United vets friendship group

Veterinär-Projekt Ruanda

Our Story

The Veterinary Project Rwanda (VetPro) is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting and supporting veterinary work and animal welfare in Rwanda. VetPro was founded by Austrian veterinarians with the aim of providing financial support and knowledge transfer to the veterinary team of the New Vision Veterinary Hospital Rwanda (NVVH), which was established in 2016. A foundation devoted to animal welfare played a key role in its creation. The founding members of VetPro continue to accompany and support the work of NVVH on a voluntary basis. Over the years, professional collaboration has evolved into friendships between Rwandan veterinarians and supporters of NVVH from around the world. Our goal is to nurture and sustain these friendships and this cooperation through ongoing professional and personal support.

Our Mission

We are convinced that collaborative partnerships can enhance the quality of veterinary work in Rwanda. Treating people with respect and appreciation, and ensuring the humane and animal-welfare–oriented treatment of animals, are essential to us. We are committed to the One Health concept: the health of humans, animals, and the environment are inseparably connected.



News

Our Projects

Our Projects · Animal Welfare

Humane Dog Population Management (HDPM)

The HDPM is a concept that has been in place for many years, designed to control the state’s dog population in a scientifically sound and animal-welfare-friendly manner.

As part of this initiative, villages are visited—after prior notice and at regular intervals—to spay or neuter, register, treat, and vaccinate dogs free of charge for their owners, in accordance with international standards. During these visits, pet owners are made aware of any issues related to dog care, and suggestions for improvement are provided. These activities also benefit the animals in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwest of the country. Among many other protected animals, mountain gorillas live here. Before the HDPM was established, stray dogs repeatedly hunted and killed animals in the national park. The situation has improved significantly. The threat to the local population from rabies - which can be transmitted by unvaccinated domestic dogs - has been reduced through rabies vaccination programs.

HDPM-Einsatz: Behandlung im Dorf
Precision, Team Spirit, and Responsibility in Action
A Look Behind the Scenes: Humane Dog Population Management in Action © Babu Kamanzi
Mikroskopische Analyse – Krankheitsdiagnose und Forschung
Laboratory Diagnostics & Research
Our Projects · Science

Academic Work & Publications

Since the establishment of NVVH, and in cooperation with the Universities of Rwanda (UR) and Vienna (VMU Vienna), studies have been conducted on topics such as dog population dynamics, antibiotic resistance, and mastitis, along with related theses, dissertations, and scientific publications. These activities are made possible through the support and infrastructure of NVVH.

Scientific Work

Peer-reviewed publications

1

Characterization of Antibiotic and Biocide Resistance Genes and Virulence Factors of Staphylococcus Species Associated with Bovine Mastitis in Rwanda

Antibiotics · 2019/2020
Zur Publikation →
2

Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nares of ruminants

Journal of Applied Microbiology · 2024
Zur Publikation →
3

Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus associated with mastitis from dairy cows in Rwanda

Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance · 2024
Zur Publikation (PubMed) →
4

Survey in ruminants from Rwanda revealed high diversity and prevalence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales

BMC Veterinary Research · 2024
Zur Publikation →
5

Staphylococcus aureus in Rwandan dogs predominantly representing human-associated lineages

Letters in Applied Microbiology · 2025
Zur Publikation →
6

Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Enterobacterales and MRSA in Pigs in Rwanda

Animals (MDPI) · 2026 · Open Access
Zur Publikation →
7

Dog Demography, Ownership, Identification, Health, and Welfare in Musanze District, Rwanda

East African Journal of Health and Science, 2026 · Open Access · Feldstudie zu Hundepopulation, Halterschaft und Tierwohl (u. a. New Vision Veterinary Hospital, University of Rwanda, Rwanda Polytechnic Ngoma College)
Zur Publikation →

Discover Who We Are

Österreich

Team VetPro

Dr. med. vet. Otto Fischer

Gründer & Präsident

Dr. med. vet.
Otto Fischer

Strategische Planung und Budget. Fachtierarzt für Dermatologie, Korneuburg, AT

Dr. med. vet. Thomas Schwarzmann

Gründer & stellv. Präsident

Dr. med. vet.
Thomas Schwarzmann

Leitung chirurgische Fortbildung NVVH. Tierklinik Rankweil, AT

www.tierklinik.at
Dr. med. vet. Bettina Horvat

Gründerin & Schriftführerin

Dr. med. vet.
Bettina Horvat

Leitung internistische Fortbildung NVVH. Beratende Tierärztin für Sonographie und Innere Medizin, AT

sonotraining.vet

Treasurer

Mag.
Florian Wallner

Project Manager, AT

Prof. Dr. Christine Iben

Auditor

Prof. Dr.
Christine Iben

Veterinarian, AT

Dr. Helga Keinprecht

Auditor

Dr.
Helga Keinprecht

Veterinarian, AT

Zsanett Győri, BSc

öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Zsanett Győri, BSc

Zoologin, Naturschutzbiologin. Organisation und Kommunikation, AT

Rwanda

Leitung NVVH

Mrs. Flora Muragijemariya

Managing Director, NVVH Musanze

Mrs. Flora
Muragijemariya

Projektmanagement, Musanze, RW

Dr. Jean Bosco Turikumwenayo

Managing Director, NVVH Kigali

Dr. Jean Bosco
Turikumwenayo

Tierarzt, Kigali, RW

Advisory Board

Prof. John Cooper Margaret Cooper Dr. Otto Fischer Dr. Bettina Horvat Prof. Dr. Christine Iben Dr. Helga Keinprecht Doz. Dr. Igor Loncaric Mag. Sandra Purwin Dr. Theresa Rohleder Dr. Thomas Schwarzmann Dr. Dietmar Kurzthaler
The Advisory Board provides professional, organizational, and financial guidance and support to the team in Rwanda. All members of the board work on a voluntary basis.