The Emma Animal Rescue Society (TEARS) has launched a call-to-action campaign aimed at mobilising Cape Town residents to step up and become temporary foster volunteers during emergency situations.
The primary objective of this initiative is to rally people to enlist as temporary emergency foster carers, especially when faced with natural disasters or socio-political unrest that could jeopardise the safety and well-being of the animals under the organisation’s care.
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According to IOL, the campaign took shape against the backdrop of a recent taxi strike that gripped Cape Town.
The TEARS Veterinary Hospital and Kennels, located on Lekkerwater Road in Sunnydale and sharing a boundary wall with the Masiphumelele informal settlement, bore witness to the strike’s effects.
Protesters, reportedly affiliated with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), blockaded the entrance on 8 August using flaming tyres and rocks, leading to a compromised safety situation and a potential fire hazard for the property.
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Reflecting on the impact of the strike, Mandy Store, operations manager at TEARS, emphasised the challenges faced by staff in reaching the premises safely and the concerning fire risk posed to the facility.
‘Therefore, to be proactive and as part of a crisis preparedness strategy, we have invited Capetonians to complete an emergency foster questionnaire should they be willing to consider temporary fostering in times of need,’ she explained.
She went on to clarify that the fostering process requires careful vetting on the organisation’s part. A vetted roster of foster families is crucial if an emergency evacuation of the TEARS Kennel and Cattery becomes necessary.
Presently, the kennel and cattery provide shelter to 99 dogs and puppies, as well as 93 cats and kittens. This number excludes the 32 dogs and puppies and 48 cats and kittens enrolled in the organisation’s formal Foster Care Programme.
‘Fostering requires some due diligence on our side, so we’d like to have a shortlist of vetted foster families ready should it ever be necessary for us to initiate an emergency evacuation of the TEARS Kennel and Cattery,’ said Store.
For those eager to contribute to this fostering initiative, participation is a straightforward process:
Interested individuals can complete the Emergency Foster Questionnaire online here.
Alternatively, they can reach out to TEARS for further details at 021 785 4482 or via email at [email protected].
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Picture: TEARS Animal Rescue / Facebook