We help animals and people. Every dog or cat we treat belongs to someone, a person who cares, but often lacks the financial means to provide veterinary care. By helping animals, we also support their owners, families, and communities. Compassion for animals and people goes hand in hand.

Yes! Have a Heart is powered by dedicated volunteers. If you would like to help, please get in touch with us. There are many ways to support our work, not only during sterilisation campaigns. Please note: unfortunately, we cannot provide accommodation or financial support for volunteers travelling from outside Namibia. Our campaigns are scheduled by local veterinarians and often organised at short notice, which makes long-term planning for international volunteers difficult.

Spaying and neutering is the most effective and humane way to prevent unwanted litters in dogs and cats. But there is much more: It helps your pet live a healthier, happier, and often longer life, reduces the risk of certain diseases, and can improve behaviour. Most importantly, it prevents the cycle of overpopulation and suffering that leads to animals living on the streets or in overcrowded shelters. By sterilising your pet, you are making a responsible, loving choice for your animal and for the wider community.

Spaying or neutering can be done from around 8 weeks of age or once a pet weighs at least 2 kg. Early sterilisation helps prevent unwanted litters and supports long-term health and wellbeing. That said: it’s never too late. Adult and older dogs and cats can also be safely sterilised and benefit greatly from it. No matter their age, sterilisation helps reduce health risks, improves quality of life, and protects future generations of animals. If you are unsure whether your pet is ready, we are always happy to guide you.

Spaying is one of the kindest and most responsible choices you can make for your dog or cat. It protects their health, improves their quality of life, and helps prevent animal suffering in the long term. The benefits include: • Prevents unwanted litters Spaying is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and helps reduce the number of unwanted puppies and kittens. • Stops heat cycles Female pets will no longer go into heat, which can start as early as four months of age and occur frequently - especially in cats. • Improves behaviour and reduces stress Spaying helps prevent behaviours linked to heat, such as constant crying, restlessness, roaming, and attracting unwanted male animals. • Protects your pet’s health Spaying greatly reduces the risk of mammary (breast) cancer and completely prevents uterine infections and cancers, which can be life-threatening. • Saves lives - and money Preventing multiple litters reduces suffering, lowers veterinary costs over time, and helps communities cope with fewer stray animals. Spaying doesn’t just change one life - it helps protect entire communities of animals. It is a simple act with a lifelong impact. 🐾

Neutering is one of the most effective and responsible choices you can make for your male dog or cat. It improves health, behaviour, and helps prevent suffering before it starts. Benefits of neutering your pet: Prevents unwanted litters Neutering prevents male dogs and cats from fathering puppies or kittens, helping reduce the number of unwanted animals in our communities. Reduces roaming and risk-taking Neutered males are less driven to roam in search of a mate, which significantly lowers the risk of fights, injuries, poisoning, traffic accidents, and disease transmission. Improves behaviour Neutering helps reduce hormone-driven behaviours such as aggression, excessive marking, mounting, and restlessness. Many pets become calmer, more focused, and easier companions. Promotes long-term health Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the likelihood of prostate-related diseases, supporting a longer, healthier life. Saves lives – and resources By preventing unwanted litters, neutering saves lives and reduces the emotional and financial strain on families and animal welfare organisations. Neutering is a simple, humane step that creates a healthier, safer future for your pet and for animals across Namibia.

Because this issue doesn’t stop at the fence of a pet owner. Uncontrolled dog and cat populations affect everyone, whether you own an animal or not. Stray and unwanted animals impact public health, community safety, wildlife, and shared resources. When animals are not sterilised, the consequences ripple outward: • Public health risks increase, including rabies and other zoonotic diseases • Road accidents involving animals put people at risk • Wildlife and livestock are injured or killed • Taxpayer money is spent managing problems that could have been prevented • Children are exposed to animal suffering and violence, which has proven long-term psychological effects and can even end in depression or violent behavior. In Namibia, countless dogs and cats are not homeless because they are unloved but because their owners lack access to affordable veterinary care. This is a systems problem, not an individual failure. Preventive care like spaying and neutering is far cheaper, kinder, and more effective than dealing with the consequences later. Every sterilisation prevents suffering before it starts. You don’t need to own a pet to care about: • safer communities • healthier environments • compassion for living beings • responsible use of shared resources Supporting sterilisation is not “helping animals instead of people”, it helps both. When animals suffer less, communities are safer, healthier, and more humane. That’s why this is everyone’s problem and why it’s also everyone’s opportunity to be part of the solution!

To the contrary, a dog or cat has the best chance of good health if spayed before her first heat. Early spaying reduces the risk of mammary tumors and prevents other health problems, such as life-threatening uterine infections, before aging brings greater susceptibility.

In a pet's world, there's no concept of sexual identity or ego. Their biology and behavior evolved in the wild to ensure survival by producing as many offspring as possible. However, in today's world, this approach would lead to an increase in unwanted pets, contributing to unnecessary euthanizations in shelters. By spaying and neutering our pets, we can be responsible guardians, preventing overpopulation and giving every pet the chance for a loving home. Let's work together to create a better future for our furry friends!

No. Shelters do their best to place animals in loving homes. Despite their efforts, many healthy and adoptable animals are euthanized.

By fixing your one pet you can help save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. You may find homes for your pet's entire litter, but each home you find means one less home for homeless animals in shelters facing euthanasia.

No need to let your pet have a litter—thousands of rescue and shelter organizations help abandoned animals, many of them pregnant. Volunteer to foster a pregnant dog or cat! You'll support the rescue and the animals, while giving your children a unique experience of seeing a litter being born and raised. Be part of a meaningful journey and make a difference for these precious creatures!