OIPA IN TANZANIA
Who We Are
OIPA’s work in Tanzania is carried out through its local representative, Alpha Maiseli, Founder of Animal Smile Africa, a nonprofit organisation working towards a sustainable and humane future for animals in Tanzania.
Alpha’s work focuses on addressing the everyday realities faced by animals in underserved communities, where access to veterinary care is often limited and awareness of animal welfare remains low. He leads initiatives that combine free veterinary services, including vaccination, deworming, spay and neuter activities and general treatment, with capacity building for veterinary and paraveterinary students and humane education for local communities.
As OIPA Representative in Tanzania, Alpha aims to expand awareness of animal welfare, strengthen collaboration with stakeholders and promote sustainable solutions that improve the lives of animals while empowering the next generation of animal health professionals.
“Animal welfare begins with education, access to care and the commitment of communities to treat animals with compassion.”
Alpha Maiseli, OIPA Representative in Tanzania
Our Mission in Tanzania
OIPA’s mission in Tanzania is to promote animal welfare through community education, veterinary outreach, rabies prevention, responsible pet ownership and capacity building for young animal health professionals.
Through the work of its local representative and Animal Smile Africa, OIPA supports a One Health approach that brings together animal welfare, public health, community engagement and environmental responsibility.
The work focuses on improving the lives of animals in underserved communities, where dogs, cats and other animals may suffer from neglect, preventable diseases, lack of veterinary care and harmful handling practices.
Through education, advocacy, practical veterinary services and youth involvement, OIPA aims to strengthen community-based animal welfare action and promote a more compassionate and sustainable relationship between people and animals in Tanzania.
Challenges and Our Response
Animal welfare in Tanzania is affected by several interconnected challenges. Many animals experience neglect or limited care due to lack of knowledge, financial constraints and restricted access to veterinary services, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Stray dogs and cats are present in many urban and peri-urban communities, where they may suffer from disease, injuries, malnutrition and lack of regular care. Low rabies vaccination coverage in many areas creates serious risks for both animals and people.
Other challenges include harmful or forceful handling practices, limited humane education, weak law enforcement and insufficient monitoring systems.
OIPA’s response in Tanzania focuses on three main areas of action: community and school-based animal welfare awareness, rabies prevention and basic veterinary outreach, and capacity building for young people and animal health students.
By combining practical veterinary care with education and youth engagement, OIPA Tanzania aims to reduce animal suffering, prevent disease and build long-term local capacity for animal welfare.
Main Areas of Activity
Community and School-Based Animal Welfare Awareness
Education is one of the main priorities of OIPA’s work in Tanzania.
Through community awareness sessions, OIPA Tanzania promotes basic knowledge of animal welfare, why animal welfare matters, humane animal handling, responsible pet ownership and rabies prevention.
The programme also aims to introduce animal welfare education in primary and secondary schools through simple and engaging sessions for students. Activities may include introductions to animal welfare, discussions on kindness to animals and safety, and creative activities such as animal drawing competitions.
These activities are planned in areas including Morogoro and Dodoma, in collaboration with local government education officers, public and private schools, school administrations and veterinary students.
Rabies Prevention and Basic Veterinary Outreach
OIPA Tanzania aims to support veterinary outreach clinics in underserved communities, offering services such as rabies vaccination, deworming, basic treatment and spay and neuter activities where possible.
These outreach activities are designed to improve access to veterinary care for animals that might otherwise remain untreated, while also helping communities understand the importance of vaccination, disease prevention and responsible animal care.
Veterinary Outreach and Capacity Building for Paraveterinary Students
A distinctive part of OIPA Tanzania’s work is the connection between animal welfare action and practical training for young animal health professionals.
Alpha Maiseli has been actively involved in hands-on training programmes that equip veterinary and paraveterinary students with practical clinical skills, helping them become more confident, skilled and compassionate in handling and treating animals.
Through outreach clinics, students can gain direct field experience in animal handling, vaccination, deworming, basic treatment, spay and neuter support, and community education.
This approach has a double impact: animals in underserved communities receive essential care, while future animal health professionals develop stronger practical skills and a deeper understanding of animal welfare.
Responsible Pet Ownership and Humane Handling
OIPA Tanzania promotes awareness of animals’ basic needs, including food, water, shelter, vaccination, veterinary care, parasite prevention, humane handling and protection from cruelty.
Special attention is given to reducing forceful and harmful handling practices, which are often linked to lack of knowledge rather than intentional cruelty. Through education and practical demonstrations, OIPA Tanzania encourages safer and more compassionate ways of interacting with animals.
By promoting responsible ownership, OIPA also supports healthier relationships between animals and communities and helps reduce the risks linked to abandonment, disease and uncontrolled reproduction.
Animal Welfare, Public Health and One Health
Animal welfare is closely connected to public health and community wellbeing.
Through a One Health perspective, OIPA Tanzania recognises that the health of animals, people and the environment are deeply interconnected. Vaccination, parasite control, responsible ownership, humane treatment and disease prevention are essential not only for animals, but also for safer and healthier communities.
This approach is particularly important in areas where access to veterinary services is limited and where preventable diseases, including rabies, can affect both animals and people.
By combining veterinary outreach, education and community participation, OIPA Tanzania promotes practical animal welfare solutions that also contribute to public health and social wellbeing.
Dog Training and Community Welfare
OIPA Tanzania also supports initiatives that strengthen the bond between people and animals through humane and positive approaches.
Community-based dog training can be an effective tool to promote empathy, responsibility and safer relationships between dogs and their owners. By using positive reinforcement and humane education, these programmes help communities understand dog behaviour, reduce fear and improve daily care.
This approach can also contribute to better animal welfare, stronger owner responsibility and greater awareness of the importance of veterinary care, vaccination and kindness towards animals.
Our Impact
Through Animal Smile Africa, Alpha Maiseli has already contributed to meaningful animal welfare impact in Tanzania.
The organisation has supported the vaccination of more than 2,500 dogs and 85 cats, helping protect animals and communities from preventable diseases. It has also supported the spaying and neutering of more than 150 dogs and 11 cats, contributing to humane population control and the reduction of stray animal suffering.
In addition, Animal Smile Africa has provided parasite treatment to more than 500 animals, offered food and water to around 100 animals in need, and contributed to capacity building and practical training for more than 100 veterinary and paraveterinary students.
The organisation has also facilitated the creation of two animal welfare clubs, helping foster a culture of compassion, responsibility and care within local communities.
Building on this experience, OIPA Tanzania aims to expand community education, strengthen rabies prevention and veterinary outreach, train more young animal health professionals and promote long-term, community-based solutions for animals in need.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, OIPA Tanzania aims to strengthen partnerships with schools, local authorities, veterinary institutions, student organisations and community stakeholders.
The first strategic priorities include reaching thousands of students through school-based education, expanding rabies prevention and veterinary outreach, training paraveterinary students and engaging young people in animal welfare leadership.
Through this work, OIPA Tanzania seeks to improve animal health, reduce suffering, support safer communities and promote a stronger culture of compassion and responsibility towards animals.
“A more humane future for animals in Tanzania begins with education, prevention and the empowerment of the next generation.”
Contact
For further information about OIPA’s activities in Tanzania, please contact:
OIPA International
international@oipa.org
