GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route SPCA is still attending to animals rescued in the fire-affected areas around George. Senior SPCA Inspector Salomé Bruyns brought back 12 dogs from Burnsleigh near Herold for safekeeping yesterday, Thursday 25 October.
Trainee inspector Colleen Thuysse had a harrowing time on the Outeniqua pass during the night. She had been doing an outreach in Uniondale during the day and had several animals in her bakkie. Whilst waiting for the Outeniqua pass to open, she monitored the area for any animals in danger.
The wind changed direction and the fire started coming towards the area where she was waiting. She managed to get through safely, took the animals to the SPCA and finally left for home at 06:00 this morning.
24 animals saved from fires
Field Officer Vanessa Lucas had to use the Robertson Pass near Mossel Bay to get to the areas behind the Outeniqua mountains. She left the SPCA at midnight and spent most of the night looking for any animals fenced in, chained or abandoned. She brought back a further 12 animals.
“Luckily the farmers in the Herold area had already moved their livestock to safety,” said GR SPCA manager Frieda Jansen van Rensburg. “Our staff have been on duty through the past two nights and are exhausted.”
Sterilisation top priority
“We are appealing to the public to donate towards sterilising the evacuated cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. Our work will not be complete until we can return the animals to their owners sterilised. Most farm workers in the area are extremely poor and cannot afford to sterilise or even feed their pets adequately. The animals are breeding fast, which makes the problem even worse. Dry or tinned pet food for the extra animals would also be appreciated,” said Jansen van Rensburg.
Donations can be made to this bank account: Garden Route SPCA, Standard Bank, George branch code: 051001, Account number: 060823216. Please use the reference “FIRES”.
Garden Route SPCA inspectors, together with National Council inspector André Baartman, will search the area for any injured or misplaced animals. If anyone sees a farm or pet in danger or injured, please call the SPCA. Any wild animals in trouble can be reported to the Outeniqua Nature Reserve as recommended by Nature Conservation.
SPCA George: 044 878 1990. After hours (emergencies only): 082 378 7384 / Outeniqua Nature Reserve: 044 150 0013.
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