Zambezi Animal Welfare Services - ZAWS

Zambezi Animal Welfare Services - ZAWS Based in Livingstone, Zambia, ZAWS is a non-profit NGO that provides rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming for dogs and cats, as well as education and advice.

We organise community events such as mass vaccinations and spay & neuter campaigns. ZAWS was set up in 2015 with the aim of improving the welfare of domestic animals in and around Livingstone. Our work involves (1) rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming; (2) community education and sensitisation regarding animal care and animal rights; (3) mass vaccination programmes; and (4) population control via spaying and neutering. Please get contact us if you wish to be involved or can make a donation.

04/06/2026

Last week we found homes for 5 cats and 1 dog, so we were feeling pretty pleased! Great homes for the animals and less mouths for us to feed. However, the intake was 21 cats (19 of which are kittens including 4 orphans) and 5 dogs, one of whom has a horrific wound that needs round the clock care. There is no animal hospital or clinic that takes in-patients in Livingstone, so we are the only option for this sweet dog. Her story is for another day, but let’s just say human intervention made a bad wound 100x worse.

Both our vehicles are at the mechanic, and today we need some more dog food and someone else wants to give up their 2 month old puppy for being “stubborn”.

We are working on fundraisers to raise money for a new vehicle, and an appeal for more regular donors to cover our monthly operational costs but today we are stuck. It’s incredibly stressful to repeatedly be in this position and hope that people can respond to a plea for help. I know many of our donors support more than one organisation and are incredibly generous. It feels rubbish to keep asking but this is the situation we are in right now.

If you can help in any way, we would be incredibly grateful. Our details for donations are:
Bank: Stanbic Bank Livingstone Branch, A/c 9130002075060 Sort Code 04 10 17; Airtel Money 0977681741 Name – Lynne Mendelsohn; PayPal – [email protected] If you are in Livingstone physical donations can be left at KUBU CAFE, and I will be at the car boot sale this Saturday, with some puppies and kittens.

03/06/2026

Last Friday we visited Maunga village to vaccinate, dip and deworm the village dogs. We were able to do this as we went with Zambezi Working Donkey Project who were also doing an outreach and squeezed us in to their vehicle. We’re very grateful for the opportunity to reach more animals. Our Hilux needs a new battery but has too many other issues and is not a safe drive and the Rav can’t get there and is also off to the mechanic this morning. Our vehicles are our most essential tool and currently our biggest challenge.

Village visits are very rewarding and a chance to really make a difference in rabies control and animal welfare. Owners are usually very appreciative as they have no other access to veterinary services. We’ll keep doing the best we can with what we have for now but watch out for some fundraising campaigns that will be launching soon.

In the meantime, we really appreciate your support. You’ll find us at the Kubu Café car boot sale this Saturday (6 June) with some puppies and kittens and some bits and bobs for sale. Please come say hi, cuddle a floof and show us some love!

As you know, I recently went to Lusaka to interview candidates for the position of a shelter vet. We met some great you...
28/05/2026

As you know, I recently went to Lusaka to interview candidates for the position of a shelter vet. We met some great young people, and have now selected someone (more of that later). Several of the candidates asked in interviews what is a typical day at ZAWS like? Good question! Sometimes our days are quiet taking care of the shelter animals. Sometimes we have emergency rescues. Sometimes we have wildlife issues, sometimes we have a constant stream of local pet owners asking for help. We never know.

And sometimes we find time to do something different and have a little fun. Thanks so much to Ali Bullivent for spending time with us at the shelter and making everyone smile.

Watch out for a new song loading!

When photo shoots go wrong!! Sweet Cindy was just so determined to give kisses that she wouldn't pose nicely! She's such...
27/05/2026

When photo shoots go wrong!!

Sweet Cindy was just so determined to give kisses that she wouldn't pose nicely! She's such a gorgeous, happy girl. She brings joy and love wherever she goes and will make a fabulous companion for kisses, cuddles and zoomies. Let's find Cindy the home she deserves!

25/05/2026

Saturday’s outreach was not well attended which was disappointing but at least we got to help this little pup. Zeus is only 6 weeks old but his owner had put a tight rubber band around his tail to make the end drop off. I can’t imagine how painful that must have been for this tiny little guy, who really should have still been with his mother.

We know that there are unfounded beliefs that cutting a dog’s tail makes it grow bigger or healthier, After talking to the owner and having the pup signed over to us, we rushed to the vet. Sadly the tail couldn’t be saved but at least the end was removed in a clean surgery, with pain relief and antibiotics.

We always give people a chance to change, so after our discussion, the owner agreed that he will never do this again, and will educate his friends and neighbours. Zeus recovered very fast from his surgery, ate a bowl of chicken and then went back to sleep. He will be returned to his owner soon and then brought back for his vaccination programme and castration.

