Hundreds of strays rescued

Daryn Wood

MANY relieved pet owners have had their beloved hounds returned to them, thanks to the hard work of the Bay’s animal welfare organisations which rescued hundreds of strays during December and the beginning of the new year.
The recorded number of dogs that have been brought in to the various shelters is close to 200.
The Animal Welfare Society in Victoria Drive, Walmer, received 106 strays during December and another 20 to 30 came in during the first week of January.
Danie Terblanche of the AWS said there were “lots of lost cases” and they still have many unclaimed dogs after the New Year’s celebrations.
“It was a mess with all the fireworks but we have matched up a few dogs with their owners since New Year’s Day.”
He said there were no serious cases of cruelty.
According to Terblanche, 27 animals were “donated” during December.
He said either the owners had to move and could not take their pets with them, or they could not look after them any longer, or their pets were sick and they had no money to go to a vet.
Some people take advantage of the shelter by dropping their pets off while they go on holiday, added Terblanche.
“They bring their dog to us and tell us it is a stray.
“They leave it here planning to fetch it when they return.”
He said according to legislation stray animals have to be kept for seven days before adopting, but the AWS had a 14-day policy.
Sue Russell of Save-a-Pet, an animal rescue centre near Greenbushes, said they had about 20 strays come in during the holiday period.
“Fortunately we were able to reunite some of the dogs with their families,” she said.
Save-a-Pet has had a number of phone calls from owners whose dogs were lost.

Russell reiterated fireworks were the main reason for runaways.
Animal Anti-Cruelty League Care Centre general manager Michelle Boonzaier said they had many reports of stray animals and are continuously busy.
In the last few days the AACL in Cleary Park had 20 puppies wanting to be dumped by the owners who did not want them anymore.
“People do not ask themselves what happens to animals after they have handed them over,” said Boonzaier.
“It is about giving their problems over to someone else to solve. This is a very common problem, and why so many animals end up in shelters, are put to sleep, involved in vehicle accidents, as strays or abandoned and abused on the streets.”
She said they saw around 400 people in 15 days over the holidays.
“The vast majority of animals being dumped at our centre are owners handing them in because they have no use for them anymore,” said Boonzaier.
Newly-appointed general manager of the Animal Welfare Society Jeanne Vorsatz said the organisation’s goal is to do as many spays and sterilisations as they can to prevent the number of unwanted puppies coming in, especially from the townships.
“Giving birth and caring for puppies puts a lot of strain on a dog,” said Vorsatz.
The AWS, with the help of the dog control unit run by the municipality, spay and sterilise about 10 dogs from the Walmer Township every week.
Vorsatz said their dream is to have fully-equipped mobile clinics so they can go into the township and perform operations.
“It will be more accessible for people because they do not have to come to us.”
The AWS also plans to double the number of kennels at the shelter and have a quarantine area for sick dogs.
Vorsatz would like to warn the public not to buy dogs from unregistered breeders, but to rather choose a pet from a shelter.