Amanzimtoti pet patrols keep tight leash on missing furry friends
Pet owners and those concerned with animal welfare are urged to join such groups in a bid to keep domestic animals safely within their properties and out of harm's way.
AFTER the recent bout of pets which have gone missing across Amanzimtoti, with only a few returning and those who don’t carrying no valid explanation, a local pet crime watch page and Whatsapp group has been birthed.
Pet owners and those concerned with animal welfare are urged to join such groups in a bid to keep domestic animals safely within their properties and out of harm’s way.
Read also: Report missing pets to Amanzimtoti SPCA
“I opened the Pet Watch Whatsapp group and Facebook page,” explained Toti’ite, Dion Botha. “It was originally a group started by Melanie, called Missing Cats of Toti. We joined up and now have the Pet Watch.”
Dion explained that for some time now, he has become involved with monitoring the wild animals of the area, while Melanie was watching the urban animals.
“It made sense to link up the work we individually did, as wild cats and domestic cats do cross territories,” he said.
The Pet Watch page is only some weeks old, and the Whatsapp group not much older. The groups cover areas from Athlone Park down south to Illovo. Those on the group work to keep an eye out for wandering animals and spread the word about those who are missing.
“The Whatsapp group is going well, we have a fantastic group of concerned pet owners who go the extra mile to share and track stray, abandoned and missing pets,” he said.
Dion went on to explain the patrol which was undertaken. “Last night we found three dogs and seven cats on the streets and chased them back home where we could,” he said. “One owner said that it is ‘normal’ for her dog to be on the street because it doesn’t like it inside the garden. Apparently it doesn’t like the other big dogs inside the garden, so she lets it roam.”
It’s only a matter of time before cases such as this either end in a hit and run or (where such pets) are, possibly worse, stolen for a variety of sickening reasons.
Incase you missed this: Stolen Amanzimtoti German shepherd pup returned to owner before she knew it was missingÂ
“We patrol the wild and urban areas at our own expense, as volunteers. The community is welcome to join in the wild anti-poaching or in the urban stray-abandoned missing patrols. Those who can’t or don’t want to go out on the streets or bush, can assist online by sharing and tracking,” he said.
Pro-active community members can like the Facebook page: Pet Watch Amanzimtoti, and join the Whatsapp group by messaging details to 078-935-8182.
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