Vaccination outreaches are a good opportunity to talk to owners, advise them about care, nutrition and welfare needs and find out what challenges people are facing. We have 6 more events planned in Livingstone and (subject to getting the Hilux on the road again) will then move out to the villages.

Tomorrow we are doing another rabies vaccination outreach with Livingstone City Council at Linda Community Hall (9 - 14h...
22/05/2026

Tomorrow we are doing another rabies vaccination outreach with Livingstone City Council at Linda Community Hall (9 - 14hrs). The council charge K75. We do the vaccination, dipping and deworming for free.

While we want people to value veterinary services, we have to acknowledge that for many people in Livingstone the costs are beyond their reach. Rabies is a deadly disease and is, in my very humble opinion, under-reported, especially in rural areas.

Domestic dogs are the most common vector for spreading rabies. Most dog owners/handlers are children and most dog bite victims are children. So vaccinating our dogs protects our children. It really is that simple and, again my very humble opinion, I think this should be a government obligation. But it is not, so we are stretching ourselves to cover these costs to try to make our community safer.

Livingstone's tourism industry also has a stake in this issue as a rabies free Livingstone is a safer Livingstone. Did you hear about the tragic case last year of a British tourist who, while on vacation in Morocco, was scratched by a puppy and later died of rabies? Morocco's reaction is to conduct a mass cull of roaming dogs and this is receiving global condemnation. Culling does not work. It does not work. Global health organisations (NOT animal welfare organisations) tell us it doesn't work. The only effective preventative measure against rabies is mass vaccination. So for the next 2 months we will be working with the council, moving around Livingstone, and holding these vaccination events.

We do get some support from some of the tourism businesses in Livingstone, but surprisingly few. In the next few weeks we will be reaching out more to see if we can drum up support for this vaccination programme and for our plan to recruit a vet so that we can do more outreaches and reach further into the villages.

Animal health is human health. Mass vaccination protects children, wildlife and agriculture. The science is clear. But we can't do it without your help. Please donate if you can, every little bit adds up and helps us reach more pets and their owners.

You can donate in the following ways: Stanbic Bank, Livingstone Branch A/c 9130002075060 Zambezi Animal Welfare Services. Airtel Money 0977 681741 (Lynne Mendelsohn) or Paypal using our email address [email protected]

As always, thank you!

20/05/2026

Please read the post from The AARC below. Jessie and I spoke yesterday about this case. Don't get me wrong - we are both continually desperately struggling for money to run our own operations but something about this situation touched us deeply. We are constantly faced with situations where owners are neglectful of even the basic necessities - not providing proper food, water, shelter or care. This owner, Godfrey, went to the UNZA clinic first of all, which is much more affordable, but they were closed due to lack of electricity. So instead of quitting he took his dog to the nearest available vet, that just happens to be the most expensive. The bill is huge and mounting but together we can help Godfrey and his beloved dog.

Jessie helped me get some cat food to Livingstone for desperate cat owners here, and all of the profit we were relying on from that will go to help Godfrey.

There are always going to be people who say you shouldn't have a dog if you can't afford it, but you know - life is not quite that simple, and this owner initially went to a vet clinic he could afford. The vet has declined to move on the fees so let's drop a little kindness Godfrey's way today and show what animal lovers can do together. The fee is K850 per day and we are optimistic that Chase will make a full recovery.

Please send any donations to Airtel Money 0977681741 and state your name and Chase in the Comments line.

Thank you!

On Saturday we were at the DSS council yard vaccinating dogs in the area. All dogs were also treated for worms & parasit...
18/05/2026

On Saturday we were at the DSS council yard vaccinating dogs in the area. All dogs were also treated for worms & parasites and registered with the council.

This is what works to protect people and animals from rabies. Its a shame there were not more as the park boundary and large bush areas are nearby.

Next Saturday we'll be at Linda Community Hall.

VACCINATION OUTREACH! When? Saturday 16th May 9 - 15hrsWhere? DSS Council Office What? Free Rabies vaccination, dipping ...
14/05/2026

VACCINATION OUTREACH!

When? Saturday 16th May 9 - 15hrs

Where? DSS Council Office

What? Free Rabies vaccination, dipping & deworming. Council registration K75 per dog.

Why? Reduce the risk of rabies, protect our community and keep our dogs healthy.

NEXT EVENT Saturday 23rd May Linda Community Hall. We will announce more locations soon.

Address

Please Contact Us For Directions
Livingstone

Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 15:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 15:00
Thursday 10:00 - 15:00
Friday 10:00 - 15:00
Saturday 10:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+260962865115

Website

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