A NEW umbrella body for animal welfare in KwaZulu-Natal was officially launched this week, aiming to raise standards, strengthen accountability, and push for legislative change in the sector.

“The Durban Animal Welfare Network (DAWN) is about unity, integrity, and impact. For too long, animal welfare organisations have worked in isolation, often with varying levels of compliance and standards. DAWN is here to bring everyone together under one regulated forum so that we can achieve more for all animals, not just domesticated pets, but every living being that deserves protection,” said Shaun Janke, director of the newly formed DAWN.

DAWN, now formally registered as a non-profit company (Company Reg. No. 2025/365511/08), has already attracted the support of six founding members and eight affiliated organisations.

Also read: La Lucia resident loses thousands in WhatsApp scam

Its mission is to promote animal welfare, encourage responsible pet ownership, advocate sterilisation to reduce overpopulation, and uphold a strict code of conduct for all member organisations.

The network has also set its sights on government, aiming to petition for amendments to outdated and vague animal by-laws that, according to Janke, fail to recognise animals as living beings in law.

While South Africa’s Supreme Court has recognised animals as sentient, he said local laws still treat them as property; a gap that needs urgent reform.

Neglect cases remain the most common issue, where offenders are given time to rectify conditions such as lack of food or shelter.

“Ninety percent of the time, they comply once educated but abuse is different. It’s criminal, and our laws are not nearly specific or strong enough to act as a deterrent,” he said.

Also read: Plant theft in Durban North leaves rose grower outraged

Part of DAWN’s purpose is to restore credibility in a sector where too many organisations are unregulated.

The network has introduced strict vetting processes, ensuring that only those who are fully compliant with the Animals Protection Act, relevant by-laws, and DAWN’s own standards, are accepted as members.

Tracey Faught, DAWN’s compliance officer, said her role is to ensure rigorous accountability.

“I bring a compliance and governance background to the board. Every member organisation has to meet strict criteria. This way the public and donors can trust that the organisations within DAWN are using resources for the right reasons.”

Faught added that DAWN is not working against established welfare bodies such as the SPCA, but alongside them.

“By coming together as one voice, we can start fixing the systemic issues, break the cycle of abuse that often links animal cruelty with child and domestic abuse, and hopefully make a real impact in society.”

The orgnisation’s first sponsor is Marshall Security, which has come on board with branding and offering its staff’s time.

For more information visit www.dawnassociation.org.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or  Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here