The Mdzananda Animal Clinic has been overflowing with abandoned pets in the weeks leading up to Christmas and is asking for the public to consider fostering or adopting a pet in need of a home.
Last week, the clinic in Khayelitsha recorded over 25 dogs and 32 cats handed over to them, said Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Manager.
“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,” she said. “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.”
According to du Plessis, a large number of community members going to the Eastern Cape for the holidays has placed enormous strain on the clinic as dogs and cats pour in through their doors.
People are not able to take their pets with them when travelling and, with no one being at home during the time they are away, people hand their pets over to the clinic. These pets are not collected on return and they remain with the clinic until new homes can be found for them.
“Every year we receive numerous calls from community members asking us to board their animals during the festive season. We do not have the capacity for this as our clinic is packed to the brim with patients and our small stray unit is overflowing. We direct them to organisations that do have boarding facilities or encourage them to employ a school child or fellow community member to visit and feed their pets at home daily while they are away. We also 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 desperately needs people from the public to assist them with the influx of homeless pets this festive season. If you are interested in adopting or fostering a pet please get in touch with the clinic on 021 367 6001 or 082 251 0554. Images of the pets up for adoption can be seen on the Mdzananda Animal Clinic Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MdzanandaAnimalClinic
Any donations towards the clinic’s increased expenses during this time will also be greatly appreciated. Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, 075595710, Rondebosch, Branch Code: 025009, Reference: Strays+Your Name