November 1, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
JOBURGERS love their pets – some keep dogs and cats for friendship, while others keep working animals to help them earn an income. But for some, the costs of keeping their pets healthy are prohibitive. This is where the Society for Animals in Distress (SAID) steps in.
It provides professional veterinarian services to people with low or no income. SAID works in nine townships and informal settlements to the north and northeast of the city centre, in Ivory Park, Ebony Park, Diepsloot, Olievenhoutbosch, Zevenfontein, Cosmo City, Mooiplaas, Tembisa and Winnie Mandela Park.
Trained field workers are sent out each day in vehicles equipped with two-way radios and veterinary supplies. They treat sick and injured animals and refer animals for necessary professional veterinary evaluation and treatment.
"Treatment of the animals includes that of wounds, vaccinations, and de-worming," said Lyn Wells, SAID's corporate and media relation officer.
The society aimed to educate people and not to confiscate animals from owners. The field workers gave out advice and made regular home visits to ensure that owners have heeded their advice. "This includes advice on correct nutrition, adequate shelter and the availability of fresh water for animals," Wells said.
In the field, caring for animals
The organisation's headquarters are in Midrand, where there is a fully equipped, small animal hospital, as well as stables and paddocks for recuperating animals. "We treat on an average day, 70 small animals and 40 large animals."
She added that animals that needed intensive care or surgery were taken to the facility for treatment, and then discharged to their owners once they had recuperated.
SAID was formed in 1958 as the Bantu Animal Welfare Society. The organisation's mission is to protect animals, heal their sicknesses, fight ignorance and to empower others to do the same.
In 2003 it set up a school education programme in Winnie Mandela Park, an informal settlement in Tembisa, where basic animal care is taught to almost 10 000 grade 11 learners in 50 schools within the nine areas of operation.
"The learners enjoy their lessons, and it is heartening to watch as ignorance and fear are replaced with knowledge and a desire to bond with and experience the unique love that should exist between every child and his pet," she said.
Wells said that the educational programmes had resulted in an increase in the number of animal owners requesting pet sterilisations, and a rise in the early detection of illness in domestic animals by pet owners had decreased the need for hospitalisation.
Another successful initiative is the Coal Yard Project, based on empathy, understanding and mutual respect between horse owners and SAID fieldworkers. The project was launched in Tembisa in 2004, and the society is now responsible for the ongoing healthcare of some 320 working horses and donkeys in 14 coal yards.
SAID aims to create a safe and healthy environment for all domestic animals. This year it treated 82 905 animals, both in the hospital and in the field. In addition, 12 vehicles travelled 270 100 kilometres helping animals in distress.
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