OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO

For my 70th birthday, I’m asking for something a bit different.

Instead of cards or gifts, I’m hoping to raise funds for a charity that has become a huge part of my life: OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs.

OSPA has shaped so many of my years in Cape Verde, in ways I’ll never forget - full of joy, heartbreak, hope and countless moments that stay with you forever. I’ve seen injured and frightened dogs arrive at the shelter, watched them heal, grow in confidence and find loving homes. I’ve also felt the sadness of the ones who didn’t make it. Being part of their journey, even in small ways, has meant more to me than I can ever express.

Before the pandemic, OSPA had a rescue vehicle, and every week we travelled around the island to the poorer communities - bringing food, medication and care to strays and owned animals who desperately needed help. It was rewarding, emotional and often heart‑wrenching work. When Covid hit, the vehicle had to be sold just to keep the animals fed. Those weekly visits stopped and the island has felt the loss ever since.

Now, OSPA is fundraising to buy a new rescue vehicle so they can restart this important and essential service — reaching the animals who cannot reach us.

For my 70th birthday, I would love your help to make this dream a reality. Any contribution, big or small, will help OSPA get back on the road and back to the animals who need them most.

Thank you for supporting something so close to my heart.

For My Birthday This Year, I’m Asking for Something Different…

Instead of gifts, cards, or celebrations, I’m hoping to raise support for a charity that is very dear to my heart: OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs.

OSPA is a small, dedicated charity caring for abandoned, injured and vulnerable animals on the island of Sal — all with limited resources and no government funding.

On 3rd March, we’ll be holding our annual sponsored charity dog walk — one of our most important fundraising events of the year. This time, we’re working especially hard to raise funds for something OSPA urgently needs: a rescue vehicle.

A vehicle would allow us to respond quickly to emergencies, reach animals in distress, transport injured dogs safely and provide vital vet visits across the island.

So for my birthday, I’m hoping to contribute to this important project.

Why This Matters to Me

I love volunteering my time with OSPA — making sure the 70+ dogs in our care get the chance to experience the outside world, taking them on little walking adventures, helping with daily care, supporting the team, and doing whatever I can to make life better for the animals who depend on us. These dogs and cats aren’t just shelter animals… they’re family.

Please help me celebrate my birthday in the most meaningful way - by supporting the animals who have captured my heart. Any donation, no matter the size, will help us move closer to securing the rescue vehicle OSPA so desperately needs.

Thank you

I didn’t plan to start a fundraiser.

But after what I saw in Cape Verde, I couldn’t just walk away.

In October, I found OSPA a small place run by people from Cape Verde and England who take in the dogs nobody else wants. Street dogs. Dogs hit by cars. Dogs missing a leg, an eye, or both. Dogs that would not survive another day on the streets.

What shocked me most?

There is no government support. None.

Everything you see the food, the medical care, the surgeries comes straight out of their own pockets...

These people save lives every single day. Quietly. Consistently. Even when it’s exhausting.

Now it’s on us.

If you’re reading this, you can help keep this place alive.

Your donation means food. Treatment. Time. Another chance.

Give if you can.

Share if you can’t.

Push this hard.

Let’s back the people who never gave up and the dogs who still believe in us. ❤️

Thank you Colossusflex community for the support!

Additional info:

Ospa is a UK-registered NGO, operating directly on the ground in Cape Verde, ensuring that donations go straight to where they’re needed most.

When OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs rehoming shelter closes for the evening, the dogs face long hours before staff return. In that time, water bowls can be tipped over, stepped in or left empty and that means no fresh water until morning.

Imagine the difference…..

….. Every dog, in every pen, with a secure, spill proof bowl of water all night long……

No spills.

No empty bowls.

Refreshment on tap.

With your help we WILL make this happen during our December 2025 visit, so every dog has water through the night, every night!!

Please consider donating a little towards this important project to improve their wellbeing.

Thank you so much. Xx

(And please tick the Gift Aid option if you’re eligible.)

Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO:

Principally by providing funding to assist the work of the local organisation OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs that is used -

to provide food, care, homing and veterinary attention for over 70 dogs who reside at OSPA’s rehoming centre in Sal, Cape Verde;

to provide food, care and veterinary attention for the free roaming dogs/cats and abandoned puppies/kittens on the beaches and in the hotels and streets of Sal, Cape Verde;

to provide support, care, education and tools i.e. collars/leads for local people on Sal;

to support visiting vets from Europe and UK with essential neutering campaigns to help control overpopulation of cats and dogs humanely.

