Help Protect Ponta help animals in need

WHEN Shannon Mathie and her family, from Hillcrest, visited Ponta Malongane, Mozambique in August 2010, she came across a dog that had been caught in a snare and knew that she had to to help.

“We were sitting at a beach bar when this dog came limping up to us with a badly infected leg. I couldn’t just leave him to suffer so took him back to our cottage until we could get him to a vet. He was in a lot of pain, terrified and starving, and the vet who saw him estimated that he must have been trapped in the snare for around ten days. ”

The vet suggested euthanizing him as there wasn’t any chance of saving the leg. With a heavy heart, Shannon followed the vet’s advice but realized she wanted to do more to help the animals of Mozambique.

After sending out numerous emails to people she knew or who worked or had holiday homes in the area she made contact with other like-minded women. Shannon joined forces with Caron Hean, who lives in her complex, Mel Glunz, who lives in Ponta Do Oura, Mozambique and Dr Susanne Muller, a vet who now lives in Mozambique and together they formed Protect Ponta.

“Our mission is really simple. We want to reduce the number of stray animals and enrich the lives of the animals currently living in and around Ponta Do Oura, Ponta Malongane and Ponta Mamoli, “said Shannon.

They run clinics every eight weeks – vaccinating against rabies and diseases, sterilising, and educating the locals, especially the children about animal care. Each dog is given a collar and disc and photographed for veterinary record purposes.

Local support from South African animal lovers has been key in helping them run these clinics. “We have had so much support from the local vets and community, without which we couldn’t do the work we do.”

Fundraising initatives are also key. They will be hosting their first Golf day on Tuesday, 29 October at the Kloof Country Club. The organization is appealing for donation of prizes, sponsorship of the holes or teams wanting to play. Contact Shannon on 082 464 3223 or protectponta@gmail.com.

Banking details are:

Bank: First National Bank (South Africa)

Account Name: PROTECT Ponta

Account Number: 6228 435 6203

Branch Code: 220 629

Branch: Umhlanga Crescent

Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ-A659 (International Deposits)