North Durban organisation hopes to make an ‘imPACT’ and end animal cruelty
The community can also attend and meet the dogs who will be up for adoption, take pet-food donations and get to know PACT better.
PHOENIX Animal Care and Treatment (PACT) is hosting their third Kennel Challenge at The Crescent shopping mall in uMhlanga this Saturday, starting at 08.00.
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The event was initiated in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when fundraising opportunities were at an all-time low. The first event was held at volunteers’ homes where they were chained to trees and kennels and confined to their rooms. Some went 12 hours with no food or water, but everyone represented the plight of chained animals and described it in detail.
The founder of PACT, Neeri Naidoo, said the Kennel Challenge was more than just a fundraiser but more of a means to create awareness about the plight of animals who are chained for days on end, many of which eventually succumb to death.
“We see numerous cases of animals who are chained or caged for long periods of time. They eat, urinate or defecate and sleep all in the same place. They die from hypothermia or heatstroke, and it is devastating, to say the least,” she said.
“It’s obviously a behaviour that is being mimicked, and I do believe that this may be due to a lack of awareness, but we live in an age where access to information is readily available, so ignorance should no longer be used as an excuse. Chaining your dog is illegal, and others stand by and watch. It has to stop,” added Naidoo.
She added that pet owners must realise that their dogs have feelings just like human beings – they feel sad, happy, hurt and pain – the only difference is that they are unable to communicate like humans.
“This year, we have 14 animal lovers taking part in the Kennel Challenge, with others joining in remotely from their homes and businesses throughout the country. We invite others to join in and raise awareness for our fur friends to stop the torture that many of them go through,” said Naidoo.
For more information, call 073 005 4275 or 071 172 1400.
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