ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS
We get so many queries which is amazing but can prove difficult as we are a small charity and prefer to spend our time doing what we do best- treating animals in desperate need of veterinary care!
Please read the following FAQs before reaching out- it really does give us so much more time to do the work that matters.
If you do need to reach out, please choose only one form of communication- duplicating the message across email, Whatsapp and social media does not promote a more timely response and can cause more confusion for our frazzled brains.
Q: “ARE YOU A SHELTER?
WECare is a veterinary hospital, set up to treat roaming animals in critical and life-threatening conditions. As vets, this is where our expertise lies and our premises is set up for such work- we do not take in healthy dogs and as an organisation, we don’t believe in the concept of shelters as a fair or sustainable solution for the street dogs in Sri Lanka. We believe shelters restrict something that Sri Lankan animals hold so dear- their freedom- and having spent 10 years living and breathing the “issue” of roaming dogs on the island, we don’t believe it is in their, or the community’s, best interests.
Find out more in our blog.
Q: “WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER?”
We would absolutely love to be in a position to cover the whole island (and beyond!) but unfortunately we are mere mortals with very limited resources and so have to be focussed in our efforts.
We are based on the south coast of Sri Lanka and cover the areas between Mirissa and Tangalle, expanding as far inland as Kamburupitiya. Please read below “HOW DO I REPORT AN EMERGENCY CASE?” and “HOW DO I HELP A DOG THAT IS SICK, BUT NOT DEEMED TO BE AN EMERGENCY?” to discover treatment options if you are located outside of this area.
Q: “WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS OF OPERATION?”
WECare provides emergency treatment 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. Our office hours are 9am-7pm; please ensure all routine queries are within these hours; only emergency queries will be handled outside of these hours.
Q: “I AM VISITING THE ISLAND AND I HAVE FOUND AN ANIMAL IN NEED. HOW DO I HELP?”
Firstly, welcome to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, affectionately known by many (well- just us really!) as the ‘Island of dogs’. In the vast majority of cases, this equates to pure joy but as you are perhaps finding out now, it comes with its downsides when one of our beloved dogs finds themselves with a health problem.
As mentioned above, we unfortunately have to restrict our area of service to a section of the south coast of Sri Lanka, but if you have an emergency within that area then do please reach out to us here at WECare. Please read on to gather some clarity on what an emergency actually looks like.
Q: “I AM UNSURE WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EMERGENCY.”
We totally understand how hard this can be and we definitely had a wake-up call when we first started WECare and realised just how much crazier the severity of injury and illness is in the street dog population compared with the owned animals we were used to working with.
Think paralysis, collapse, seizures, snake bites, broken limbs, large open (and often maggot-infested) wounds, >10cm diameter masses, difficulty breathing, protruding eyeballs, etc.
Unfortunately, mild-moderate lameness, skin disease or parasite infestation aren’t severe enough to be prioritised at WECare when we have such challenging resource limitations and the very high numbers of severely sick and injured street dogs in need remain.
As awful as it is, it is worth noting that many cases that would be deemed as severe in other countries would not even get on the waiting list here… but hope is not lost as there as some other options for these pooches and kitties- please read ““HOW DO I HELP A DOG THAT IS SICK, BUT NOT DEEMED TO BE AN EMERGENCY?” below.
Q: “HOW DO I REPORT AN EMERGENCY CASE?”
Emergency cases can be reported to WECare via WhatsApp on +94 721275616.
Please DO NOT report cases via social media. In your WhatsApp message, please ensure you include a location pin (we love What3Words here at WECare if you fancy sending those details to us instead), a detailed history if you know one and photos and videos of the both the patient and the area of concern (wound etc). The more info, the better as it helps our clinical team to assess and triage the patient as effectively and efficiently as possible. Please note that unfortunately, we are currently only able to take in around 30% of the cases reported to us but we are fundraising to expand what we can do- please help us to help more animals by donating or contacting our fundraising team at fundraise@wecareworldwide.org.uk)
Each case admitted to the hospital costs an average of £500 and, being a charity, we rely solely on kind donations to cover this cost. Please do help where you can and promote our work to your friends and family to ensure we can continue our vital work.
If you are outside of our area, then emergency cases can be taken to a local vet or reported to a local animal welfare organisation as detailed below-
Colombo: Embark, PetVet, Tails of Freedom, Best Care Animal Hospital.
Ella: Dogs of Ella.
Ahangama, Thalpe: Dog Care Clinic.
Galle: Dr Pet.
Q: “HOW DO I HELP A DOG THAT IS SICK, BUT NOT DEEMED TO BE AN EMERGENCY?”
