POLOKWANE – Whenever I see a dog or cat roam the streets, I wonder where its’ home is. Being an animal lover and proud fur-mom, I had my fair share of dogs getting out of the yard. Every time it happened, someone would rescue my pup, and because both of them have been micro-chipped and have name tags on, they were soon back home where they belong.
It is not fair to criticise people whose dogs escape since some dogs are professional escapees. No matter what the owner does, how many fences and wires are put up – if a dog wants out it will get out. Unfortunately, not every dog and cat is micro-chipped or has a name tag.
Luckily there are people out there who have mercy on these lost animals and help them to find their home. A Facebook group, Lucky Paws Rescue LPR, was recently created to assist residents of Polokwane to find lost pets and getting the right homes for those who get lost.
The group consists of animal lovers Tania le Roux, Chantelle-Louise Watson, Linda Pieterse, Raymond Putter and Susan Smith. Susan helps with feeding, trapping, neutering and releasing feral cats in the community.
“The group’s name comes from Lucky, the SPCA mascot dog who never got his own home, but because of Pauline Sher, his lucky paws found a new home at the SPCA. However, the SPCA has nothing to do with this project. We will register it as a non-profit organisation as soon as the lockdown is over,” Tania explains.
“Along with finding homes for those lost animals, we will also help Susan with her feral cats, to neuter them. We will have an account at each veterinary clinic where people can pay money into for those dogs and cats who are lost and whose owners cannot be found. If they need medical help, the vet will use the money in that account. The vets will administrate and monitor these accounts and donors will be able to track what the money is used for.”
For now, it is only a service where people can search for their lost pets or where you can show a pet you found. In the future, homing will become an additional function.
“Homing will go along with strict rules and regulation of which a home check and neutering are vital parts. After registering for the NPO we will create an account for the money. But that is a process in itself.”
maretha@nmgroup.co.za
