Lexi Gives BacK
Paternoster, South Africa
About the project
Lexi Gives Back was born out of the 2020 lockdown when the deplorable conditions many dogs had to suffer in her township caught Laura’s attention. Her philosophy is to transform the value given to animals in her community and underline the importance of responsible pet ownership. Through education and demonstration, she aims to transform the status of pets as sentient beings deserving of shelter, food, water, and care. She hopes to prove that it is of no interest to breed more pets than someone can afford to accommodate. Instead, the focus lies on tending to existing pets, achieved through sterilisation and medical care - shielding them from unwanted pregnancies, roaming, disease, dog fighting, and theft.
More about What they do
Lexi Gives Back has partnered with the team from the West Coast CVC (Community Veterinary Clinics), who help host sterilisation campaigns once a month. The dedicated vets sterilise up to 30 dogs in a single day, whilst also tending to urgent medical needs and providing regular worm and tick treatments. The service is entirely free for the community and relies solely on donations for its continuation. Pet owners who opt for sterilisation receive all routine treatments free of charge, including deworming, flea treatment, and vaccinations. With the help of donations, the organisation is able to offer those choosing to sterilise rewards, such as free vet care, dog/cat food parcels, collars, leashes, blankets, and beds.
Furthermore, their targeted feeding program is available to those that have sterilised and truly cannot afford to provide appropriate food for their pets. The introduction of community veterinary care has been a huge success in improving conditions for pets and owners alike.
The organization not only focuses on its primary mission of sterilisation, but also engages in rehoming. Community members can surrender their pets if they feel they cannot provide adequate care. While previously rehoming all unwanted pets, the organisation now insists on people taking responsibility for their pets rather than simply giving up on them. Lexi Gives Back strictly rehomes unwanted puppies only if the remaining adult dogs are spayed or neutered, holding the community accountable for their decisions and urging them to consider the consequences before relinquishing ownership.
Sustainability is crucial to their work. The organisation has observed that constant rehoming of pets leads the community to undervalue their services and neglect the consequences of their actions. Pets were quickly forgotten and replaced. The organization is determined to break this cycle by carefully considering each rehoming case. They are committed to working with the community, encouraging community members to get involved and take an active role in creating opportunities and helping their pets.
Laura Jacke with Lexi
Founder of Lexi Gives Back
“Though Lexi is just a dog, our profound bond inspires me to help Paternoster’s community see their pets not merely as protectors chained outside, but as cherished companions who offer unconditional love, comfort, and emotional refuge to kids and adults alike.””
What we do to help
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Besides supporting their long-term projects, we aim to help Lexi Gives Back on a regular basis, by helping finance medical supplies. By purchasing our Pawsitive Tote you can pay for the 5-in-1 immunity vaccination of one dog, deworm up to seven, or pay towards the full treatment of canine parvovirus (a disease common in the region).
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Sterilisation is one of Lexi Gives Back main areas of focus. Only through sterilisation can the population of dogs in the region be controlled. We hope to support their sterilisation campaigns financially, helping the organisation sterilise as many dogs as possible every month and shielding more dogs from suffering. For every third Tote sold, Lexi Gives Back can sterilise a female dog up to 25kg.
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Together with Laura, the Pawsitive Network is currently developing educational resources to equip Lexi Gives Back for school visits in the Western Cape Region. Here children will be educated on respectful dog care. The goal is for this material to serve as a template for future educational projects in diverse countries. Both Laura and I firmly believe that education is the most enduring solution - by teaching the next generation, we pave the way for lasting change.