The Dziko Project supports disadvantaged communities in southern Sri Lanka by ensuring their pets—often rescued from the streets—receive vital veterinary care. Many families love their animals deeply but cannot afford the costs of sterilisation, vaccination, or treatment. Without this care, animals are left to suffer and communities face the ongoing risks of rabies, disease, and ...
The Dziko Project
Healthy Animals, Safer Communities in Rural Sri Lanka
GOAL
$15,000
International
Field of Interest
- Environment conservation and climate change
- International aid and development
Target Population
- General population
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
The Dziko Project
The Dziko Project is a volunteer-run charity dedicated to transforming the lives of street animals and the communities that live alongside them in southern Sri Lanka. Our mission is to break the cycle of suffering and disease by reducing rabies, preventing unwanted litters, and ensuring vulnerable animals receive vital veterinary care.
Sri Lanka continues to face one of the highest incidences of rabies in Asia, a disease that is entirely preventable. Street dogs and cats endure lives of hardship, while many disadvantaged families love their pets but cannot afford veterinary services. We provide accessible sterilisation, vaccination, parasite control, and emergency treatments—improving animal welfare while directly supporting communities who otherwise lack access to care.
By reducing street dog populations through sterilisation and vaccination, we not only protect public health but also lessen environmental impacts such as waste scavenging, predation on wildlife, and human–animal conflict. This creates safer, cleaner, and more harmonious neighbourhoods for people and animals alike.
We are uniquely placed to deliver this work through strong partnerships with trusted local veterinarians and grassroots community engagement. Since starting, we have sterilised more than 1,400 animals, delivered over 3,300 rabies and core vaccinations, provided 1,600 parasite preventatives, and treated hundreds of sick or injured animals.
Our priorities are to expand mass sterilisation and rabies vaccination campaigns, extend outreach to rural villages, and strengthen education programs promoting compassion and responsible pet care. Funding will directly support these initiatives, covering veterinary costs, essential medicines, and outreach logistics.
Project Summary
The Dziko Project supports disadvantaged communities in southern Sri Lanka by ensuring their pets—often rescued from the streets—receive vital veterinary care. Many families love their animals deeply but cannot afford the costs of sterilisation, vaccination, or treatment. Without this care, animals are left to suffer and communities face the ongoing risks of rabies, disease, and growing street populations.
Our work focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of both animals and people. By providing sterilisation, vaccination, parasite control, and urgent medical treatment, we reduce preventable suffering and help families care for the pets they cherish. For vulnerable households, this support lifts a heavy burden and strengthens the bond between people and their animals.
The benefits ripple throughout the wider community. Knowing that street dogs and cats have been vaccinated against rabies reduces fear and allows people—especially children—to interact with them more safely. This not only creates positive human–animal relationships but also reduces conflict and improves daily life in villages and towns. At the same time, controlling roaming populations leads to cleaner streets, less scavenging, and reduced pressure on local wildlife.
With continued funding, The Dziko Project will expand its reach into disadvantaged areas, delivering compassionate, practical solutions that protect families, improve animal welfare, and create safer, healthier communities for all.
Project Outcomes
At The Dziko Project, our goal is to create healthier, safer communities while protecting the environment. Unmanaged street dog and cat populations place enormous pressure on both people and ecosystems. Overpopulation leads to scavenging around homes and markets, spreading waste, and contributing to human–animal conflict. Street dogs may also prey on native wildlife, upsetting fragile ecological balances. At the same time, rabies remains a serious public health threat in Sri Lanka, creating fear and mistrust between communities and street animals.
Through targeted sterilisation programs, we prevent the birth of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens each year. This breaks the cycle of overpopulation and reduces the environmental strain caused by free-roaming animals. Vaccination programs not only protect animals but also directly safeguard communities. When people know the dogs and cats around them are vaccinated against rabies, fear is replaced with trust. Children and families can interact more safely with street animals, leading to stronger, more positive human–animal relationships.
We will know we have achieved success when communities experience fewer roaming animals, cleaner streets, and reduced human–animal conflict. Evidence of change also includes improved community attitudes toward street animals, greater participation in our sterilisation and vaccination campaigns, and fewer rabies-related risks.
By combining animal welfare with environmental protection and community health, The Dziko Project delivers lasting impact: safer families, reduced ecological stress, and a compassionate, sustainable future for both people and animals.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $17,725
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly donors | $3,500 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vet Surgical Fee | $8,500 |
| Drugs and medications for surgery | $4,000 |
| Vaccines | $5,225 |
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