DNA Vetcare > Mission to Fight Rabies in Cambodia
Beyond Our Practice Doors: DNA Vetcare’s Mission to Fight Rabies in Cambodia
Cambodia | October 2026
At DNA Vetcare, our commitment to animal welfare extends far beyond the walls of our veterinary practices. In October 2026, three dedicated members of our team Maria Coombes, Ellie Hollands and Amelia Wainwright travelled to Cambodia to support an extraordinary mission protecting dogs, preventing rabies, and helping safeguard local communities.
Working alongside Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), Mission Rabies, Cambodian veterinary professionals and international volunteers, our colleagues contributed their skills, time and compassion to an ambitious mass vaccination campaign.
From administering vaccinations and supporting animal welfare to sharing veterinary knowledge with local students, their involvement reflects the values that lie at the heart of DNA Vetcare.
Rabies: A Preventable Disease That Still Claims Thousands of Lives
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the nervous system of both animals and humans. It is usually transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most commonly a dog.
Although rabies is preventable through vaccination and timely medical treatment following exposure, it continues to devastate communities across the world. Once clinical symptoms develop, the disease is virtually always fatal.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
- 59,000 people are estimated to die from rabies worldwide every year.
- 99% of human rabies cases are associated with transmission from dogs.
- Around 40% of rabies deaths occur in children under the age of 15.
Behind every statistic is a life, a family and a community affected by a disease that we have the knowledge and tools to prevent.
Why Vaccinating Dogs Can Save Human Lives
The most effective way to tackle dog-mediated rabies is to prevent the disease at its source. Vaccinating dogs protects the animals themselves whilst significantly reducing the risk of transmission to people. Research and international rabies control programmes have demonstrated that achieving vaccination coverage of approximately 70% of dogs in an at-risk community can interrupt the cycle of transmission. This approach protects animals, reduces the need for unnecessary culling and helps create safer environments for families and children.
By protecting dogs, we can help protect entire communities.
Meet Our Cambodia Team Maria, Ellie and Amelia
We are incredibly proud of Maria Coombes, Ellie Hollands and Amelia Wainwright, who travelled to Cambodia representing DNA Vetcare and supporting the Mission Rabies vaccination campaign.
Leaving behind the familiar surroundings of their UK veterinary practices, our colleagues joined hundreds of dedicated professionals and volunteers working towards the same goal: protecting as many dogs and communities as possible against rabies.
Their involvement included supporting vaccination activities, working alongside local teams and contributing to the wider animal welfare efforts taking place throughout the campaign.
Delivering vaccinations on this scale requires patience, dedication, careful animal handling and effective teamwork. Each dog presents its own challenges, making the experience, compassion and commitment of veterinary professionals invaluable.
For our colleagues, the experience offered an opportunity to make a practical difference whilst collaborating with people from different backgrounds, sharing veterinary knowledge and contributing to an international animal welfare initiative.
We are exceptionally proud of Maria, Ellie and Amelia for representing DNA Vetcare and demonstrating that compassionate veterinary care knows no borders.
DNA Vetcare in Cambodia
Turning Compassion into Action
For our veterinary team, the Cambodia mission was an opportunity to put their skills and experience towards something much bigger than everyday clinical practice.
Our lead vets actively participated in the vaccination campaign, working at vaccination pens and helping administer rabies vaccines to dogs as part of the wider international effort.
Working alongside local veterinary teams and fellow volunteers, they contributed to the practical, hands-on work needed to reach as many dogs as possible.
Each vaccination represented a meaningful step towards reducing the risk of rabies, protecting animal welfare and supporting the safety of local communities.
We are incredibly proud of our vets for dedicating their time and expertise to this important cause, demonstrating the values of compassion, teamwork and responsible veterinary care that define DNA Vetcare.
200,000 Dogs, 14 Days, One Mission
In October 2026, Worldwide Veterinary Service, through its Mission Rabies initiative, launched The Big Shot, an ambitious campaign aiming to vaccinate 200,000 dogs against rabies across Cambodia in just 14 days.
