The Community Services and Health Directorate first disbursed grant-in-aid funding to the Cape of Good SPCA in 2013 for a pilot mass pet sterilisation project in Dunoon and Brown’s Farm. A decade later, nearly 15 000 domestic pets have been sterilised at a cost of just over R6.3 million.
The recent campaign, which ran in September last year up until February 2023, focused on the areas of Hout Bay, Masiphumele and Ocean View and saw 1 500 animals sterilised.
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The initiative began in 2013 in order to curb unwanted litters and promote animal health. These projects have seen the successful sterilisation of over 13 376 dogs and cats in various identified areas of need.
Areas in need are identified by CAWF based on needs analyses and best practice.
While the funding is disbursed to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, several other animal welfare organisations that form part of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF) assisted in the campaign.
These organisations include:
- Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL)
- Animal Rescue Organisation (ARO)
- Animal Welfare Society Philippi (AWS-P)
- Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG)
- EnviroVet CVC
- People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
- TEARS
This recent campaign brings the total number of sterilisations since the start of the project in 2013 to 14 842 in areas identified by CAWF.
To date, Dunoon, Brown’s Farm, Khayelitsha, Wesbank, Atlantis, Wallacedene, Bloekombos, Tafelsig, and most recently, the deep South.
A new application was submitted to the grant-in-aid committee in March this year for funding valuing R748 676 for a project in Eersteriver, Faure and Macassar if approved by the relevant councils.
Among the benefits of sterilisation are reducing the number of stray dogs and cats that are euthanised annually, decreasing the burden on already overcrowded animal shelters and reducing the number of unwanted and neglected animals.
Pet owners in the abovementioned areas are encouraged to sign their pets up for the procedure.
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