A mass animal sterilisation project is being rolled out by the City of Cape Town and animal organisations on Thursday September 1.
Ocean View and Masiphumelele are among two of the four neighbourhoods that will be part of a mass animal-sterilisation drive by the City.
Pet owners are encouraged to take advantage and sign their pets up for the procedure during the campaign, which starts on Thursday September 1.
In a statement, the City said its health department had, since 2013, disbursed nearly R6 million through grant-in-aid funding to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for mass sterilisation projects along with fellow member organisations within the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF).
The projects had sterilised 13 376 dogs and cats in various areas of need such as Dunoon, Browns Farm, Khayelitsha, Atlantis, Wallacedene/Bloekombos and Tafelsig.
This year, eight CAWF members are participating in the project: the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the Animal Welfare Society, EnviroVet, the Animal Rescue Organisation, The Emma Animal Rescue Society (Tears), the Domestic Animal Rescue Group (Darg), and the Animal Anti Cruelty League.
The aim is to sterilise at least 70% of the animal population in the identified areas over the next three to six months, the city said in a statement.
In addition to Ocean View and Masiphumelele, CAWF has also identified Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg in Hout Bay for this year’s project.
“From a medical aspect, sterilisation reduces the risk of certain cancers and womb infections in female cats and dogs. Castration reduces the risk of testicular cancer in male cats and dogs and incidence of prostate disease in male dogs,” said Jaco Pieterse, chief inspector of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
Sterilisation also prevented unwanted kittens or puppies from being born, he added.
Tears operations manager Mandy Storer welcomed the City’s support to boost sterilisation numbers.
“In the past 23 years, we have provided free sterilisations, primary health-care (vaccinations, deworming, tick and flea treatments) and subsidised treatments to indigent communities in the deep south, including Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Red Hill and Vrygrond, as well as surrounding areas,” Ms Storer said.
“This project will boost the sterilisation numbers to work towards a community where almost all pets are sterilised and are in good health.”
The procedure that pet owners in the identified areas can sign up for will include sterilisation, a rabies vaccine and parasite control.
Animals will be collected from their homes, taken to a sterilisation point and returned. No payment is required from the owners.
To sign up, pet owners need to liaise with the organisation in their area or contact the SPCA at 021 700 4140, or email hospital@spca-ct.co.za.