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO: Principally by providing funding to assist the work of the local organisation OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs. That is used to provide food, care, homing and veterinary attention for up to 60 dogs who reside at OSPA rehoming centre in Sal, Cape Verde; to provide food, care and veterinary attention for the free roaming dogs/cats and abandoned puppies/kittens on the beaches and in the hotels and streets of Sal, Cape Verde; to provide support, care, education and tools i.e. collars/leads for local people on Sal. Our most recent project is the funding for an on site VET Room and this is where your donation will go to. Thank you so much.

Hello friends! On Friday 4th April I am taking part in a charity Fire Walk event at Hazelwood Sports Ground, Hazelwood Drive, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 6QU. I shall be raising money by walking on fire to benefit OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO, and the beautiful dogs currently awaiting their forever home in the rescue centre. You may already know how close this charity is to my heart. With your help we can make sure the dogs get fed and are regulary treated via our parisites protection programme. My next volunteering trip is at the end of Apirl and we are currently runnng low on flea and tick treatment and food for the dogs. Any donation no matter how small will help make a big impact.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me. More information about OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs CIO: Principally by providing funding to assist the work of the local organisation OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs. That is used to provide food, care, homing and veterinary attention for up to 60 dogs who reside at OSPA rehoming centre in Sal, Cape Verde; to provide food, care and veterinary attention for the free roaming dogs/cats and abandoned puppies/kittens on the beaches and in the hotels and streets of Sal, Cape Verde; to provide support, care, education and tools i.e. collars/leads for local people on Sal

Update August 2024 - Project – ‘Vet Room’

It became very apparent to the team at OSPA in Cape Verde, that we need a devoted space on site at the rehoming centre in Santa Maria, Sal. Somewhere clean and sterile, with at least some basic medical facilities and supplies. Somewhere we could dedicate to better look after the sick and injured dogs who find their way to OSPA through no fault of their own. A safe haven to tend to conditions and wounds, to provide a calm and quiet space to promote healing, as well as a place to invite visiting vets to use for minor op’s, neutering etc. And that’s why we are working hard to fundraise for a dedicated ‘Vet Room’, to be built and furnished with appropriate equipment, tools and supplies for veterinary/medical use.

We originally set ourselves an initial target of £5,000 to work towards and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, a couple of community grants and some fundraising events, including raffles and a sponsored dog walk, we were thrilled to reach our original target quite quickly.

However, upon making enquiries in regards to estimates for building works for the vet room, we realised that, in fact, we would need more funds to achieve our final goal. Building materials are imported to Sal, meaning the costs are expensive and the availability can be scarce. The cost of labour to employ a reputable builder is also expensive and so we will continue to fundraise until we have enough funds to build and equip this essential room.

We have a series of fundraising activities in progress and also planned for the near future, to help raise these much needed funds. We hope you will check out our Facebook and Instagram pages and support us.

We also invite you hold your own fundraising event and choose OSPA as your charity through GoFundMe. You could sign up to a sponsored run/walk or hold a dog walk, sell cakes/savouries at your workplace, create a Facebook birthday fundraiser, coffee mornings etc. Any amount donated, no matter how small, will help to build up a big pot of gold to make this dream a reality and give us the ability to provide better services to the animals on Sal!

Together we can make a difference!

www.facebook.com/OSPAcapeverdecatsanddogs

www.instagram.com/ospacaboverde

Gofundme.com@vet-room-at-ospa-cape-verde

** p.s. If anyone is able to connect us with any veterinary/surgical suppliers who may be able to help with any used/second hand equipment, instruments, disposables etc., or maybe you work in a veterinary practise and can speak to your employer about items not used that might otherwise be thrown away if they are near the expiry date etc., we would be very grateful.

Want to help me make a change? Hi, My name is Hannah Duncan I am 18 from Liverpool in the United Kingdom, I’m a huge advocate for animal safety and welfare, I have spent the last two years working and gaining experience with animals, I visited Cabo Verde in October 2024 and visited OSPA in hopes of gaining more knowledge about animals that have to go without in other countries and the impact/knowledge I gained was amazing. I am to raise £500 GBP for OSPA and hope for much more in the future as they beyond deserve it. OSPA specialises in injured puppies, dogs, cats and kittens and rehabilitates them until they are back to health, many dogs get adopted from OSPA each year but let’s aim to make it more!!

Just YOUR interaction I.e sharing this fund- raiser could make such a difference to so many animals in need. Any penny helps!! If you wish to find out more about OSPA..please visit their website and social media’s!!

http://www.ospa-cv.org/

✨ Update - January 2026 ✨

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, this fundraiser has already made wonderful progress. As we step into 2026, we are closer than ever to reaching the minimum total needed to make this rescue vehicle a reality.

