Thieves target vulnerable Centurion dog shelter, take food worth R15 000
The theft has also raised concerns about the safety and security of the facility.
A Centurion dog rescue shelter, along with its vulnerable furry friends, has been hit hard by a burglary , during which loads of food was stolen recently.
Pretoria Dog Rescue shelter CEO Celia van Zyl said the non-profit company is reeling from the theft of R15 000 worth of dog food.
The shelter is a safe haven for about 80 dogs, from puppies to adult dogs, all awaiting adoption.
Van Zyl said in the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 15, the thieves broke into the storage room and took valuable food supplies.
“When we left on Monday afternoon, everything was locked. But when we arrived at the shelter on Tuesday at 08:00, we found the lock broken and removed from the door.”
She said when they went inside the shelter, they found that most of their food supplies had been stolen.
“They took some of our bags of treats, and most of our bags of food as well as canned food.”
She said they immediately reported the matter to police.
Van Zyl said the residents who live in a house on the same property as the shelter claimed they heard noises at around 03:00, but since it was dark outside, they could not see who it was.
“This is a really devastating blow to our organisation. The fact that someone would steal our donations is truly heartbreaking.
“The shelter relies solely on donations to care for their dogs, and this theft has put a significant strain on their resources.”
She said after the incident, the shelter was fortunate to receive help from a company that distributes food.
Van Zyl said the company heard the shelter was facing a critical shortage of food, so they helped by donating 60kg of dog food.
The theft has not only affected the shelter’s ability to care for its dogs but also raised concerns about the safety and security of the facility.
“We are doing everything in our power to ensure the security of our shelter and prevent such incidents in the future,” said Van Zyl.
She said they are currently making plans of building a new storeroom from bricks since the wooden one can break at any time.
“We would like to appeal to the public to help us with food or building material during this difficult time.”
She added that the generosity and support of the community would help them continue their mission, as they cannot do it alone.
To make donations or help Pretoria Dog Rescue recover from the setback, members of the public can contact CEO Celia van Zyl on 082 569 2663.
Rekord asked the police for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
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