Nusrat Mohammed: The woman who made saving abused animals her calling

Every year, pet owners gather at Makadara Grounds for what has become one of Mombasa’s most anticipated animal welfare events: The Free Rabies Vaccination Camp organised by Pwani Animal Welfare Organisation (PAW).

This year, the event coincided with World Animal Day and drew hundreds of families seeking free rabies vaccinations for their cats and dogs. Organised in partnership with the County Government of Mombasa and the Kenya Veterinary Association under the theme “Stronger Together for a Rabies-Free Mombasa,” the camp is about much more than vaccines.

For PAW founder Nusrat Mohammed, every vaccination is an opportunity to change perceptions, save lives, and strengthen the connection between animal welfare and public health. “We want people to understand that animal health is human health,” she says.

“When you vaccinate a dog or a cat against rabies, you’re not only protecting that animal. You’re protecting children, families, and entire communities.”

That philosophy has guided PAW since its establishment in 2019 and has transformed a small grassroots initiative into one of the Coast region’s leading animal welfare movements.

Long before she became an animal welfare advocate, Mohammed was a young girl wandering the streets of Mombasa’s Old Town, rescuing whatever creature she could find. She recalls sneaking stray cats home under her dress, carrying injured pigeons, collecting abandoned chicks, and bringing home animals others dismissed as worthless.

“I would walk with my mother and come across a stray cat or a sick pigeon and I couldn’t leave it behind,” she remembers. “Helping animals was never something I learned later. It’s something I have always done.”

As she grew older, however, she noticed a troubling pattern in many communities across the Coast. There was deep affection for animals among many families, but there was also widespread misinformation.

Black cats were associated with curses and supernatural powers. Dogs faced hostility because of cultural and religious misconceptions.

“People interpreted normal animal behaviour through fear,” she says.

Of all the misconceptions she has encountered, beliefs surrounding cats have proved the most difficult to address. According to Mohammed, cultural myths can place animals directly in harm’s way. “When people believe a cat can be used for witchcraft, that animal becomes vulnerable,” she says.

Over the years, PAW has rescued animals subjected to horrific abuse. Mohammed recalls a kitten brought to the clinic after boiling oil had been poured over its head, burning away much of its scalp. Other cats arrived sewn with nets, mutilated for ritual practices, while some were found with injuries linked to beliefs about supernatural powers.

Dogs have suffered too. Some have arrived with broken limbs requiring amputation.

These experiences convinced Mohammed that rescue work alone would never solve the problem. “We realised that if we wanted lasting change, we had to spend more time in communities than in shelters,” she says.

Rather than build a large animal shelter, PAW invested in education. Three times a week, staff members and volunteers visit communities, engage chiefs and local leaders, address myths, and teach residents about animal behaviour.

 “If people understand why a cat behaves a certain way or why a dog reacts in a certain way, fear starts to disappear,” Mohammed says.

Changing attitudes also required engaging religious leaders. For years, dogs were particularly vulnerable to mistreatment because of misconceptions regarding cleanliness and religious practice.

PAW began working closely with sheikhs and Islamic scholars, encouraging discussions about compassion and humane treatment.

“We would ask people a simple question,” she says. “Can God create a creature simply so that it can be harmed?”

The conversations shifted perspectives.

“We explained that someone may choose not to interact with an animal because of their religious beliefs, but that doesn’t mean the animal should suffer.”

Today, Mohammed says one of her proudest achievements is seeing Muslim women, men, and young people confidently bringing cats and dogs to community vaccination events.

“We never wanted to force anyone to change their beliefs,” she says. “Our goal was simply to ensure animals are not harmed because of those beliefs.”

Rabies prevention remains one of PAW’s most impactful programmes. The organization’s annual rabies vaccination campaign has grown significantly since its launch.

In 2019, PAW vaccinated 85 cats and 23 dogs during its first free rabies vaccination camp. By 2025, the number had increased to 266 cats and 43 dogs. This year, the organisation has already vaccinated 308 cats and 69 dogs, evidence of rising public awareness and stronger community trust.

As a counselling psychologist, Mohammed also views animal welfare through a mental health lens. She believes pets frequently provide emotional support for people facing poverty, homelessness, and isolation. “Animals offer a kind of unconditional love,” she says. “A cat will still come and purr around your feet when you have nothing. A dog remains loyal regardless of your circumstances.”

Seven years after its founding, its influence now extends well beyond the animals it treats. The organisation has established networks of community animal caregivers, worked closely with government veterinary officers, collaborated with the Kenya Veterinary Association, and built partnerships with private veterinary practitioners across the region. Most importantly, Mohammed says, communities are beginning to educate themselves. “Education creates a ripple effect,” she says. “One person learns, then teaches a neighbour, who teaches someone else.”

For Mohammed, that ripple effect represents the future of animal welfare at the Coast. “We don’t just rescue animals,” she says. “We rebuild relationships between animals and people. When communities understand that every animal deserves compassion, the change lasts far beyond any single rescue,” she says.