Cape Town -Sihle Jonas’s journey with Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha began 10 years ago when she brought in her puppy in a crate so they could assist with flea spray.
“Since then I got two more dogs and have maintained a relationship with the clinic to ensure they (the animals) get the best care.
“They are my babies and the service by the clinic is so important.” She and thousands of Khayelitsha residents could lose this vital service as the animal clinic struggles to stay afloat.
An earnest plea has gone out to citizens to save the 25-year-old community animal clinic which has now also taken over the vital service from another animal organisation in distress.
Its services include the sterilisation of about 4 000 animals a year, excluding specialised treatments which are offered at a discount rate to the community.
“It would be devastating if they had to close their doors, I love the work they do and the care they give to our animals. During 2016, my one dog had been hit by a car and had to be hospitalised.
“He got the best care from the team at the clinic. I honestly don’t know where else I would have gotten the help if they were not in the community. They offer an affordable service and I make sure to make a small monthly donation to the clinic and even though it’s small, it helps to keep their doors open,” said Jonas.
Mdzananda Animal Clinic spokesperson and fund-raising head Marcelle du Plessis said the clinic had recently taken over South African Mass Animal Sterilisation Trust (SA Mast) after the organisation suffered dire straits when the founder departed from the organisation and it lost the donations from major donors.
In a huge rescue attempt to not lose the vital animal services rendered to the community, SA Mast called on their peer organisation for help or suffer the fate of shutting down the service completely. “It would be terrifying if they had to shut down,” Du Plessis said.
“These are already discounted fees, so the community are able to access it as they cannot afford private animal clinics.
“We will never show an animal away who needs care, but we also do need the funding for the daily operations,” said Du Plessis.
“We really need some heroes. We ask the public to please make an emergency donation.
“And if just 4 000 people can become #SteriSuppawters and donate R100 per month to sponsor a sterilisation, together we can save this clinic and all the animals that rely on it,” said Du Plessis.
SA Mast trustees Elisa Galgut and Tshepiso Sethole said: “The pandemic and the war in Ukraine made a difficult situation much worse. We did our best to soldier on and find a new fund-raiser but were unsuccessful. Now funds have dried up, leaving SA Mast in trouble. We faced two options –closing our doors forever, or asking for help.
“We’ve called on our friends at the Mdzananda Animal Clinic to take over. As of today, what was previously known as SA Mast will now be the Mdzananda satellite sterilisation clinic.
They will carry on our legacy and save it from shutting down.” The clinic has pleaded for donations that could contribute to the annual operational cost of about R5 million.
General manager of Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Heidi May, said: “Even though we are sad to lose SA Mast in the community, we are honoured to be able to continue its legacy on its premises.
“ Taking over is an enormous extra cost on top of that of our own organisation. It is impossible without the help of donors. If we do not raise sufficient funds, we will need to shut the clinic down, leaving hundreds of animals unsterilised.”
To assist, make a donation to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account: 075595710, Code: 025009, Savings, Reference: Help+Your Name. Or sign up as a #Sterisuppawter at www.mdzanandasecure.co.za.
For more information email [email protected], visit www.mdzananda.co.za or watch the campaign video on their YouTube channel (video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jpNBzIT1HU).
Cape Times