Beloved Cape animal clinic robbed at gunpoint

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic was robbed at gunpoint earlier this afternoon [May 6], and its staff is devastated that this has happened to the organisation.

“We keep our gates closed during lockdown to reduce people coming on site and spreading the Coronavirus. We take pets at the gate, mostly small pets can fit through our gate’s bars. Only times we open the gate is to allow a big dog in or out, for goods deliveries and our vehicles. Today, we opened the gate for a big dog to be handed back to his owner and a group of guys ran in with guns,” the clinic said via a Facebook post.

“They took our laptops, cell phones, takings box and computer screens.”

The staff are left shaken by the robbery, and have been working hard under the pressure of keeping the clinic open while funding is scarce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To reduce the risk of infection we have our staff split into half, working on a rotation system. This means a half team working with just as many animals as before lockdown. We are already all stressed to the max. And now this happens. It is truly just heartbreaking,” the clinic said.

It now has plans to reconfigure its security cameras, as well as have a guard posted at the gate and create a doggy gate for the animals to pass in and out without staff having to leave the pedestrian gate open. “However, the reality is that we will have to open our gates at some point during the day to let our staff vehicles and our ambulance in and out,” it said. “But worst of all, we have to close our doors for the day and the queue of people who wanted help for their pets need to be turned away – puppies coming for essential vaccinations, life threatening emergencies, everything.”

If any pets require assistance in Khayelitsha today, Mdzananda advises that the pets are directed to SA MAST, which is also based in Khayelitsha.

SA MAST is located in Sizane Street, Khayelitsha and can be contacted on 021 715 2054.

Mdzananda Animal Clinic will be open again tomorrow [May 7].