FOR more than 20 years, Glenwood resident Jackie De Gaye has been selflessly feeding and caring for hundreds of stray cats while visiting numerous cat colonies in Umbilo, Glenwood, Maydon Wharf and Cavendish Park.
De Gaye says she has always loved animals. “My mother was an animal activist and started her own organisation called Animal Action in 1993 but only started feeding cats on this scale in about 2000. Every day, I leave home at 05:00 and visit four locations, each with its own colonies; then, in the afternoon, I go to three other locations, and if there is someone who can’t make it to feed the cats they usually feed, I will add that colony to my schedule on the day they will be unavailable.
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The animal enthusiast says that this passion is also a lifelong commitment. “The cats are waiting every day – you can’t go on holiday or miss a few days without someone covering for you. If I don’t show up, the animals will starve, and as stray cats, they already have their own set of difficulties they face on a daily basis.”
De Gaye says that one of the most important things that needs to be done for every cat is they need to be sterilised.
“Sterilisation is the only way to end the cycle of starvation, suffering and cruelty. To support and assist this cause: people can pay directly into Montclair Pet Hospital or the Vet Animal Clinic in Sherwood’s banking accounts, listing me as a reference, or they can buy me cat food and bring it to the book sale on Saturdays at Glenwood Village, every Saturday morning from 07:15 to 12:00.
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“They can also pay money into Feeding the Furballs’ bank account – they are a registered NPO and can provide you with a Section 18A Certificate for taxes. Remember to put me down as a reference.” De Gaye said that people can also drop off food at her house or she can fetch the food from their house. “People can find me on Facebook as Jackie De Gaye or Jackie’s Cats NPC 2021/602745/08; inbox me and I will provide my personal details so we can connect.”
For more information, visit the following websites: vetcareanimalclinic.co.za and www.feedingthefurballs.org
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