Going an extra mile for animal welfare

Nineteen-year-old Kiara Samuel from Little Falls has dedicated her life to showing love to animals by not only studying how animals communicate but also volunteering her time at various animal shelters across Johannesburg.

After matriculating two years ago, the furry-friend-loving teenager decided to study K9 Communication and Professional Rescue Dog Handling courses at Pet Sense College to equip herself with advanced knowledge to socialise and handle dogs.

“During the week, I work at Woodrock Animal Rescue, and at the weekends I volunteer at the Randburg SPCA, Pup Pop-up at Rosebank and Parktown, and 4 Paws Shelter where I help rescued animals get new homes. My job entails taking photographs of these animals and luring animal lovers to adopt them,” the busy youngster said.

When asked about her soft spot for animals, Kiara told Northsider that furry friends are the most gentle and caring creatures that she feels do not deserve some of the bad treatment they endure from society.

“Animals are innocent and they don’t deserve it. My biggest high in what I do is when a needy animal gets adopted,” she said.

With the animal shelters always running short of funds, Kiara, who owns two friendly dogs called Baloo and Midnight, has made it her mission to raise funds and much-needed items to support the shelters.

“I’ve started baking cakes which I sell to family and friends to raise funds to buy dog and cat food to feed the sheltered animals, or I donate the money to help with the costs of sterilising the animals,” she explained, thanking her parents, friends and relatives for their unwavering support to her cause.

To bolster her cause to ensure that the animal shelters she serves are adequately equipped, Kiara has appealed to the community to support her by ordering her delicious cakes of which all proceeds will go to the shelters.

To place your order, call or message Kiara on 061 582 2089.