Animals Fiji
West Charity Trust Society (operators of Animals Fiji) was established in late 2011 in Fiji by four Trustees to support initially via fund-raising activities what was then the Nadi branch of the SPCA Fiji (based in Suva) due to the SPCA’s increasingly limited resources at the time. There had been no permanent Veterinary services outside of the Capital City of Suva for over 3 years at that time; the SPCA Fiji Nadi Clinic was staffed by a Vet Nurse and a Full-time Volunteer Technician.
By June of 2012, the West Charity Trust Society now trading as Animals Fiji owned 90% of the clinic’s assets, 100% of the drugs / medical supplies and was providing Veterinary services (welfare and revenue generating) via sourcing of international volunteer Vets. In July of 2012, SPCA Fiji could no longer support the Nadi clinic in any meaningful way and Animals Fiji took over operations.
Since 2012, via international volunteers and new staff, Animals Fiji has been able to provide full-time veterinary services initially just in Nadi, but now four other clinics in Fiji:
- Savusavu (since 2013 to present),
- Lautoka (since Jan 2016 to present),
- Labasa (since Jan 2016, to present) and
- Taveuni (since Jan 2016 to March 2019)
As well we have provided various other out clinics throughout Fiji, which by 2019 averaged 25 annually in various areas of Fiji.
In addition to our 2011 registration as a Fiji charity, Animals Fiji has been registered in NSW, Australia since 2012 for fund-raising activities and is operated there by two volunteers who are long-term animal welfare supporters. In early 2017, thanks to a very generous individual supporter, we were able to register as a US 501 (c) 3 charity as well.
Our charity organization has and is supported and able to operate thanks to various volunteers over the years; whom we are extremely grateful to.
- Charity providing full-time veterinary services in various locations around Fiji
- Operated by West Charity Trust Society
- Community based approach – reliant on volunteers
Animals Fiji is a registered Fijian and US charity with a focus on animal welfare. We operate Veterinary clinics and welfare services in the Western and Northern Divisions of Fiji (a human population of over 600,000), where owners can seek treatment for their pets, livestock as well as wildlife. We operate as a welfare agency operating outreach programs and clinics throughout Fiji. One of our four clinics, Nadi, also functions a shelter taking in strays, injured and abused animals, who are treated and re-homed. Our most critical goal is to reduce the epidemic of stray and diseased roaming dog and cat populations that plague villages, towns and rural areas, through de-sexing (spay/neuter) programs. We ensure basic veterinary services and animal care education are available to as many Fijians as possible.
What are your long term aims and vision for your organization, ministry or business?
Mission Statement: To improve the welfare of all animals–domesticate & wildlife – resulting in better lives for both the animal and humans of Fiji, while helping to build a society without animal cruelty.
What are your long term aims and vision for Fiji?
Fiji has many positive opportunities to change the lives of animals (domesticated and wildlife) and therefore humans.
For the long-term goals, we wish to not only make our own shelter obsolete, but all shelters in Fiji. Growing the proactive approach of desexing and trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs prevents unwanted puppies and kittens from being born to then live deprived lives.
We want to see more action taken by the community to help us on our animal welfare and education journey, which will be achieved through a formal education curriculum that starts in primary and is expanded to secondary. This also will go hand in hand with further legislation to protect animals.
And more education and job opportunities for the veterinary industry in Fiji, which is growing, but needs more. Animals Fiji would love to be an internationally recognized organization for tropical veterinary medicine training drawing talented veterinarians from around the world.
The largest problem, as it is in most industries and causes at the moment, is the global economy and lack of disposable income for donations. Donations are what allow our organization to function. It therefore makes it difficult for us to find new markets to donate to our causes.
The second biggest issue is a shortage of veterinarians due to no qualified veterinarian schools in Fiji.
Given the above, it limits our time and effort ability to develop new concepts or programs.
Read their 2021 ReportChoose Your Action Project
Action Project 65-01
Design and develop an animal welfare educational program we can propose to the Ministry of Education.
Action Project (65-02)
We require an intern to complete a full analysis on how our organization as a brand is perceived domestically and possibly internationally.
Further Reading & Resources
Website: https://www.animalsfiji.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/animalsfiji/
Further Reading:
- https://www.aspcapro.org/
- https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/q-a-detail/one-health
- https://www.avma.org/resources/animal-health-welfare/animal-welfare-education
- https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.in/our-work/animal-welfare-education/animal-welfare-schools
- https://www.icam-coalition.org/
- https://www.alleycat.org/