We’re almost there but we still need a final push to cross the finish line. Every donation now takes us a step nearer to transforming how we care for the dogs and cats of Sal, ensuring we can respond swiftly to emergencies, provide vital vet visits, and extend our reach across the island.

With your continued kindness and generosity, we can achieve this goal together and give Sal’s animals the brighter, safer future they deserve.

Thank you!

Our fundraiser:

At OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs, we are dedicated to the welfare and happiness not only of the resident dogs at our rehoming centre in Sal, Cape Verde, but all dogs and cats across the island who need help.

However, we face a pressing challenge - a lack of transport! That’s why one of our top goals in 2025 was to raise funds for a desperately needed rescue vehicle.

This vehicle will transform how we respond to emergencies, perform rescues efficiently, attend critical vet visits, run life-saving mobile clinics, and support essential neutering campaigns across the island. These services are crucial to giving the dogs and cats a better future and we can’t do it without your support!

During the pandemic, we faced some of the toughest times in our history. To keep our rehoming centre running, we had to make the heart-breaking decision to sell the vehicle we were using, using the funds to cover food and veterinary care for the animals during that difficult period.

While it was critical at the time, it has since left us relying on costly taxi services to get around and is limiting our ability to respond quickly and efficiently to reach animals in need.

By securing a new vehicle, we can regain our independence, reduce unnecessary transport costs, and be more readily available to serve the dogs and cats of Sal. This vehicle will allow us to extend our reach and be ready to respond to any emergency that arises.

With your support, we can make this a reality. Every contribution brings us closer to driving real change and creating lasting impact for our community giving Sal’s animals a brighter future.

With heartfelt thanks.

Update : October 2025

It is with the deepest of sorrow that, following Simba’s specialist consultation, the extent of his internal condition meant the very hard decision was made to honour his dignity and put him to rest.

All funds raised through these recent efforts have been passed to his devoted foster carers, Julia and Glen, who lovingly supported Simba and funded his treatment from their own pockets. We hope this helps ease some of the financial burden they carried while giving Simba the care and comfort he deserved.

His legacy lives on in every act of kindness shared in his name.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone involved.

As many of you know, our beautiful boy Simba left OSPA on 11th June 2025, embarking on the next chapter of his life in the UK.

Since arriving in the UK, Simba has had numerous vet appointments and further to investigations and a CT scan, it was revealed that Simba has a congenitally deformed ear! With no ear canal on the left and a very narrow one on the right, this has explained why treatments so far in Sal had been ineffective. He has since been prescribed long-term antibiotics and steroids.

In relation to his eye wound, a recent biopsy shows lymphoplasmacytic dermatitis, which likely means referral to a dermatology specialist!

And so his journey continues!

Our heartfelt thanks go to Julia and Glen—for their unwavering love, dedication, and ongoing support for our OSPA dogs in the UK once again.

We will keep you updated on Simba’s progress, and thank you to everyone who has been part of his journey. His resilience is inspiring, and we are determined to give him the bright future he deserves!

To further add, Julia and Glen have personally taken on the full financial responsibility for Simba’s journey and care, an incredibly selfless act of kindness and dedication.

We would love to help support them and Simba in his onward health journey in ensuring he gets the best possible care.

If you would like to show your gratitude and support, please consider donating to Simba’s recovery here.

Thank you so much for all of us at OSPA.

You can make a difference by donating today to OSPA Cabo Verde Cats & Dogs. Principally by providing funding to assist the work of the local organisation OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs, that is used to provide food, care, homing and veterinary attention for over 70 dogs who reside at OSPA's rehoming centre in Sal, Cape Verde; to provide food, care and veterinary attention for the free roaming dogs/cats and abandoned puppies/kittens on the beaches and in the hotels and streets of Sal, Cape Verde; to provide support, care, education and tools i.e. collars/leads for local people on Sal; to support neutering campaigns held by visiting vets to help control over population.

Exciting News for OSPA in June!

Soon we are heading back to our favourite place in the world—OSPA, Cape Verde—and there’s so much to look forward to, including an exciting project that will make a big difference to our beloved dogs and the people who care for them.

Back in December, following my previous fundraiser, one of our incredible supporters Mark, dedicated his time and expertise to build an amazing new bespoke pen for Brownie Bob and Jack while he was on his holiday. Mark is returning in June and has generously offering his time and skills again for a new project to improve OSPA’s facilities. We couldn’t be more grateful to have him on board once more.

