Charities

DVS Kennel Assistants Raise Funds to Join Mission Rabies in Africa

vetreportMay 5, 2016

Two determined kennel assistants at Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS) have achieved their ambition to join the Mission Rabies vaccination drive in Malawi later this month. With DVS having pledged to provide 50% of their travel costs, Nic Taylor and Olivia Ellis have worked tirelessly to raise the remaining funds needed to join the project in Africa.

98% of rabies cases in humans are a consequence of dog bites from rabid dogs. Mission Rabies works in parts of India, Malawi and Uganda and Sri Lanka, using local teams and international volunteers. The aim is to vaccinate 70% of street dogs for three consecutive years. Current scientific evidence indicates if this is achieved the disease will be eliminated from an area.

Staff at DVS have loyally supported Nic and Olivia in their endeavour. Colleagues enthusiastically organised and participated in diverse initiatives such as pub quizzes, fun runs and bake offs to help them to raise the outstanding balance they needed to join the project.

Nic and Olivia will join a team of international volunteers performing a mass vaccination drive in Blantyre, Malawi throughout May. Blantyre has one of the highest reported incidences of paediatric rabies in the world.

Olivia said: “We would like to thank our colleagues, friend and family for their support with the fund raising and of course Davies for awarding us the grant. We are very excited, however I wish there were not so many vaccinations for us to have before we travel!”

Since Mission Rabies launched in 2013 DVS has supported the charity in numerous ways.

Clive Elwood, Managing Director continued: “Everyone at DVS supports the important work of Mission Rabies and we are delighted that Nic and Olivia have this opportunity to contribute on the ground. They should be very proud of themselves for achieving their goal.”

If you would like to donate to Nic and Olivia’s travel fund visit https://www.justgiving.com/Olivia-Nic