The campaign brought together veterinary professionals, volunteers and local communities, united by a common goal: reducing the threat of rabies through widespread dog vaccination. 184,562 Dogs Vaccinated and Counting
As of 29 October 2026, the campaign had recorded an incredible 184,562 vaccinations towards its target of 200,000 dogs.
DNA Vetcare is proud to have contributed to this collective achievement through the hands-on efforts of our lead vets. Whilst this figure represents the combined work of all participating teams, our colleagues played their part in helping the campaign reach more dogs and communities.
Every vaccination is more than a number. It represents an animal receiving protection and another step towards a future with fewer lives lost to rabies.
More Than Vaccinations: Providing Care Where It Is Needed Most
Although rabies prevention was the central focus of the campaign, the work extended beyond vaccinations alone.
During the vaccination drive, teams also identified animals requiring additional veterinary attention, including those suffering from broken bones, skin conditions and other health concerns.
These animals were referred to dedicated treatment teams, who could provide appropriate veterinary care.
By the time of the week-one update, 375 animals had received treatment through the wider campaign.
This additional work highlights the importance of combining disease prevention with broader animal welfare support.
For DNA Vetcare, whose everyday work centres on improving the health and wellbeing of animals, this comprehensive approach reflects the values we strongly believe in.
Every animal deserves compassion, whether they need a vaccination, medical treatment or simply someone willing to help.
184,562 Dogs Vaccinated and Counting
As the campaign continued into its second week, the number of vaccinated dogs continued to rise. As of 29 October 2026, The Big Shot had recorded an incredible 184,562 dog vaccinations towards its target of 200,000. This represents more than 92% of the campaign’s ambitious goal.
By protecting dogs, we can help protect entire communities.
More Than Vaccinations: Providing Care Where It Is Needed Most
Supporting animal welfare initiatives has long been an important part of DNA Vetcare’s values.
For more than 14 years, we have supported international animal welfare organisations and charitable initiatives, including our longstanding relationship with Worldwide Veterinary Service.
Through fundraising, practical support and collaboration with organisations dedicated to improving animal welfare, we have continued to extend our commitment beyond the communities served by our UK practices.
Our involvement in Cambodia represents another important chapter in that journey.
Whether caring for pets in our local surgeries, contributing to international vaccination programmes or supporting veterinary education overseas, our purpose remains the same: to improve animal welfare through compassion, knowledge and dedicated care.
The commitment shown by Maria, Ellie and Amelia is a wonderful example of these values in action.
Because caring for animals has no borders.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Team and Everyone Involved
The fight against rabies requires more than a single organisation or vaccination campaign. It depends on continued collaboration, community education, veterinary expertise and a shared commitment to protecting lives.
We extend our sincere thanks to Worldwide Veterinary Service, Mission Rabies, the Cambodian veterinary teams, government partners, local communities and international volunteers who have made this extraordinary initiative possible.
A special thank you goes to Maria Coombes, Ellie Hollands and Amelia Wainwright, whose dedication and willingness to contribute to such an important cause have made us incredibly proud.
From helping protect dogs through vaccination to sharing knowledge with local veterinary students, their contributions demonstrate the positive impact veterinary professionals can have around the world.
We are honoured that DNA Vetcare has been part of this mission and remain committed to supporting initiatives that improve animal welfare and help protect lives.
Be Part of the Mission to End Rabies
You can learn more about the campaign and support the continuing work of Worldwide Veterinary Service by visiting the official Big Shot campaign website.
Together, We Can Help Create a Future Free from Rabies
Every vaccination is a step towards reducing the spread of rabies, protecting communities and creating a better future for animals and people. The success of programmes such as The Big Shot demonstrates what can be achieved when veterinary professionals, charitable organisations and local communities work together. We are proud of our colleagues, grateful to everyone involved and inspired by the collective effort to make rabies prevention a reality. Every dog matters. Every vaccination counts. Every contribution makes a difference.
DNA Vetcare — Vets that care. It’s in our DNA.
© DNA Vetcare.