The City of Cape Town urgently calls for community support to help address a growing animal welfare crisis across the metro.
Also read: Farewell Fanie: Cape Town’s oldest dog dies at 25
As per the MARS Pet Homelessness Report 2022, South Africa is home to about four million homeless pets. Of these, 650 000 live in shelters and on the streets.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Reports from local animal shelter TEARS reveal a sharp increase in pet surrenders, forcing the organisation to halt new intakes due to capacity limits.
‘We recently had to stop new intakes, as we simply did not have any more capacity. Our appeals to the public for assistance resulted in 44 adoptions in one month, but there are still so many dogs and cats that need good, loving homes,’ says Lara Van Rensburg, head of marketing and fundraising at TEARS.
‘We also want to urge would-be pet parents to please adopt, instead of buying pets, and to break the cycle of unwanted pets, by ensuring that their fur babies are sterilised as soon as they are eligible, and to keep up to date with their vaccinations and general health needs.’
‘And, we would like to invite corporates to consider channelling some of their CSI funding into mass sterilisation and pet registration campaigns to ensure that we are all working towards sustainable and humane solutions to combating this crisis.’
The organisation recently reached out to the City of Cape Town for help, as it works closely with the animal welfare sector.
‘The pressure on our animal welfare sector is relentless, and they really do incredible work in spite of the odds stacked against them,’ says Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security. Smith is also a patron of the CAWF.
‘The City provides funding for a number of initiatives to help keep Cape Town’s pet population safe. I will also raise the sector’s plight with the Western Cape Government to see if we can unlock additional funding.’
‘To the public, my appeal is to please give us a hand, whether by adopting a pet, ensuring that their pets are sterilised, or making donations to help the sector meet all of its obligations.’
Some of the City’s initiatives include:
- The establishment of an anti-dog-fighting task team
- City-funded mass sterilisation campaigns undertaken by the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF)
- MOU on the impoundment of dangerous animals/animals in distress
TEARS also accepts donations of household goods and clothing, which can be sold at its four thrift shops to supplement its finances.
For more information about TEARS or to adopt or make a donation, visit tears.org.za.
For more information about the CAWF or other organisations working in the sector, visit cawf.co.za.
Find you perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: TEARS Animal Rescue / Facebook
