Almost 15 000 animals sterilised in a decade, says City

Almost 15 000 domestic pets have been sterilised over the past decade, in areas identified by Cape Animal Welfare Forum, at a cost of more than R6.3 million, according to the City.

The City’s community services and health department started a pilot mass pet sterilisation project in Dunoon and Brown’s Farm in 2013.

The funding was disbursed to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, but other animal-welfare groups, which are members of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF), helped with the project, the City said in a statement.

The organisations include the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, Animal Rescue Organisation, Animal Welfare Society Philippi, Domestic Animal Rescue Group, EnviroVet CVC, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals and Tears Animal Rescue.

Some of the areas that were covered include Wallacedene, Bloekombos, Dunoon, Brown's Farm, Khayelitsha, Wesbank, Atlantis, Tafelsig, and the far south.

"We are deeply indebted to our animal-welfare sector for the success in rolling out the mass animal-sterilisation project. The animal-welfare sector also conducts education and awareness sessions about responsible pet ownership. It is critical that we all understand that healthy pets mean healthy communities,“ said mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross.