TEARS Animal Rescue has announced it can no longer accept new rescue intakes, as its facilities are at full capacity with 363 pets currently under its care, both at its Kennel and Cattery and in foster homes, Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to a media release, of those, 75% are considered adoptable, while the remaining 25% are in its rehabilitation programme, either convalescing from illness, injury and/or abuse; or are too young to be adopted and are still with their mothers or being bottle-fed via its Puppy Foster Programme.
‘This is a last resort but TEARS can’t admit any more rescued or surrendered animals to its Kennel or Cattery unless our adoption rates increase substantially to allow for new admissions,’ says TEARS Operations Manager, Mandy Store.
‘Even our stray runs, which hold a maximum of 16 animals, are full.’
This follows TEARS’ December 2023 announcement that declining adoption rates forced it to halt Kennel admissions.
‘It’s heart-breaking what’s happening within the companion animal welfare sector at present,’ says TEARS Head of Fundraising, Lara Van Rensburg.
‘Cape Town is reflecting the same trend that national and international shelters are experiencing. Adoptions simply aren’t keeping pace with the number of homeless pets needing homes.
’It’s a harsh reality that over-burdened shelters and veterinary clinics are dealing with as the non-profit sector has to face and fund the full brunt of the pet homelessness crisis.’
Van Rensburg urges local government and corporate donors to fund sterilisation and enforce pet laws
‘We call on local government and corporate social investment donors to mobilise funding and resources to implement a mass sterilisation solution that includes better policing of pet ownership by-laws. ‘
‘Without this dual approach, irresponsible and non-compliant pet owners will continue to perpetuate the endless cycle of illegal breeding, pet over-population, illness and suffering that companion animals experience.’
TEARS acknowledges that the Cape of Good Hope SPCA is shouldering most of the surrender and euthanasia burden, as animal welfare groups send homeless pets to the official Cape Town Metropole pound.
SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham confirmed in an Independent Online interview last month that the SPCA is ‘extremely overburdened’.
‘Based on current trends, the SPCA will admit around 20 350 surrendered and stray animals to its facilities this year alone,’ says Abraham.
‘Approximately 2300 of these animals will come from other animal welfare organisations, including those who call themselves no-kill.
‘And while no-kill is certainly attractive to animal lovers, it creates a very misleading narrative about animal welfare realities.’
TEARS Head Veterinarian, Dr. Tania Heuer, says the organisation is committed to the humane treatment of animals, including end-of-life care.
She added that TEARS opposes euthanising healthy animals and only does so for extreme medical reasons or if an animal poses a danger to people or other pets.
‘However, TEARS has had to adjust its’ euthanasia policy to adapt to the changing landscape that its operating within as the euthanasia burden being born by the SPCA isn’t equitable or in the best interest of animal welfare.’
‘TEARS is committed to making a difference to vulnerable pets in the face of the current animal welfare crisis and acknowledges, with sadness, that humane euthanasia is a compassionate and ethical option for animals that have no other options.’
‘Where the TEARS Kennel and Cattery are full, and all options to rehome or transfer a stray to an alternative animal welfare organisation for admission have been exhausted, we consider humanely euthanising the animal to be the most responsible option under the circumstances,’ adds Heuer.
Since 1999, TEARS has rehomed 22 522 pets, striving to keep adoption rates high.
However, adoption is down by nearly 40%, while surrenders are rising as pet owners struggle to feed their animals.
TEARS Kennel Manager Katie Butler comments, ‘While we’re pushing for more people to adopt, we don’t want to encourage adoption if it’s not something that will be sustained.’
Butler notes that the 2022 Mars Pet Homelessness Report found 15% of dog owners and 13% of cat owners consider surrendering their pets in the second year.
TEARS has seen a sharp rise in surrenders due to affordability and the lack of pet-friendly rentals.
To support TEARS’ life-saving work, the public can adopt a pet, donate financially, or contribute pre-owned items to the four TEARS Charity Shops, which fund 30% of the costs to operate TEARS’ Veterinary Hospital, Mobile Clinics, and Kennel and Cattery.
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Picture: TEARS Animal Rescue / Facebook
