RAWO celebrates world animal day by vaccinating over 200 dogs
As the world marked World Animal Day(WAD) on October 4th, 2025, the Rwanda Animals Welfare Organisation (RAWO) joined residents of Nyange Sector in Musanze District to celebrate the day, combining it with a dog vaccination campaign.
The event, held on Friday, October 3rd, 2025, saw over 200 dogs vaccinated. Each received vaccination certificates confirming they had been immunized and would receive booster shots in a year.
In line with RAWO’s mission to safeguard animal health and welfare, vaccinating dogs is one of the key ways of ensuring both animal and community safety. Unvaccinated dogs pose risks to society since a single bite from an unprotected dog can cause rabies an illness that is nearly always fatal once contracted.
Dog owners in attendance expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that they have increasingly recognized dogs as valuable domestic animals,not only for companionship but also for their role in home security.
Alice Ayingeneye, a dog owner, explained: “We see this animal (the dog) as very useful because it helps us guard our homes, especially at night by chasing away thieves and alerting us to danger. It’s an animal that is very loyal to its owner, almost like a close friend, and it diligently fulfills its duties if you take good care of it.”
Another resident, Bernard Tugirumwami, emphasized that responsible ownership stems from love and proper care.“We’ve been encouraged to vaccinate them annually, which makes sense,it protects the dog but also keeps us safe.
A dog that is not vaccinated might bite you unintentionally and transmit rabies. The way you care for your dog determines how well it coexists with you. We thank RAWO for helping us this time, but going forward we plan to make this our responsibility and not wait for external support.”
Dr.Jean Claude Masengesho, the Executive Director of RAWO, explained the reason for focusing on dogs during this year’s celebration:
“As an animal welfare organization, we wanted to mark World Animal Day with a nationwide call to action, reminding Rwandans that domestic animals and wildlife alike deserve proper care, good living conditions, and protection. We chose to prioritize dogs in this campaign because of the risks they pose when neglected.”
Dr. Samson Ntegeyibizaza, a veterinarian at RAB (Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board), highlighted the direct link between animal welfare and human welfare:
“This is an important day, and people should understand that protecting animal health means protecting human health and livelihoods worldwide, as reflected in this year’s theme: Save the animals, Save the planet.”
Dr.Charles Kayumba, President of the Rwanda Veterinary Association, underscored the necessity of vaccination:
“Dogs are great companions and play an important role in security, even in rescue operations. However, a dog though friendly can bite due to unforeseen circumstances. Rabies, carried in its saliva, is deadly and almost always untreatable once symptoms appear. That’s why we chose to mark this day with mass vaccinations to promote safety and harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.”
Dog owners were also urged to handle their pets responsibly: avoid letting them roam unsupervised, ensure they are leashed and muzzled in public spaces, and provide them with proper feeding and care.
Nyange Sector, located near Volcanoes National Park, received additional guidance from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which asked residents to prevent their dogs from straying into the park, as they could threaten wildlife such as Gorilla,Buffalo and disrupt tourist security.
The celebration of World Animal Day 2025 in Musanze brought together various stakeholders, including MINAGRI, RAB, the Rwanda Veterinary Association, RDB, Gorilla Doctors, and local government representatives.RAWO greatly appreciate the funds from World Animal Day- Naturewatch Foundation who made this event very memorable and successful in Rwanda
