With your support we have helped over 27,000 animals - so far!
Achievements
​Our Impact and Recent Developments
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Today, Have a Heart Namibia operates eight active projects across the country, reaching animals and communities every day - from townships and informal settlements to rural villages and remote regions.
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Since the charity’s establishment, nearly 28,000 dogs and cats from low- and no-income families, as well as feral colonies, have been sterilised, vaccinated, and treated through our programmes. Thousands more have received booster vaccinations and emergency medical care after injuries, accidents, or illness. Time and again, we witness remarkable improvements in animals’ health and body condition after surgery — a visible reminder of the life-changing power of accessible veterinary care.
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Each year, we expand our reach.
In 2022, over 3,600 animals were helped.
In 2023, our volunteer teams exceeded all expectations by sterilising more than 4,500 dogs and cats.
In 2024, despite economic and logistical challenges, we focused on reaching more remote areas and maintaining high standards of care for every animal treated.
In 2025, our clinics continued to grow in efficiency and coverage — and we are committed to increasing our impact even further in 2026.
Education and Prevention
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Sustainable change begins with knowledge.
Children’s educational booklets from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and Namibia’s PAKO Kids Magazine have been distributed in schools and communities across the country. -
In February 2025, Have a Heart Namibia and PAKO Kids Magazine launched a special Have a Heart edition, teaching children kindness, responsible pet ownership, and respect for animals in a fun, locally produced way. This collaboration ensures that the next generation grows up with compassion at its core.
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Partnerships and Recognition
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Our long-standing partner Animal-Kind International featured our joint work in their December newsletter, celebrating our shared achievements and our commitment to making every year an “Animal-Kind Year”.
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Have a Heart Namibia was shortlisted for the Global Alliance for Rabies Control Africa Rabies Day Award in 2017 and 2020, recognising our contribution to rabies prevention and community health.
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We continue to build strong collaborations with other animal welfare organisations to expand reach, share knowledge, and strengthen impact. Notably, in 2023, we partnered with the University of Namibia (UNAM) on the One Health Project at Oshakati State Hospital — linking animal health, human health, and community wellbeing.
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Several Have a Heart volunteers have been honoured with Rotary Community Service Awards and Change Maker Awards from Create Lasting Change in recognition of outstanding community service.
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Namibian musician Riaan Smit proudly serves as a local ambassador for Have a Heart Namibia, helping raise awareness and support for our mission.
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Public Support and Media Presence
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We receive consistently positive feedback from pet owners, communities, and media throughout Namibia. Have a Heart is widely recognised as a respected, trusted, and much-needed programme, welcomed wherever we work.
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Lasting Impact
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Above all, Have a Heart has permanently improved the lives of thousands of animals and the people who care for them — owners, volunteers, veterinarians, and entire communities.
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And we are only just getting started!
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Operational Plans and Problems
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Our work continues to grow steadily across Namibia. Each year, we expand our reach, improve our systems, and increase the number of animals receiving life-saving veterinary care. Demand for our services remains high, with Spay Days often fully booked within hours - a clear sign of both need and responsible pet ownership in the communities we serve.
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Expanding our reach through mobile clinics: Namibia’s vast distances and limited veterinary infrastructure make mobile clinics essential to reaching animals in remote villages and informal settlements. Since partnering with Namibia’s first mobile veterinary clinic, we have seen how effective mobile outreach can be in bringing care to areas that would otherwise have no access to veterinary services.
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Long-term change depends on education. Alongside our veterinary programmes, we continue to build animal welfare awareness in communities and schools. Our partnership with PAKO Kids Magazine and the launch of the special Have a Heart PAKO edition have created a locally produced, child-friendly way to teach kindness, responsible pet ownership, and respect for animals.
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Schools and communities are eager to participate, and the impact of these programmes is clearly visible wherever we work. Expanding educational outreach remains an important goal, alongside our clinical work, to prevent suffering before it starts.
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Despite strong community support and dedicated veterinary partners, we continue to face practical challenges. Namibia’s remoteness, long travel distances, rising fuel and supply costs, and limited veterinary capacity require careful planning and stable funding.
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Sustaining and expanding our programmes depends directly on available donations, grants, and partnerships. Meeting the growing demand for Spay Days and educational outreach remains an ongoing priority — and a responsibility we approach with determination and care.