Clinic unable to cope with flood of strays
Dogs and cats left to fend for themselves
AN INFLUX of dogs and cats handed over or abandoned by their owners, many travelling to far parts of the country, has put enormous strain on the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha.
The NPO reported large numbers of dogs and cats coming through its doors over the festive season.
The animal clinic provides veterinary care to community pets and treats up to 700 animals a month through consultations, hospitalisation, surgery (general, orthopaedic and sterilisations), mobile clinics and an animal ambulance.
Fund-raising and communications manager Marcelle du Plessis said last Friday they were sitting with 25 dogs and 32 cats that had been handed over.
“Being a clinic, we are not really set up to house homeless pets, but over the past two years we have had to significantly adapt our clinic to cater for homeless animals and formalise an adoption programme.
“Our runs, which were built to give patients space to be outside and exercise, have been converted into our stray unit.
“We have had to build a separate small run for our hospital patients to get exercise,” she said.
Du Plessis added that with community members not able to take their pets along while travelling, and with no one being at home during the time they were away, people handed their pets over to the clinic.
But many of these pets were not collected on their owners’ return and remained with the clinic until new homes could be found for them, she said. “Every year, we receive numerous calls from community members asking us to board their animals, but (we) do not have the capacity for this, as our clinic is packed to the brim.
“We encourage people to leave their pets with responsible family members or friends to look after them while they are away,” said Du Plessis.
The clinic is appealing for assistance and for people to consider fostering or adopting a pet in need of a home. Contact the Mdzananda Animal Clinic at 021 367 6001 or 082 251 0554, or via their Facebook page.
Every year we receive numerous calls from the community asking us to board their animals
Marcelle Du Plessis
Fundraising and communications manager