Cape Town - As the rain pelted heavily from the sky yesterday, the Animal Welfare Society of SA visited several informal settlements in the Philippi Horticultural Area, for door-to-door home visits in search of any animals in need of their assistance.
The team of around five people scoured the areas in search of distressed animals due to the harsh and turbulent weather conditions, and to feed any emaciated animals, of which several were found.
The team visited the Jabula and Kampies informal settlements yesterday, with several dogs immediately drawn towards them, receiving rubs and treats from the team members.
The teams searched in hard-toreach areas, below large containers, for any animals hiding and seeking shelter from the rain and cold, but could face the threat of drowning as a result of potential flooding.
Medical staffer and spokesperson Jaque le Roux said: “Since the start of the storm which hit Cape Town, it’s been horrific. My team has been on the ground since day one. We’ve come across some heartbreaking cases. We’ve come across dogs, puppies and cats that died in the cold because they’ve been outside trying to scavenge for food or to find warmth. It’s been quite heartbreaking to see what we’re finding in these communities.”
The visits were also to inform the residents of the free services available to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their pets.
He said teams would be out every day amid the ongoing storm.
“We’ve come across horses left outdoors in this cold. Our teams are active throughout the night, trying to help as much as they can,” said Le Roux.
The team’s vehicles were filled with animal food, distributing these to owners who did not have much.
On Saturday, the team was met with a gruesome find when it discovered a dog eating its young in the Jabula informal settlement.
“Our team is still trying to recover from that. A mother dog trying to eat puppies. She was either starving or nature was telling her that it’s kinder for her to do what she’s doing instead of her puppies dying in these horrific floods that we’re currently experiencing in Cape Town.”
During a visit to the Kampies informal settlement, the team found a makeshift shelter housing a pig and several piglets, which offered little to no protection from the cold and rain.
In it, one piglet was found unconscious and another trembling, prompting immediate resuscitation efforts. The piglet however did not survive.
At a visit to the Springfield settlement, Animal Welfare Society of SA CEO and head veterinary Dr John Mc Mullen said: “The people here are all soaking wet and their animals are wet as well. A lot of pregnant females and hundreds of puppies.
“So we’re signing them up for spaying and neutering vaccinations, deworming.”
Food was handed to residents, as well as shoes and sweets for children.
“And we’ve come into the community and we’ve brought food for the dogs, cats and of course, we brought food for the people as well because they are as hungry as their animals are, in this wet weather.”
The organisation has also appealed for donations of food and blankets for its storm relief efforts, including food for horses and pigs.
Visit www.awscape.org.za or contact 021 692 2626/ 082 601 1761 or email [email protected] to find out more.
Cape Argus