The Department of Agriculture has invested half a million rand in the MASP - the first and biggest sterilisation project in George - in order to sterilise more than 1 200 dogs from certain underprivileged local communities. The SPCA, which has been entrusted with the planning and running of the MASP together with the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), George Animal Hospital and the York Street Vet, has successfully sterilised 1 291 dogs in a period of five months.
Borcherds, Lawaaikamp and Rosedale were the areas that benefited from the MASP, which officially started on Wednesday 2 July. According to Heather Church, the project leader of the MASP and chairman of the Garden Route SPCA, about 90% of the dogs in these areas have now been sterilised.
"We have sterilised a number of pregnant dogs as well, which means that the project has a more permanent benefit, radically reducing the number of puppies being born," said Church.
According to Dr Pieter Koen, deputy director of Animal Health Veterinary Services from the Department of Agriculture, he is generally very impressed with the SPCA.
"The 1 291 dogs sterilised, exceeded the number envisaged in the original business plan," said Koen.
Koen added that he is currently trying to convince management to provide the required funding to start working in Thembalethu during the next financial year.
The funding will amount to at least R500 000, but Koen said they will try to obtain more.
The MASP was a massive success thanks to all the role-players involved. Some of them are, back from left: Gladwell Ndamane (veterinary assistant), Vanessa Lucas, Colleen Thysse and Lesley Welgemoed (all from GRSPCA Education). Front: Frieda Janse Van Rensburg (GRSPCA manager), Dr Pieter Koen (Department of Agriculture) and Heather Church (MASP project leader). Photos: Henrica Veldman
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