A group of passionate animal lovers have done it again!
A further 25 feral cats from Albersville, Sea Park, Shelly Beach and Uvongo were sterilised last Sunday, adding to the total of 355 cats in the last six months.
This incredible sterilisation project has been driven by Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (TAWI) and assisted by Small Paws on the Coast (NPC), South Coast Ferals, Forest Ferals, Margate Ferals, Lower South Coast SPCA and the husband and wife team of veterinarian Dr Dave Watson and Julia.
In May this year, more than 120 cats were spayed in one weekend.
It’s hard work catching a feral cat; it takes patience and time, and then, the cost of transportation.
Trudie Roets of South Coast Ferals has been feeding and caring for the coast’s feral cats for the last 18 years.
She looks after 32 colonies. Every evening, she travels from Shelly Beach to Uvongo to feed about 360 cats. This feeding mission takes her about two hours.
“We work extremely hard to try to solve a human-made problem and to silence the people who constantly complain about the cats and what a curse they are,” said Roets.
Roets explained that every feral that gets sterilised also gets vaccinated against rabies and their ear clipped.
“Not all are spayed, but 243 ferals from my Uvongo and Shelly Beach colonies have been spayed since June last year,” she said.
She is grateful to TAWI and all those who continue to support her.
“I have to thank Karen Preston, who motivated me when I was at the point of giving up, as the money to sterilise and care for them just wasn’t coming in. Glenda Fawbert from Tassie with Love is sponsoring all these sterilisations. I owe a lot of gratitude to Karen, who has helped me trap and sterilise 77 cats since June. I never had any help, and she was the first to lift a finger to help me,” said Roets.
The TAWI team will head to Mnyameni in the Transkei to sterilise 30 dogs this past weekend.
Over the years, the organisation has become a vital part of the community, addressing the needs of animals that were often overlooked.
Stray dogs and cats, once a common sight, are now fewer in numbers thanks to the regular sterilisation drives that TAWI organised. These efforts not only controlled the animal population but also reduced the spread of disease and improved the overall well-being of the animals.
Linda Dunn Livesey of TAWI said education is another crucial aspect.
“TAWI volunteers spent countless hours teaching villagers about proper animal care, the importance of vaccinations, and how to recognise signs of illness in their pets. This knowledge empowered the community, enabling them to take better care of their animals and, by extension, their own health and safety,” she said.
To raise funds for TAWI, a fun evening of wine tasting will be held at the Riverside Sport Club, Uvongo, on Friday, October 4, at 17:30.
To book for the wine evening or donate towards TAWI, contact Joanne on 083 3062876.
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