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Mdzananda Clinic in Khayelitsha provides health to some of the half million plus animals in the township.
The only animal welfare and clinic in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats has embarked on a massive sterilisation campaign for pets in an attempt to reduce the number of unwanted animals.
The Mdzananda clinic says they aim to sterilise 500 cats and dogs in the next two months until September. They estimate that there is over half a million animals in Khayelitsha. Many of them homeless.
General Manager at Mdzananda, Samantha Mann, says sterilistion is one of the most effective ways to address pet over population and suffering.
“The last we looked there was close to 500 000 animals in Khayelitsha. A lot of them roam the streets and are not sterilised. They breed and people don’t want them. We have a full shelter where we can only take in 40 animals and we also have cats and dogs up for adoption. Unfortunately we don’t have space to take in everybody. Sterilisation is very important to stop over breeding, overpopulation and the spread of disease.”
The animal welfare organisation has embarked on a mass sterilisation campaign.
They aim to sterilise 500 cats and dogs in the next two months, saying it is the most humane way of addressing the suffering that accompanies animal over-population.
Many of the animals here have been hit by cars and brought in by their owners or picked up by our ambulances during patrols.
Mann says the clinic treats an average of 1 500 animals a month for a nominal fee or no fee at all.
Shew says they are inundated with applications for sterilisations.
“We need public help and support because we do it free of charge for the community. Every animal that comes in for sterilisation gets a full health check, deworming and a microchip to unite animals with their owners if they get lost.”
Five days into the campaign, they have registered nearly half the number they budgeted for and are looking for sponsorships and donations towards sterilising more animals.
Animal Welfare organisations joining forces in a bid to sterilise 500 dogs in Khayelitsha
