Emergency help needed for flooded Khayelitsha pet shelter

A Khayelitsha animal clinic’s homeless dog shelter flooded in last week’s rainstorm. The Mdzananda Animal Clinic reports that their organisation is in desperate need of assistance. Homeless dogs needed to be moved to their small hospital cages during the flood as they had no other space for them.

“It’s only the start of winter and the pets are already struggling,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communication Manager. “Just last week we found a 10-year-old dog wandering the streets in the rain. His feet were worn down and his joints painful from arthritis. He had no hair on his back and was covered in fleas. We looked for his owners but couldn’t find them. We named him OG. OG received warm food, a soft bed, and medication for his pain. But when the shelter flooded, we had to urgently make space for OG and the other dogs in our hospital unit,” says du Plessis.

Du Plessis says that they urgently need to upgrade their shelter unit to prevent future flooding and to ensure that their homeless dogs have a warm place to stay until permanent homes can be found for them.

Upgrading the shelter will cost just under R100 000. “We did not expect that we’d need to do such an upgrade. Winter comes with increased expenses too. Our electricity goes up by 50% to keep our patients and facility warm. We also just spent R10 000 on fixing a leak in our operating theatre’s roof,” says du Plessis.

The flooding is not the clinic’s only challenge. Their hospital is full to the brim. Puppies are arriving at their door in hypothermic states and pets are being knocked over by cars driving badly in rainy weather.

“Our clinic treats up to 1000 community pets per month. With the cold weather, pets can take longer to recover, so our hospital stays full. We are just so grateful that we can help so many animals. Without our clinic and one other animal organisation in Khayelitsha, most pet owners would have little to no help for their animals as private veterinary fees are too high for them to afford,” says du Plessis.

The clinic is appealing to the public to give an emergency monetary gift to help them upgrade their shelter unit and care for the increased number of pet patients in winter. Bank details: Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account number: 075595710, Branch: Rondebosch, Branch Code: 025009, Savings account, Reference: Winter+Your Name. For further information visit www.mdzananda.co.za or contact info@mdzananda.co.za

On a good note, OG is safe and warm at the home of one of the organisation’s staff. He has picked up weight, the hair on his back has grown and he enjoys wearing his cozy jacket. He is now waiting for a perfect family to adopt him.

You Might Also be Interested in:

Snake catchers South Africa, Bee Removals
Snake Catchers and Snake Bite SOS | Updated April 2022 Here is a list of the awesome people that c
CPR for dogs and cats. dieregesondheid, animal health, pet insurance, diere versekering, troeteldierversekering suid afrika, south Africa, Pet Health Care, pet care health, petcarehealth, pethealthcare, ask the vet, dieremaniere, animal behaviour, sick animals, siek diere, honde, katte, cats, dogs, veterinary advice, dog walks, dog events, pet wellness, kitten care health, pet care health insurance, pet insurance health, pet care news, pet health care questions, pet care health claim form, pet care health a
This owner did not know what to do when her dog suddenly stopped breathing. Luckily a man arrived on
Networking is not only about going to a venue and being forced to speak to unfamiliar faces.  I know
True Story: Patient:  Chocolate labrador – 3 yrs old. Every once in a while our furry friends decide
SHOULD YOU SHAVE YOUR CAT / DOG IN SUMMER? Summer arrives in a blaze of heat and sun, and most of us
Walking benefits for you and your dog, dieregesondheid, animal health, pet insurance, diere versekering, troeteldierversekering suid afrika, south Africa, Pet Health Care, pet care health, petcarehealth, pethealthcare, ask the vet, dieremaniere, animal behaviour, sick animals, siek diere, honde, katte, cats, dogs, veterinary advice, dog walks, dog events, pet wellness, kitten care health, pet care health insurance, pet insurance health, pet care news, pet health care questions, pet care health claim form, p
[Infographic] Exercise with your dog doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. A daily brisk walk