It all started with a tin bath outside the drankwinkel (bottle store)! On 12th March 2018 Friends of CARE was awarded NPO (Non Profit Organisation) status and our little animal welfare charity took off. This was also the year that we started doing pet sterilisations from our own veterinary facility on a farm just outside McGregor; fully inspected and sanctioned by the South African Veterinary Council.
When the local vets can give us their time for free, which they do on a regular basis, we collect animals due for sterilisation from the local community. Once the operation is finished and the animal has recovered it is returned to its owner. We always ask owners to contribute what they can afford towards the cost of the anaesthetics and drugs used in their pet’s treatment. We started our sterilisation days doing twenty to thirty animals in one session. This changed because of Covid regulations and we now operate on a smaller basis, aiming to do around 10–14 animals at one time. This normally happens on a Sunday morning when the vets are free to give their time. We aim to sterilise around 100–200 cats and dogs a year, so reducing unwanted puppies and kittens – and the neglect and cruelty that often follows.
