An angel on earth for dogs in Borcherds

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GEORGE NEWS - In a bid to control the breeding of unwanted and uncared for puppies in the informal settlements, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals SA (PDSA) decided to join forces with Marileen Greeff - an angel on earth who voluntarily feeds and cares for dogs in the Borcherds area nearly daily.

Greeff, who lives in the industrial area above Borcherds, says her story started last year after rescuing three severely emaciated dogs from the area and witnessing another being tased by a group of youngsters near Build It in Nelson Mandela Boulevard.

"I was at Build It for some supplies I needed when I saw a skeleton of a dog walking in the road. I got my supplies and bought a packet of biscuits to give the poor animal, but when I walked to give the dog the biscuits, a bunch of schoolboys got to the dog before I could and tased it," she said.

A very upset Greeff arrived at home and told her boyfriend what she had witnessed. "I was very upset. And it was when my boyfriend asked me what I was going to do about it, that I decided to start feeding the dogs," says Greeff.

Marileen Greeff with some of her rescued dogs that she fosters as well.

Greeff says Odin immediately jumped in to assist without hesitation and helped with medical care, vets and advice. At that stage Greeff was also fostering for Odin.

The Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) also recently assisted with sterilisations and from the PDSA she received help with deworming, anti-tick and flea treatments, as well as helping puppies with parvo virus.

"To date, Odin has assisted in sterilising 67 dogs for me, the SPCA almost 30 and the PDSA is now neutering 10 male dogs for me every Friday," says Greeff.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dogs assisted and fed in Borcherds

She also assists with cats and kittens where she can.

PDSA jumps in to control puppy boom

"As we treat so many bite wounds from males fighting and motor vehicle accident injuries caused by wandering males, we thought this would be a good start to the control of the puppy boom," said the PDSA's veterinarian, Dr Shirley Smith. "Friday 9 September was our first successful sterilisation day with Marileen bringing in and collecting dogs from the PDSA."

If anyone would like to contribute towards the Borcherds dogs steri-lisation project, please contact Moria Gibbs (PDSA) on 044 875 8300. For donations towards feeding and medical treatment for these dogs, Greeff can be contacted on 066 174 3239.

Greeff has also started a Backa-Buddy page to assist her with monetary donations in aid of the animals of Borcherds. To donate via her BackaBuddy campaign, please go to: https://bit.ly/3TZmd1o

One of the puppies Greeff has been able to save.