MBOMBELA- To celebrate its third anniversary, Pro-Life Animal Rescue opened its vet rooms to treat animals on the premises last Saturday. They also planned to perform the first sterilisation in the new facility this week.
“Because we have about
100 dogs and 30 cats,” says owner Karin Erasmus, “we can’t afford to pay vet bills so we decided to keep one permanent vet at the kennels. We will now be able to help a lot more animals at the same fees.”
Debbie du Toit started as the resident vet earlier this month. She works four days a week and accompanies Erasmus to sterilise animals in townships around the Lowveld. “This vet will only be available to the resident animals of Pro-Life and those from townships,” said Du Toit.
Without donations the facility would never have existed. “We operate only on donations,” said Du Toit. “The majority of the funds for the vet rooms were collected by sponsors and through donations.” The vet room is equipped with an operating table, a few cages, a tool steriliser and all medicine needed to perform minor operations. The walls still need to be painted and the floor has to be tiled. “A private benefactor is donating tiles which we will receive soon,” said Erasmus.
On the opening day visitors flocked to the facility to walk the dogs and support local businesses who set up stalls on the premises.
There was a choo-choo train for children and some of the animals also shared in the festivities by getting forever homes.
According to Erasmus three cats and two dogs were adopted. “It feels great to know we are expanding. Although we cannot help the public with veterinary services we are happy to be able to help rescue animals.”
