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Across parts of Africa, the dog meat trade is driven by a mix of tradition, economic conditions, and lack of enforcement. Along the DRC border, the dog meat trade operates through informal, unregulated networks, where animals are transported, sold, and slaughtered without oversight. This trade increases the risk of rabies and other zoonotic diseases that impact animals and entire communities.
Animals recovered from the trade often arrive in critical condition. They require immediate medical attention, stabilization, and ongoing care to recover physically and emotionally. Rehabilitation is not a short process. It requires sustained resources, safe environments, and time.
The Global Empathy Project works to intercept activity by removing and rehabilitating animals through sustained resources, safe environments, and time. At the same time, it addresses the broader risks linked to the trade, including animal suffering, disease transmission, and gaps in enforcement.
Phoebe was just a puppy...
Phoebe was tortured for days by three children, acting on the instruction of their father, who believed the puppy had cursed a newborn child.
She was beaten. Stoned. Hung from a tree by her jaw.
In the end, she was doused in methylated spirits, set on fire, and suffered fractures across her entire body.
A local woman, alerted by Phoebe’s screams, intervened and rushed her to safety. After emergency treatment, she was flown to South Africa for critical surgeries.
Despite everything, Phoebe showed trust. She welcomed people. She responded with affection. She chose connection over fear.
Her survival raised a deeper question: What leads children to commit such acts—and how can it be prevented?
That question became the foundation of the Cactus Animal Shelter & Children’s Education Centre. Because rescuing animals is not enough. We have to teach empathy before cruelty takes root.
How the Project Works
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Border interception: Working in key locations along the DRC border to identify and intervene in active movement of animals within the trade.
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Rescue operations: Removing animals from transport and trade conditions and transferring them into safe custody.
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Medical and emotional rehabilitation: Providing treatment for injuries, disease, and trauma, followed by stabilization and recovery.
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Shelter and rehoming: Housing animals within a dedicated rescue centre and placing them into long-term care or adoptive environments.
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Law enforcement collaboration: Supporting monitoring, evidence tracking, and ongoing engagement with enforcement bodies.
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Legal and advocacy work: Contributing to law reform efforts and maintaining oversight of prosecution processes through watching briefs.
A Proven, Integrated Approach
This project is designed to operate across the full lifecycle of intervention:
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Disruption: intercepting the trade at active points
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Recovery: treating and stabilizing rescued animals
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Reintegration: rehoming and long-term care
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System change: supporting enforcement and legal accountability
It is also supported by broader animal welfare infrastructure—including veterinary care, shelter systems, and training environments that enable long-term impact.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Your contribution directly enables:
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Interception and safe removal of animals from the trade
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Operation of a border-based rescue and rehabilitation centre
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Veterinary care and recovery for injured and traumatized animals
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Coordination with enforcement and legal processes
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Long-term rehoming and care systems
Your donation funds active, on-the-ground intervention.
Why this Matters
Unregulated animal trade creates risks that extend beyond animal welfare.
It contributes to:
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the spread of zoonotic diseases
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gaps in enforcement systems
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continued cycles of unregulated activity
Addressing it requires more than awareness. It requires intervention, infrastructure, and accountability.