With heavy rains threatening to hammer the Western Cape this week, Cape Town’s most vulnerable residents, animals, are once again in the path of danger.
A Level 4 weather alert has been issued, and while residents brace for flooded homes and blocked roads, the SPCA is shifting into rescue mode.
The South African Weather Service has warned of significant rainfall from Thursday, with soaked ground from last week’s storms increasing the risk of dangerous mudslides, rising rivers, and waterlogged informal settlements.
While many prepare for power outages and cold snaps, the SPCA’s emergency responders are prepping for something else: a wave of animal emergencies, as Smile FM has reported. From drenched dogs and terrified cats to disoriented seals and even porcupines flushed out of stormwater drains, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA says no species is spared when wild weather hits.
‘We’ve had birds ripped from nests, horses stuck in rising water, and even seals tossed ashore by crashing waves,’ said Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse. ‘Storms like these don’t discriminate, whether they trot, fly, or swim, they’re all in trouble.’ SPCA teams, armed with raincoats, blankets, and emergency pet food, are coordinating with the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre to deploy aid where it’s needed most.
First responders are already on standby at the City’s Joint Operations Centre, prioritising rescue zones where animals are trapped, exposed, or at risk of starvation and illness. In addition to rescues, SPCA workers are out in the field distributing feed and supplies to owners in crisis zones. That includes emergency food parcels for dogs, cats, horses and livestock, as well as dry bedding and temporary shelter solutions.
Flooded households are often forced to flee with little to no warning, and many pets get left behind in the chaos. SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham urged the public to be alert and to report any distressed or displaced animals immediately. ‘Our team operates 24/7 through storms like these. For animals who rely on humans for safety, this weather becomes a nightmare very quickly,’ she said.
Cape Town residents are reminded to keep pets indoors, off the streets, and to avoid walking animals near flood-prone areas until the weather stabilises.
Also read:
Severe weather alert: Mid-latitude cyclone to impact South Africa this week
Picture: Mlungisi Louw /Gallo Images
