Sharing Valentine’s with animals

Animals kept in the facility are strays rescued from different parts of Kenya. They are given a new beginning and later rehomed when they find a 'soulmate.'

The concept was to create awareness on animal welfare and highlight what it takes for animal keepers to become better custodians. This conversation was extended to mainstream and social media through the hashtag #loveisforeveryone.

To make it even more fun, we produced t-shirts for animal lovers with the messages, 'I puggin' love you,' 'love is in the fur,' 'pugs & kisses,' and 'some bunny loves me'. We then posted photos on social media while wearing the t-shirts to remind our audiences that they can also enjoy sharing Valentine's day with their animals. We also came up with memes about animals to get audiences excited about the activity, an idea that was well received by our followers.

The love we show animals is a reflection of who we are

Speaking at the event, Emily Mudoga, Campaign Manager – Companion Animals, said: "Just like human beings, animals need love, care and protection. If you want to find true love you will find it in animals; they will love you for better or for worse. With animals, you are assured that if you give them love, they love you back three-fold."

Our WhatsApp group comprises of 37 members, all young people from different walks of life, passionate about animal welfare. We engage them during our Twitter conferences to spread word on topical issues around our campaigns. Some of them are also veterinary final year students waiting to practice. It is our belief that through the learnings they've received, they'll become better at animal handling.

Young people are very receptive to ideas and behavior change hence why we actively engage them during our activities.