Lockdown is taking its toll on everyone, including our pets. So it’s not surprising that two Great Danes took the gap when their owner inadvertently left the gate open.
Animal Anti Cruelty League (ACCL) was alerted that the dogs had been spotted near Sarepta station and Inspector Danfred Olifant responded.
AACL’s Bellville kennel and adoptions manager Jolanda Spies says it can be very hard to get control of animals on the loose, but Mr Olifant has many years of experience and managed to bring the two dogs, Lizzie and Blackie, to heel, even though Blackie was aggressive and protective of his mother.
Brian Jacobs, the dogs’ owner, had sent out a plea on social media and someone referred him to AACL.
“My son left the gate open. I usually walk them in the bush near our Belhar home. They were found near SA Nylon Spinners, Sarepta. That’s far,” said Mr Jacobs, who subsequently had his pets micro-chipped.
Ms Spies said the Great Danes had been very excited to see their owners.
This is all in a day’s work for this animal-welfare organisation which tries to find homes for the dogs and cats it rescues.
The AACL, with branches in Epping and Bellville, serves the poorer communities of Elsies River, Ruyterwacht, Ravensmead, Belhar and Delft.
According to spokeswoman Kelly Arendse, the organisation was founded in 1956. It’s South Africa’s second-largest independent animal welfare organisation and relies on the generosity and goodwill of the animal-loving public to do the work it does.
At the Epping branch, Claire Munn, of Claire’s K9 Care in Brackenfell, arrived with a car load of items donated by her customers. Ms Munn also expressed interest in adopting a puppy.
Adoption officer Bianca Valentim said they normally cared for 100 to 150 animals at a time, but before lockdown they had sent about 50 animals to adoptive homes.
The AACL goes through 200kg to 300kg of pet food a day, not including the special diets required by animals in high care. They also go through a lot of cat litter.
Ms Valentim said the animals were missing the volunteers, but the kennel staff who continue to work in shifts walk them and talk to them.
Lincoln Gympies, from Bonteheuwel, has been working at AACL for about a year. He said he had always loved animals. “I get attached and know them well and their background,” he said.
He landed the job at the AACL after calling the vet one day to rescue some kittens.
The AACL held a mock graduation ceremony recently at the Bellville branch for three staff, Dr Caroline Brits, nurse Danica Bagley and Dr Ariette da Silva, who had been unable to attend their actual graduation because of Covid-19. The occasion was made complete with makeshift gowns and printed scrolls.
Ms Arendse is running a fun(d) raising challenge for the AACL, asking people to dress up (or down) and support shelter animals in the Ultimutt Showcase Project.
After paying R20 entry, get the pup-parazzi to snap a picture of you, share it to Facebook or Instagram using #AACLShowcase and tag Animal Anti-Cruelty League Cape Town. You can enter your pets too.
For more information, contact info@aacl-ct.co.za