WE HELP WE TREAT WE CARE
We believe every single animal in the world deserves high standard veterinary care.
We believe every single animal in the world deserves high standard veterinary care.
Yes, seriously, one hundred percent!
WECare Pet Food was set up, and only exists to support the work of
the charity – For the dogs, not the profit, you could say.
Top quality dog food for your dog that makes a real difference to
the lives of street dogs – why wouldn't you choose WECare Pet
Food?
75% of the world's dog population don't have owners. That's 300
million dogs with no provision of healthcare.
That's where WECare comes in. WECare Worldwide aims to transform
the lives of animals globally and ensure no street dog goes
without high standard veterinary care… ever again!
Small changes equals huge impact- who knew?!
Find Out More
It all began in 2014 with a backpacking trip to Sri
Lanka, where Janey Lowes fell in love with Sri Lanka
and their abundance of community dogs. With
approximately 3 million street dogs, she was also
horrified to see the state of so many of the Island's
dogs, all without access to veterinary care.
As a vet, and over 5,000 miles from home with no
equipment or supplies, completely unable to help. She
contacted local vets but it was difficult finding
someone who had the facilities needed to treat some of
the more severe issues. In her mid-twenties and only 3
years qualified, she was determined to make a change.
Now back in the UK, Janey sought advice from her boss,
Nick Myerscough, expecting her ideas to be laughed off
as crazy.
However, she was stunned when Westway Veterinary Group
donated £10,000 to help her move to Sri Lanka and set
up a charity.
They shared the belief that we have a responsibility as vets to ensure that every animal, regardless of borders or geographical location, deserves access to high standard veterinary care.
Moving to Sri Lanka in October 2014, Janey had the
intention of only taking a one year sabbatical (!),
aiming to neutering and vaccinating as many dogs as
possible. She saw this as the only way to address the
bigger picture of over population and limited
resources. She could never have predicted the sheer
number and severity of illnesses and injuries she was
about to witness, in a canine population that had
minimal access to veterinary care.
So, instead of just carrying out CNVR
(catch-neuter-vaccinate-release) programmes as first
intended, Janey decided she must fulfill her duty of
care as a vet and somehow find a way to treat the sick
animals too.
Janey then met her lifelines – Malaka, Chaminda and Dr. Nuwan. The team of four then worked their socks off to not only treat any animals in need, but to spread the word about WECare and ensure we were well received into the communities in which we were working (and living).
Initially, dogs were treated on the side of the road
or in Janey's home in Talalla, when absolutely
necessary.
However, by January 2016, Janey's house was full to
bursting, and she realised she needed a different
base. Renting on old primary school in a nearby
village with a secure garden for recovering dogs to
play in, Janey had found her (very rustic) WECare
hospital.
Over the next few years, WECare began to grow with the incredible support of local and UK volunteers, friends, family and kind sponsors. It certainly wasn't without it's challenges but somehow WECare managed to treat 1000s of dogs both in the newly-formed (but still very basic) hospital and out on the streets during the CNVR programmes. However, as with all charities, money was always a concern and when it ran dry and Janey was at the point of giving up, WECare was featured in a BBC documentary. It was an absolute lifeline.
Donations surged, allowing her to slowly build the clinic she and her team of local and international staff work from today. It's currently the best equipped veterinary hospital on the island outside of Colombo, and the only one on the island dedicated to street animals.
WECare has treated over 20,000 animals in need over
the last 8 years but the issue now is keeping it
going! We're still a tiny charity and running costs
are high – every penny can literally be the difference
between life and death.
Covid and the economic and political instability in
Sri Lanka have pushed us to the brink yet again, but
we won't give up- these animals deserve every last
shred of blood, sweat and tears; we won't let them
down.
Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release is the backbone of everything we do. It's the most humane, sustainable and impactful way of reducing the roaming dog population, and keeping the current ones happy and healthy.
As vets, our focus is very much on the level of care we provide. As animal lovers, we also combine our skills with lots of love and compassion to create not only a life-saving, but a cuddle-filled experience for our patients.
WECare provides education programmes in schools, community centres and to the whole community during outreach programmes. We also carry out veterinary teaching and aim to help transform standards island-wide.
We're a mixed bunch, from all corners of the globe, but there's
one thing we have in common; we're absolutely bonkers about
dogs!!
Together we are a highly skilled team, working our little flip
flops off to ensure that the WECare dream one day becomes a
reality; living in a world where no animal goes without high
standard veterinary care.
WECare Pet Food was set up, and only exists to support the work of
the charity – For the dogs, not the profit, you could say.
Top quality dog food for your dog that makes a real difference to
the lives of street dogs – why wouldn't choose WECare Pet Food?
Our Supporters
100% of the profits from your purchase will go straight to helping the street dogs, making you a hugely valued supporter of WECare Worldwide
