TEARS Animal Rescue has temporarily closed its kennel as the facility is over capacity.
Also read: TEARS launches campaign for emergency foster volunteers in Cape Town
The organisation currently has a total of 88 animals over capacity, with 338 animals in its care (including fosters). Due to this, the animal shelter will not admit any new adult dogs or puppies until adoption numbers have increased.
‘The temporary closure on admissions will enable us to provide the vital treatment, rehabilitation, and care that every rescued pet deserves, while we focus on increasing adoptions and fostering to help save more lives,’ says Luke Kruyt, TEARS kennel manager.
Mandy Store, TEARS operations manager, says the facility’s foster network is stretched thin, and the veterinary clinic and stray runs are at capacity with adult dogs needing care or awaiting admission into the Kennel.
‘TEARS Kennel adoptions are down by nearly 40% based on last year’s averages and we’ve simultaneously seen a massive spike in the number of animals, especially dogs, being surrendered because pet owners aren’t able to feed their pets.’
The organisation appeals to the public to support the ‘Adopt don’t shop’ movement, highlighting the need for more Capetonians to consider opening their homes to homeless pets this season.
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To this end, TEARS will host a ‘Forever home for holidays’ open day at its cattery and kennels this weekend between 10am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
‘We hope our Forever Home for the holidays open day will highlight that rescues are the best breed and encourage families or individuals to adopt a rescue pet, which in turn will provide a vital second chance to another homeless pet in need,’ adds Kruyt.
Lara van Rensburg, TEARS head of marketing and fundraising, says the public can make a positive impact by fostering and/or adopting a rescue pet. ‘The increasing imbalance between pet adoptions in relation to pet homelessness is a tragic trend being experienced by all local animal shelters as more and more pet owners struggle to care for their pets and coupled with that, there are less pet-friendly rentals available for animal lovers.’
‘In addition to needing more people to open their homes to rescue pets, we urgently need to ensure that Cape Town identifies as a pet-friendly city and that local businesses are also invested in addressing the causes of pet homelessness and community health by donating to companion animal sterilisation and vaccination programmes.’
Details:
- Date: Saturday, 16 December, and Sunday, 17 December
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Location: 4 Lekkerwater Road, Cape Town
Alternatively, those who prefer a virtual adoption window visit the TEARS website at www.tears.org.za and click on the adoption link.
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Picture: Supplied