The Project: Improving Our Feeding Station/Social Area

For this project, we’re hoping to extend and upgrade the feeding station and social area located right at the heart of OSPA’s main yard. This space is a vital hub where our dogs daily meals are prepared and visitors can relax, interact, and spend quality time with the dogs. It’s an important area for both practical use and creating meaningful connections and it’s long overdue for an overhaul!

What’s the plan?

We’d love to transform this space into a cleaner, more hygienic area for food preparation and storage including:-

• Proper storage for food bowls, water containers, cleaning supplies etc.

• A welcoming and comfortable spot for visitors to enjoy quality time with the dogs—whether it’s cuddle time, playtime, grooming, or just hanging out.

• A functional area for volunteers to prep dogs for walks and store dog walking equipment.

How You Can Help

To bring this vision to life, I’m looking to raise some money for this project, to cover costs for some essential materials such as timber, roofing panels, worktops, seating and paint. With your support, Mark will take care of the rest!

If you can spare a few pounds to support this wonderful project, I’d be so grateful. Every contribution, big or small, makes a huge difference! Every single pound raised brings us closer to improving their lives and creating a better environment for everyone at OSPA.

Thank You for Your Support

Thank you so much for your kindness and support and for being part of this amazing journey. Together, we can make life brighter for these dogs and the people who love and care for them.

❤❤❤

Jaquira came to OSPA in October 2023, after a car accident which left her suffering with temporary paralysis. A few days after her arrival, she started having necrosis over the whole length of her back but thankfully she healed well with the right treatment and has a large body sized scar along her right side as a reminder.

Whilst in our care, we did notice she was a little incontinent, which we believe may have been nerve damage from the accident, but sadly, without any veterinary analysis facilities on Sal, we were unable to find out the extent of this condition and whether it could treated or resolved. She was also suffering with Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichia, but was given antibiotic treatment.

Within weeks of arriving, she recovered from her temporary paralysis and Jaquira was happy to be part of the OSPA family, loving all the attention and showing how cheeky and affectionate she could be.

Jaquira was adopted and brought to the UK in November 2024, looking forward to living with her new family, but it wasn’t to be. Sadly she didn’t want to share her owners attention with their other family dog and so she was surrendered back to our care less than 2 weeks later.

Lucky for Jaquira, she was able to be temporarily fostered by one of our OSPA volunteers living in the UK, while we have been looking to find a permanent solution.

Since arrival at her foster carers home, it became apparent that the incontinence she was affected by was much more of an issue than originally thought in an enclosed home environment.

Thankfully, her foster carers were already experienced in this field having previously owned a disabled dog and have worked hard on a routine that keeps Jaquira as dry and comfortable as possible, but this does involve her wearing diapers in the home and a need for frequent diaper changes, in order to avoid accidents. However, this in itself brings other potential issues, such as susceptibility to urinary infections. Sadly also, there has been a couple of cases of faecal incontinence too, although not to the same extent and some vaginal bleeding.

We are currently exploring whether or not there are any medical treatments or operations that may help with Jaquira’s condition and we are asking for your help to support this, should there be a solution available to help improve or resolve this issue.

Despite the sad start to her time in the UK, Jaquira has adapted well to life in her temporary home and loves nothing more than long walks, a good cuddle on your lap, a few treats and a warm jumper, while she adapts to the UK weather!

Jaquira is currently still looking for a loving special home with people able to dedicate time, love, patience and continued support for her to live her best life.

In the meantime, any donations towards the cost of the veterinary fees her foster carers have already and will continue to incur, would be very gratefully appreciated.

Thank you all so much from us all at OSPA, her foster carers and of course, our beautiful Jaquira.

UPDATE 10.01.25

Thanks to your generosity so far, Jaquira has now had a consultation with a specialist in Swindon with her foster carers.

They are pretty confident that her condition is due to a well-established kidney infection and the neurologist confirmed she has very limited anal and perineal tone and very poor urethral tone, which leaves her open to bacteria moving freely in her urinary system to her kidneys.

Blood cultures were taken and are being tested for bacteria and if they can identify the bacteria, she may need long term prophylactic antibiotics. However, if antibiotics don't work, then the next course of action would be a CT and MRI scans, costing approx £2,800.

Currently the vet bills incurred for a health assessment, analysis and treatment of her urinary infection and the specialist consultation, including a test for Brucellosis, amount to £838.25.

Thanks to all you lovely people who have made this possible so far! However, if Jaquira needs to have CT and MRI scans, we need to continue fundraising to cover further veterinary bills, so any amount you can donate, no matter how small, will really help us to cover these costs to cover her treatment.

Many thanks.

If you would like to offer Jaquira a chance of a secure future in a loving home, please get in touch with OSPA via Messenger on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/ospacapeverdecatsanddogs