In uncertain times residents can rest assured that their fur babies are in good hands

Imagine your whole world is turned upside down, your home for years torn apart, with the broken pieces relocated to another location entirely. What will happen to your pets?

This is what was racing through the minds of the Mathomba community, who occupied the informal settlement close to Cradlestone Mall on Hendrik Potgieter Road.

The community was forcefully removed to a new location near Video Village on the N14 with no plan in place to look after their beloved fur babies. That’s when Charmaine Booysens, founder of the 9th Day Animal Rescue Centre, stepped in to assist. Charmaine, Thys Mulder and Roné Meyer got their pet carriers, release forms and comfy shoes and embarked on their mission to help as many animals in the community as possible.

At first, the community was a bit sceptical of the newcomers walking around while their homes were being destroyed, but once they realised the group was there to offer safe boarding for their animals during this uncertain time they quickly warmed up to them. Shouts of “Please take my baby” and “Can you keep my pet safe?” echoed through the crowd as everyone brought their animals to be kept safe.

“We take them in, with the owner’s consent, and if the owner agrees we spay or neuter them. Finally, when the owners have settled into their new homes, we will take their pets back with a bed to sleep in and a packet of food to sustain them for the first month,” explained Charmaine.

The team explained that even though days like these, when they have to take animals away from their owners, are rough and emotional, it all becomes worth it when they reunite them at their new home. This gave the residents of the informal settlement one less thing to worry about, relieving one point of stress from the bundle that is surely swarming around their minds.

The Northsider will keep its readers updated on when the community will be reunited with their beloved pets.