Less serious or routine enquiries can be directed towards a local veterinary practice. They are usually quite basic set ups but will be equipped to manage less complex issues. A list of veterinary practices in our area can be found at this link.
We really do appreciate your understanding in trying to ensure we can be available to help those animals who are in a critical condition and don’t have the luxury of another option.
Q: “DO YOU TREAT OWNED ANIMALS AS WELL AS STREET ANIMALS?”
As a rule, we do not routinely treat owned animals at our hospital in Kapugama. We are here to help street dogs and being the only veterinary hospital on the island that is dedicated to their care, we have our work cut out (there is an estimated 3 million street dogs in Sri Lanka). We are not monsters however, and if there is an owned animal in desperate need and with no other option (emergency/financial restrictions etc), we will try to help where we can.
Q: “HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY PET ANIMAL?”
We don’t offer routine consultations to owned animals unless they are a registered WECare dog/cat. To be registered with us, the animal must have been adopted from WECare with the agreement that in exchange for a wonderfully caring home, the pet will receive free, lifelong veterinary care from us as long as they reside in Sri Lanka..
We do, however, offer FREE neutering, microchipping and rabies vaccinations to all animals- whether owned or street. Please see “HOW DO I BOOK MY PET ANIMAL/A STREET ANIMAL IN FOR FREE NEUTERING AND RABIES VACCINATION?” for more details on how to take advantage of this amazing community initiative, sponsored by Happy Doggo.
Q: “HOW DO I BOOK MY PET ANIMAL/A STREET ANIMAL IN FOR FREE NEUTERING AND RABIES VACCINATION?”
We would love to welcome all animals to our CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release) programmes to be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped for free. It is really important that we make sustainable change to population numbers and the level of suffering encountered by the animal population in Sri Lanka; the ONLY humane way to do this is to neuter and vaccinate as many roaming dogs as possible, including those owned dogs who are- more frequently than not- unrestricted in their movements.
To book your pet or a community dog in for surgery and vaccination, then please Whatsapp us on + +94 761 825 372. and our lovely, lovely team will guide you through the booking process.
Q “I’VE FOUND A PUPPY, WHAT SHOULD I DO?”
Unfortunately, as much as we would love to, we aren’t able to take in healthy puppies. WECare is an incredibly busy veterinary hospital, with limited space and resources, and we have to devote our time and space to sick and injured street dogs.
Taking a puppy off the street also deprives it of its only chance of learning how to survive as a roaming dog. So, we have to leave puppies to figure out their territory, food source and safe place to sleep.
If you are able to book the puppy into a local vet practice, the veterinary surgeon will provide a course of life-saving puppy vaccinations, and flea and worming treatment to protect them as much as possible as they embark on their life as a community dog!
Once the the puppy is over 3kg (around 12 weeks of age) then we would be very happy to welcome you to the WECare CNVR programmes where we can offer free neutering, microchipping and further vaccinations. Please read “HOW DO I BOOK MY PET ANIMAL/A STREET ANIMAL IN FOR FREE NEUTERING AND RABIES VACCINATION?” for how to book.
To read more about why we don’t take puppies off the street please read here.
Q: “CAN I ADOPT A DOG FROM YOU?”
We try our utmost to return all street dogs back to their communities (that’s where all their pals, food sources and everything they have ever known is), there are some instances when it wouldn’t be safe or appropriate to do this. In these rare instances, we keep the animals at WECare and search for their forever home.
Some of our animals have ongoing medical issues (e.g. need daily medications) but most are perfectly healthy puppies that were too young to establish territories prior to being admitted to hospital or animals with three legs, one eye or a little scar (the ‘undateables’ that in our eyes are SO much more dateable due to these ‘imperfections’)! These beauties are put up for adoption within Sri Lanka initially but if we are struggling to rehome them for a year or more then we will look at international adoption options.
If you’re interested in giving one of our resident animals a second chance at life after they have fought so hard to stay on this planet then please call us on 041 225 9390 or email us on adoptme@wecareworldwide.org.uk
Q: “CAN I ADOPT A DOG FROM YOU AND TAKE IT OVERSEAS?”
Yes- with conditions! Whilst we would love to open up international adoption to every dog that comes through our doors, it is not a sustainable or fair way to deal with the overpopulation issue in Sri Lanka. We will always try to rehome animals within Sri Lanka first but if we can’t find a suitable home on the island then we will look to find a perfect home in the UK or Europe for them.
The process can take 4-5 months and be quite expensive and so potential adopters need to be fully committed. If you would be interested in overseas adoption then please do reach out on adoptme@wecareworldwide.org.uk
Q: “CAN YOU HELP ME ARRANGE TO HAVE ANOTHER STREET DOG SENT OVERSEAS?”
