The Animal Protection Network (APN) had a difficult 2020 like most NPOs and NPCs, but together they pulled through it.
APN is a registered NPO that was established in Alberton with the assistance of the community to rescue, save and rehome unwanted and stray dogs, cats and other animals in need, one animal at a time.
A difficult time
“When lockdown first started we thought there would be fewer animals on the streets as their owners would be home, but we were sadly mistaken. Within a couple of days a pattern was set: abandoned pets,” said APN member Di Hingley.
Members could not understand why there was an increase in homeless pets.
“We asked ourselves why? Then the questions from pet owners started. They asked us if they can get Covid-19 from their pets and our reply was no you cannot, but pets still were continuously being abandoned,” Di explained.
According to Di, this made the work of a rescuer very difficult as the pets were pouring in and there was no place to put them.
“As the education of how you can contract the virus made an impact, we were waiting for the reduction in numbers of abandoned pets. This reduction did not happen as the numbers increased.
“People were losing their jobs because companies were closing down or scaling down and retrenchments followed. Others were being put onto short time and this affected their spending power. Pets suffered again. People were moving in with family and friends, into cheaper homes, smaller homes and most of those places were not pet-friendly,” she said.
Many pet owners could no longer afford to feed their pets, and this made the organisations’ feeding schemes grow rapidly.
“Our donations of food and funds decreased as those that normally contributed were no longer in the position to do so. Our ability to raise funds was hampered by lockdown as we could not host fund-raising events.”
Limited to raising funds
They were limited to raising funds through social media.
“We asked for donations, and we even tried to sell our flea market products via WhatsApp, but still we were in a bit of a mess. We need funds to do what we do and to help pets,” Di said.
Members are constantly looking for new ways to raise funds, rehome, feed and provide medical help for pets in need.
“It is our daily battle,” she added.
Di also told the RECORD they have watched shelters close their doors as they no longer received the funding they used to get.
“APN strives to meet our commitment to the pets in our area on a daily basis. We have actually gone beyond the Alberton borders to feed pets and we stress as we cannot say no. How do you say no to a hungry animal?”
