Bows, bandanas and blossoms feed hungry animals
The Give A Dog A Bow initiative aimed to raise awareness of the plight of companions during the pandemic and generate a sense of community.
Amid the chaos and negativity of the coronavirus pandemic, the Give a Dog a Bow project aims to help those less fortunate to feed their furry friends.
Friend and client of Bedfordview Veterinary Hospital Ellen van de Vorst approached Dr Tamsin Price with the idea at the start of lockdown.
“We decided we needed something positive to focus our energy on. Instead of obsessing about what was going on in our own lives let us look outwards and try to add something positive or helpful,” Price said.
“As a vet, I could see what was to come. As people lost their livelihoods, companions would most certainly bear the brunt with reduced budgets and funds available for veterinary care and food.”
The Give A Dog A Bow initiative aimed to raise awareness of the plight of companions during the pandemic and generate a sense of community.
For a donation, residents and clients could choose a bow tie, blossom or bandana for their companion to wear in solidarity with the less fortunate companions inevitably suffering along with their human guardians.
The donations received are used to purchase dog and cat food, given to charities for outreach programmes.
“It is all thanks to the support of the community that the project has managed to raise funds and help hungry companions,” Price said.
The community embraced the project and the bow, bandanas and blossoms flew off the shelves.
The campaign was so successful in the first few months after launching that last week Price was able to buy the first donation of food from funds raised.
240kg of food was bought and Hill’s added to the amount with a further donation.
The first donations will be delivered to Recycle for Rescue as well as the Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Service.
Price would like to see the initiative continue in the months to come.
“We hope that what started as a passion project grows into a long-standing support structure for those companions in need.”
Those interested in making a donation towards the Give A Dog A Bow project can visit the Bedfordview Veterinary Hospital, situated at 28 Concorde Road West, or call the practice on 011 616 4088.