We definitely understand the temptation to scoop up every beach dog you meet and take them home with you, however if it worth giving some very serious thought to this. Firstly, community dogs are just that- their community is everything to them and all they have ever known; who are we to impart our western ideals upon a situation we can never fully understand after a 2 week holiday to the island.
Secondly, whenever possible, we would always advise adopting from your own country- although it might not seem as glamorous, it is just as commendable. The money spent on exporting a dog from Sri Lanka could be spent on sponsoring a CNVR programme in the community which would prevent thousands of unwanted births and prevent more animals from being born on to the streets in the first place.
If, after serious thought, you are still committed to exporting a street dog then we are able to offer an ‘Export package’ at WECare to help you get started. We will do everything we can to support you, however as an ever-overflowing charity veterinary hospital, it is safe to say that don’t have time to stay up to date on the often-changing import and export regulations to various countries around the world. As such, we can offer the ‘vet stuff’ but we really are not in a position to advise on logistics, timings, boarding facilities, etc.
At WECare we are able to offer the following;
-Microchip placement
-Rabies Vaccination
-Rabies titre blood test (UK approved laboratory_ sampling, courier and test costs
We are unable to accept responsibility for any other part of the export process, including timelines. These should be discussed and confirmed with your Pet Travel Company in advance.
For more information or to book an appointment, please email us.
Q: “CAN YOU GIVE ME MEDICAL ADVICE?”
We’re not legally allowed to offer medical advice without first assessing the patient, and nor would we deem it safe to do so. We hope you understand, and we recommend taking the animal to a local vet if possible for advice or if it is an emergency and within our area of coverage then do please reach out to us- please read “HOW DO I REPORT AN EMERGENCY CASE?”
Q: “I LIVE OUTSIDE OF SRI LANKA- WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DONATE?”
We have quite a few options for you so as to make the process as easy as possible (thank you SO much!!). The ideal scenario for small to medium donations is to donate on our website where you can choose to pay via debit/credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. This also allows you to set up a monthly donation should you wish (these notifications make us jump for joy!!) and ensures that Gift Aid will be added for those UK donors amongst you! (25% extra… for FREE… yes please!!!).
If you believe in the power of Paypal then that is also just fabulous for us- here is the link.
If you would like to make a slightly larger donation (£500 or more) then please do reach out for our bank details so that we don’t have to haemorrhage too much money on donation platform charges (eek!).
Send an email to: donations@wecareworldwide.org.uk
Q: “I LIVE IN SRI LANKA- WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DONATE?”
As everyone who lives in Sri Lanka knows, nothing is ever simple and that includes doing good (*melt*). We are working on an online payment platform but, in the meantime, we would love if you could reach out for bank details on donations@wecareworldwide.org.uk.
Thank you so much for your generosity and patience.
Q: “I LIVE IN THE US AND WOULD LIKE THE SAME TAX BENEFITS DERIVED FROM DONATING TO A 501(C)- IS THERE A WAY TO DO THIS?”
Whilst we are not currently a 501(c), we are still able to offer our donors from the US the same TAX benefits they would receive should they donate to a 501(c). We use CAF America, meaning we can receive tax effective donations from American donors. You can donate to us here.
Q: “I CAN’T DONATE ONLINE- IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?”
Absolutely!! We can provide our bank details for a direct transfer or you can send a cheque to our registered address at-
WECare Worldwide,
Oak Lodge,
Kirkbride,
Wigton,
Cumbria,
CA7 5JH
Please reach out on donations@wecareworldwide.org.uk for our bank details. Thank you so very much for your kindness!
Q: “IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC HELP OR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU NEED AT THE MOMENT?”
We are desperate to construct our very own purpose-built hospital and rehab centre which will not only improve the standard of care we can offer but also increase the number of animals we can help by 400%! Our current premises is rented, too small, leaking and falling apart and the need is pretty dire now, dare we say..
Any assistance with sponsorship of the land purchase, or a wing, room or even piece of equipment would be incredibly helpful and help shore up our future operations in Sri Lanka.
Q: “I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA- CAN I ORDER MERCHANDISE FROM THE ONLINE SHOP?”
Ahhhhh we wiiiish we could have international representation for our merchandise given how bloomin’ cool it is but unfortunately due to extortionate shipping costs, we are currently only able to offer delivery within Sri Lanka or in the UK.
If you’re in Sri Lanka and fancy a break from the blazing sun (or torrential rain depending on the season) with some retail therapy, then our T-shirts can be found at Shady Lane in Mirissa, Spindrift Madiha or Hangtime Weligama.
Q: “DO YOU HAVE OPTIONS FOR CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP?”
