Pietermaritzburg PARR appeals for assistance
The Pietermaritzburg Animal Rescue and Rehome (PARR) has been forced to halt some of their services, including their outreach sterilisation programme and support for dogs in poorer communities that need medical care, due to a lack of funds.
PARR, an organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, re-homing, and sterilising stray and abandoned animals, has been a beacon of hope for countless animals in need.
Their outreach programmes aim to educate and assist individuals who lack the means to care for their animals, offering essentials such as bedding, food, medication, and guidance.
Their vision is for animals to have good food, loving homes and care and that animals should not suffer unnecessary pain, discomfort, abuse, fear, distress, injury, or hunger.
Eurika Erasmus, a founding member said the organisation grew phenomenally over the past eight years.
“In the beginning, we were able to sterilise 30 animals per year. Now, we can only do 130 animals per year,” she said.
Financial burdens, however, have now forced PARR to re-evaluate their operations.
Erasmus highlighted the organisation’s inability to take in more animals until the current ones in their care have been adopted, citing the significant financial costs associated with their upkeep.
“We started off supporting 15 dogs per month with our feeding scheme,” she explained, “now we are able to support 50 dogs per month.”
She said monthly expenses, totalling R37 500, covered outreach sterilisation, food supplies, emergency vet care, and the maintenance of animals in the adoption program.
With dwindling funds, community members have rallied behind PARR, offering suggestions on fundraising initiatives.
Among the proposals hosting a bingo afternoon emerged as a popular choice. Erasmus said she was optimistic about the potential success of such endeavours.
“We need to get to a higher level of funding and support because we have expanded from when we started back in 2016. The outreach rescue is just as strong as the funds we are getting in.
“I cannot do anything without the community carrying outreach, it’s impossible,” said Erasmus.
If you would like to assist PARR, you can make a donation using these banking details:
Name: Pmb Animal Rescue & Rehome (or PARR)
Bank: First National Bank Account No: 627 588 33381 Branch Code: 255 355
Account Type: Cheque Account Branch: Mybranch
Ref: outreach name and surname