Volunteers treat burnt dogs, dip and spay

AN ANIMAL group and volunteers visited an informal settlement in Valhalla Park yesterday where they dipped and helped about 100 dogs.

On Boxing Day the 7de Laan informal settlement in Valhalla Park was gutted when a fire destroyed shacks. About 300 people were left homeless.

Sharon Claasen from Valhalla Park Animal Welfare, said dogs and cats were also affected.

“A lot of dogs who were chained to their kennels died during the fire. I treated 18 dogs who had burn wounds. The fire department also rescued two puppies. Most of the people did not want their animals taken away, so despite being homeless they kept their dogs,” she said.

Claasen said they had sterilised 318 dogs and cats five years ago when another fire also broke out in Agste Laan in Valhalla Park.

“The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) does the sterilisations right in the community so the owners can help their animals when they wake up from the operation.

“People don’t want us to take their animals out of the community and prefer that we do it there. On February 10, we will have another free sterilisation drive at the Nooitgedacht Centre in Nooitgedacht.

Yesterday they dipped a lot of animals and did de-worming and primary health care.

“It was amazing that despite the weather, people still came to bring their dogs. There were a lot of children and where animals needed to be sterilised, we called the parents.

“Dipping the dogs were important because of the huge problem we have with ticks and fleas in summer,” Claasen said. The group have started a drive for donations of pet food. They have previously also donated food for people.