Animal rescue fights to save neglected cats and dogs
East resident Heidi Pollard has been rescuing abandoned cats and dogs from abuse and neglect. Now, her animal rescue is appealing for food donations as the fight against backstreet breeders and cruelty grows tougher by the day.
For the past 25 years, Pretoria east resident Heidi Pollard has dedicated her life to rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned animals.
Her non-profit, Pretoria East Animal Rescue, works tirelessly to save cats and dogs from neglect, abuse, and irresponsible breeding.
“What prompted me to start this organisation was simply the love of animals and the need to fight backstreet breeders,” Pollard explained.
“We always pick up the pieces in the end when animals are bred for profit and then discarded.”
She said backstreet breeders are unregistered breeders who mate animals purely for money.
“They mix breeds and keep animals in terrible conditions. It’s abuse, plain and simple,” she added.
Although her organisation has been running for decades, Pollard admits the situation has not improved.
She said they try to educate the public and go to schools to teach children how to look after animals, and why sterilisation is important.
“However, it’s a very slow battle.”
Her work focuses mostly on cats, though the team also responds to emergencies involving dogs, birds, and other domestic animals.
Pollard explained that their main focus is trapping, sterilising, and either releasing cats back onto properties or moving them to safe shelters.
“If the animal is too sick, sadly, we have to put it down to prevent suffering. But euthanasia is always the last resort,” Pollard said.
Animal rescue often goes hand in hand with social work.
Pollard and her team are sometimes called in by Child Welfare when children are removed from abusive households.
“While the families are being sorted, we step in to rescue the animals, whether they’re dogs, cats or birds. That way, no one is left behind,” she explained.
The organisation doesn’t have a formal shelter of its own.
They operate as part of community outreach projects and place animals where space can be found.
“At the moment, many cats go to a farm in Garsfontein, while dogs are placed with other shelters.”
She said those shelters are also under huge pressure, and it is a vicious circle trying to help, as everyone needs food, funds, and volunteers to keep going.
According to Pollard, the biggest challenge that they are currently facing is income.
“Donations are critical to cover food, medical bills, and basic supplies. Volunteers are also desperately needed.
“We always need people to help bathe the animals, to clean food bowls and sandboxes, and most importantly, to give the animals love.”
Despite the challenges, Pollard said the most rewarding part of her work is knowing that they saved an animal from being abused.
She added that there’s no greater relief than taking them out of that situation and giving them a better future.
Pretoria East Animal Rescue is currently appealing for food donations.
“Every single bag of food, every bit of help, makes a difference,” Pollard said.
ALSO READ: Rietondale High celebrates six years of resilience
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
