Volunteering for animals
The Hoedspruit Animal Outreach (HALO) is looking for volunteers to be part of their outreach programmes.
With South Africa’s Covid lockdown regulations being relaxed to level 1, they can now resume their vital outreach work. HALO is committed to caring for the physical and emotional well-being of domestic animals in the rural communities surrounding Hoedspruit.
Brass Brassett, one of the committee volunteers at HALO told Herald that on three Saturdays a month they venture out to California (LeBoeng), The Willows/Tswenyane, and Manoutsa where they offer free veterinary care to the dogs in those communities.
“We generally leave Hoedspruit by 07:30 and return just after lunch. Depending on which community we are in, we can see anything from thirty to 230 dogs,” she said.
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The volunteers needed will be assisting station managers with the dogs, these are HALO members trained in basic animal health care and they work alongside their CVC vet, Nina Boshoff.
Volunteers will also help with data capturing as there are forms that need to be completed, giving them a comprehensive history of the dog and its owner’s details.
Volunteers will also assist in the dipping process which Brasset describes as the best job on a hot day.
“We dip the dogs in tubs with an anti-tick and flea solution,” she said.
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Some of the volunteers will assist in ensuring that people adhere to Covid-19 regulations.
“This is of primary concern or us, we need to ensure that everyone is adhering to strict Covid-19 protocols: keeping social distance in line, sanistising hands (there is a foot pump at the head of the queue and sanitiser on each table), and ensuring that everyone attending outreach is wearing a mask – no mask, no entry. our Covid-19 relief special outreaches we “During our Covid-19 relief special outreaches we distributed two masks per person in each community,” she said.
They also need puppy holders to help them at each outreach.
“If you have one or more Saturdays free each month and would like to be a part of #TeamHALO please send us a message or send a WhatsApp to 082 692 3688,” she said.
For more information on HALO’s work, visit Hoedspruit AnimaL Outreach Facebook page or send an email to Hoedspruit.halo@ gmail.com.
