Dog owners brought their pets to Kingfisher Park for a community vaccination drive aimed at keeping animals healthy while supporting the work of Dogs Trust, an animal rescue.

Community Hours founder Sarah Welton-Blake, a non-profit organisation that organises the initiative twice a year, said the event promotes responsible pet ownership and helps create safer communities.

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“We believe that safe puppies create a safe environment,” she said.

The vaccination drive is organised in collaboration with Dogs Trust, which works with dogs in Diepsloot, including sterilising animals and caring for abandoned dogs.

Welton-Blake said the initiative benefits both pet owners and the organisation, with funds raised helping Dogs Trust continue its work in the community.

“It’s a really nice collaboration, and it’s about community building, you know, safe communities, create safe communities.”

The event focused exclusively on vaccinations, although the organisation organises other activities during different events, including opportunities for people to try different dog food products.

The turnout had been encouraging, with Welton-Blake estimating that close to 100 people had attended by about 11:00.

“We always hope, and, you know, cross your fingers that there’ll be a good turnout. But we have probably seen close to 100 people already.”

Welton-Blake also hoped to match or exceed the R35 000 raised for Dogs Trust at their previous vaccination day.

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She said there was no fixed fundraising target, as the priority was to vaccinate as many dogs and cats as possible.

“The target is to get as many dogs as possible, and cats vaccinated. But the reality is, the financial benefit allows Dogs Trust to do the work that they do in the community.”

The partnership grew out of the organisation connecting volunteers with opportunities to support organisations in their communities.

Welton-Blake said volunteers already assist Dogs Trust with tasks such as cleaning kennels, walking dogs and grooming them.

The vaccination day was advertised as another volunteering opportunity, which Dogs Trust agreed to support.

Welton-Blake, who described herself as a regular at Kingfisher Park, said the initiative also benefited from the involvement of the local park community.

She added that the park had become a place where people came together around shared interests and community projects, including knitting groups and social activities for charity.

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