Support animal league this April

THE Durban and Pietermaritzburg branch of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) is appealing to the public to increase their awareness of abandoned, harmed or injured animals and to support their organisation, which provides a vital service to animals who are unable to fend for themselves, during Animal Anti-Cruelty Month this April.

The AACL currently looks after 44 stray cats and 34 stray dogs which have either been brought in by members of the public or rescued from cruel and unsafe environments.

Also read: Show support for Kloof SPCA’s Adoption Day

The organisation also works tirelessly in economically disadvantaged communities and conducts sterilisations and vaccinations, deworming and flea- and tick-dipping of dogs and cats, supporting people who are unable to provide this kind of primary healthcare for their pets. They have a robust inspectorate that investigates acts of cruelty to animals, removing them, providing medical attention for them and rehabilitating them.

“Companion animals, like cats and dogs, are protected by the anti-cruelty provisions of Section 2(1) of the Animal Protection Act 1962,” said general manager of the ACCL (Durban and Pietermaritzburg), David Rogers.

“We act as a compassionate and proactive entity to intervene where we find animals being ill-treated, neglected, cruelly beaten, teased or terrified, or if it has been confined in any way that it is suffering, or it is neglected or abandoned in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering,” he added.

“It is often exhausting, sad and emotionally draining working in this environment, but the rewards are big when we have the successes in our rehabilitation and adoption processes. The service we provide is entirely dependent on the funds we can raise and the wonderful support we have from a body of dedicated volunteers to help make things easier for the animals,” said Rogers.

Also read: Men lend a hand in animal rescue and care

He explained that all animals that can be rehabilitated are up for adoption by the public, with necessary checks done on the new owners. They also offer boarding facilities in their magnificent kennels at a reasonable price which helps towards their fundraising efforts.

On Sunday, April 14, the AACL will host their highly popular Dog Walk and Market from 08:00 to 13:00 at their premises, 53 Artesia Avenue, D657 Road, Hammarsdale. There is a R50 early bird entrance fee (R60 on the day) which includes the walk and a market with crafts, clothes, second-hand goods and food and fun activities for children. Children under 12 may attend for free.

The league is appealing to the public, businesses and corporates to donate to the organisation to support this vital work they do for animals that are unable to fight for themselves. Donation information and more information about the work the AACL does can be found at https://www.aacl.co.za/branches-durban-pietermaritzburg/

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