visits we maintain close contact with animal owners on an individual level to provide information about basic animal care and responsible pet ownership.
Despite treating hundreds of cats and dogs that would otherwise receive no care at all, we are aware that the foreign-led and short missions are not enough. These animals should have access to health care more frequently. In each municipality we work towards the development of a local team of trained assistants, gradually trying to increase local capacity. To reach this goal we provide hands-on training on animal handling and restraint, basic health care and veterinary training. Furthermore, we organise training sessions according to the specific needs of each community.
Stray Animal Capture
In 2022, we held a training course on safe capture of stray cats and dogs. 17 trainees from three islands (Brava, Fogo, and Santiago) were certified by trainer Brian Faulkner. The in-person training lasted five days and included both theoretical and practical components. The objective was to introduce trainees to animal behavior assessment, trapping strategies, teamwork, trapping equipment as well as to operator and animal safety.
Dog Training for Trainers
Between October 17th 2023 and April 8th 2024 we held a training course on “Dog Training for Trainers”. Four trainees from three islands (São Nicolau, Santo Antão and Santiago) were certified by the trainer Maria Batista from Happy Dogs & Co. The training was a combination of in-person and online classes. The main goal of this training was to provide an opportunity for people in Cabo Verde to learn about and understand the basics of natural dog behavior and acquire skills that will help pet owners to get to know their animals better, modify unwanted behaviors and improve animal welfare. The trainees gained skills to plan and implement a training plan for basic obedience and behavior modification, using the appropriate method for each situation.
During the campaings we collect as much information about the individual animals as possible: age, sex, health status, etc. This information helps us to monitor variations in the health status of cat and dog populations and to document the impact of our work. The collected information also helps us and the local authorities to plan and modify the activities for the best outcome.
In urban areas, we started a street dog monitorization programme. The number of street dogs in a specific transect is documented biannualy, using the Talea® application from ICAM. It allows us to monitor variations in dog population density, health status and the dogs’ reproductive status over time.
On Brava island we developed a questionnaire to measure people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards companion animals and street animals.
We participate in different research projects in collaboration with national and international organisations, aiming towards expanding knowledge about zoonotic diseases and the occurrence and transmission of other diseases in the places we work. Some of the research projects we are currently participating in or have already participated in are:
Fostering strong partnerships based on respect is essential for our work. The exchange of ideas, resources, and expertise, ultimately leads to a greater impact of initiatives. We believe that it is crucial to recognize and respect the unique perspectives and insights that each person or group can bring to the discussion.
We establish working relationships with governmental and non-governmental entities. Our approach includes working with community members, listening to the challenges faced by each community and group, and developing solutions that address the root causes of the problems, in this case, the causes of abandonment and overpopulation of street animals. On each project, we work with amazing local teams that work tirelessly to make a difference.
Many other organisations around the globe work towards similar goals, facing similar challenges. Through an open dialogue we can give each other guidance and support, discuss new ideas and evaluate old techniques. We can achieve more together.
We work in remote places where there are no or not enough qualified animal health professionals to provide quality services, leading to risks related to animal health and welfare as well as public health.
Our community-based projects are organised remotely and coordinated directly with the local partners. The selected teams travel to the area at the agreed date and carry out the programmed activities in collaboration with the local authorities and according to the community’s needs.
Brava Island
Fogo Island
São Nicolau Island
Flores Island, Azores
Other projects and contributions
Not everything can be measured in numbers. More than data, we are only happy if we can see a change for the better both for the individual and within the communities.
recovered from an advanced stage of vector-borne disease transmitted by ticks.
was amputated after a road traffic accident. She couldn’t have adapted better to her new condition.
Fajã aka Cristina
is the best company for hikes in Brava, now that she doesn’t have to tend to any more puppies ever again.
Preto Show
is the most famous dog from Tarrafal São Nicolau, Cabo Verde, and got even more famous for wearing a collar.
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“One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.
While health, food, water, energy and environment are all wider topics with sector-specific concerns, the collaboration across sectors and disciplines contributes to protect health, address health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety and promote the health and integrity of our ecosystems.
The approach can be applied at the community, subnational, national, regional and global levels, and relies on shared and effective governance, communication, collaboration and coordination. By linking humans, animals and the environment, One Health can help to address the full spectrum of disease control – from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management – and contribute to global health security. ”
SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
SDG11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
She was taken to the veterinary practice in Praia, Cabo Verde, in October 2019. On arrival, she was thin, weak, scared and sad, covered in ticks, dehydrated and suffering from severe aneamia. She was diagnosed with tick fever and immediatly received the appropriate treatment, which took around four weeks. Day by day she recovered more, starting to not only enjoy the regular food but also cuddles and attention.
When she physically recovered, she was adopted with the promise that she would never have one single tick ever again. Tick fever is a very common disease in Cabo Verde, but unfortunately not all cases have the same happy ending.
After arriving at our campaign in Nova Sintra, on Brava Island, Cabo Verde with an old open fracture which had been caused by a road traffic accident, it was decided that the best option for Tripé would be an amputation. She was also neutered during the same campaign.
Since then, it has been a joy to see her every year when we visit Brava. She lives in Nova Sintra, is cared for by several people, and has an inseparable canine companion. She and her friend always come to say hi and receive their deworming tablets.
She lives in Nova Sintra, is cared for by many people, and accompanies hikers on their walks around the island. She was known to have a lot of litters, with many of the puppies having an uncertain future.
She was finally castrated in October 2021, during our castration campaign. She has been a very happy dog ever since and usually shows up whenever our team is campaigning in her town, receiving not only her deworming pill but also plenty of affection.
A few days after surgery, it was reported that he was looking sad. We went to check on him, in Casa para Todos, where he lives in Tarrafal. Due to him licking the wound, the stitches had come out and the wound got infected. As he needed medication for several days, we decided to take him in and he spent the whole week with us for treatment.
While with us, we got him used to a collar and taught him how to walk on a leash. It seemed natural for him, he would walk with his tail up, looking proud as punch. Once he was fully recovered, we took him back home. But guess who waited outside our residence door on our last day to say goodbye! It was Preto Show – what a surprise! He must have grown fond of us and perhaps also of the nice treats we had for him.
After that episode, each time we go back to the island, we check on him and give him his deworming tablets. What’s more, being such a lovely dog, he participates in our awareness-raising activities. Our goal is to give children information about how to approach a dog in a safe way and how to read an animals’ body language. During these education lessons the children also have the opportunity to listen to Preto Show’s heart and to walk him on a leash. Now all children in the city know him and call his name when they see him.
