Accident leaves famed ‘cat-man’ immobile

THE famed feral cat rescuer, Doug Fairall, suffered another setback earlier this month when he was involved in a serious accident on Old North Coast Road. The head-on collision has left him injured and physically unable to continue his mission to feed his feral colonies and save injured or dumped felines.

In addition to internal bruising, Fairall suffered serious cuts to his lip and knee.

What’s more the Northway resident’s car was also totaled in the accident. Two years ago the passionate animal activist, who is part of the Feral Cat Rescue Trust, was also left immobile when his Nissan bakkie was stolen in the Mayville area. He was on a rescue mission when the incident occurred.

However, fellow rescuers from various cat organisations, including Cats of Durban and Feral Cat Rescue Trust have banded together and raised enough funds to buy Fairall a brand new bakkie so that he could continue with his much needed work.

While he has been recuperating at his son’s home in uMhlanga, people from the caring cat community also took turns to care for his 15 colonies across Durban as well as his own beloved cats at home. In recent weeks however, the 68-year-old, with the help of a friend, Ronnie Galli, has been able to once again tend to his colonies.

“People have been so wonderful. It has been a very emotional time and I am grateful for all of the help that I have received. When I look back at the wreck I think, ‘how did I get out of that?’ I was very lucky. It has been a slow process, but I am slowly getting back on my feet,” he said.

In the meanwhile for assistance in cat rescues or trappings Fairall urged the community to contact Jeni on 083 676 4757 or Niki on 071 932 8925.