We will be completely honest and say that noooo unfortunately we do not have official corporate sponsorship packs set up just yet (we’re still small and hustling!) BUT that does mean we can be flexible and tailor packages to what it is that you are interested in sponsoring. Please do reach out to our fundraising team via the Contact Form and they will run you through the options!
Q: “I WORK IN THE VETERINARY INDUSTRY- CAN I DONATE EXCESS OR OOD MEDICATIONS AND CONSUMABLES?”
How do we say YES PLEASE extremely emphatically without looking like we are shouting at you?! But YES PLEASE! OOD medications and consumables are incredibly helpful and ensure that we are able to treat more patients. The restrictions that are in place for donating OOD meds to UK charities don’t apply to us as we are not operating in the UK (despite being registered there) and all documentation will be provided to ensure you and your practice are protected legally. Please email us for more info on what exactly we like to get our grubby mitts on and to receive a gushing thanks for your invaluable help!
Q: “HOW CAN I FUNDRAISE FOR YOU?’
Ahhhh you’re the best- thank you!! As a charity that is run solely on donations, this is music to our ears! Our fundraising team are available to help you with all of your efforts but if you would like to plough on unassisted then you can start a Facebook fundraiser, a Just Giving page or use Crowdfunder to lure in all your unsuspecting friends and family.
Our fundraising team can be contacted here.
Q: “DO YOU GET GIFT AID?’
We dooooo and we LOVE IT! If you are donating via our website and you are a UK taxpayer then please ensure you tick the ‘Gift Aid my donation’ box, if you are donating in any other way then we may ask you to fill in an online form so that we can claim that life-changing extra 25%.
Q: “WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH?”
We are trying to be more organised in amongst the chaos of the on-the-ground happenings and, as such, we now have a fancy new contact form HERE that should guide you to the correct place for any queries!
Q: “HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER AT WECARE?”
We have many volunteer roles across multiple areas of the charity (both dog-handling and non-dog-handling… someone’s gotta do the laptop stuff!!). More details can be found HERE and, if all sounds A-OK, the application form is HERE. Please note we are super lucky to receive quite a few applications- do please give us up to 7 days to respond to you.
Q: “HOW CAN I WORK AT WECARE?”
We do have some paid roles at WECare and would love to hear from you if you would be interested in a longer-term contract either in Sri Lanka or working remotely (applicable only to certain roles). Please fill in the application form HERE.
Q:”CAN WE VISIT THE HOSPITAL?”
We are super proud of what we do here at WECare and would LOVE to show you what your support allows us to achieve however, as a busy emergency veterinary hospital, our premises isn’t always the most visitor-friendly place. The hospital is small (we are desperate to build our very-own hospital!) and we are often working on very critical patients, employing life-saving techniques. Not only is this distressing for any visitors, it also isn’t helpful for our vets and nurses to have any distraction at all at this point. So, as much as we would love to drag every man and his dog (actually- no more dogs please!) In to see all the patients and help them along in their healing journeys, drop-ins just aren’t feasible in such a small property.
We can pre-arrange visits with the disclaimer that we may need to rearrange at the last minute if an emergency arises. If you would like to arrange to come and have a cuddle then please do reach out to us on Whatsapp at +94 761825372 or call us on +94 (0)41 225 9390.
Q: “DO YOU OFFER EMS FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS?”
Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer EMS placements for veterinary students due to limited charity resources – we really have to focus on training within Sri Lanka for development and sustainability within the vet profession here.
However, we do welcome vet students in nursing-style roles, although this may not count as EMS – best to check with your vet school about that (insurance reasons etc). If you do fancy volunteering, check out the “How can I volunteer at WECare?” section above for more info before you fill in an application form here.
Q: “I HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY A DOG- WHAT SHOULD I DO?”
Sri Lanka is a rabies endemic country and we still see cases in the hospital every week; trust us- this is not something you want to mess with. If you are bitten by a dog with an unverified rabies vaccination history in Sri Lanka (and the skin is broken) then you will need to head to the hospital for post-exposure vaccines (PEP) irregardless of your pre-exposure vaccination status. Before doing this, please wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 5-10 minutes before gathering your vaccination card and heading to the public hospital (they are much better than the private hospitals and highly clued-up on all World Health Organisation recommendations). Depending on your pre-exposure vaccination status, you will need a course of 2 post-exposure boosters or a course of immunoglobulin administration. Please see the WHO guidelines here for more info.
PLEASE NOTE, any saliva making contact with an open wound (think mozzie bite, scratch etc) OR mucous membranes (gums or eyes) can transmit the rabies virus. Rabies is not just transmitted via bites. 99% of human cases in Sri Lanka derive from our canine friends so caution is required and we highly recommend receiving PEP prior to visiting Sri Lanka, if you are a tourist.
