Help feed hungry pets and keep them in their loving homes this Mandela Day - TEARS supports local animal welfare hero, Ingrid de Storie
Help feed hungry pets and keep them in their loving homes this Mandela Day
TEARS supports local animal welfare hero, Ingrid de Storie
Image supplied by the publicist
TEARS Animal Rescue is well into their Mandela Day 6’n’7 campaign to raise 13 tonnes of food for the dogs and cats in their Feed Hungry Pets Programme. TEARS believes that no pet should go hungry, and this programme subsidises pet food so that families struggling financially are able to feed their pets and keep them at home. Currently, TEARS has raised over R60,000, which amounts to over two tonnes of food. They need your help to raise another 11 tonnes and reach their goal of 13 tonnes, seven tonnes of dog food and six tonnes of cat food, by Mandela Day on 18 July.
When a family is battling to put food on their table, it’s the pet dog and cat that go hungry. Being unable to feed pets is one of the main reasons families are forced to give up their pets to shelters, like TEARS Animal Rescue.
TEARS Spokesperson, Tinka Shapiro, says,
“We want to do everything we can to keep pets in their loving homes. This programme helps us subsidise food, so pets can stay with their families and there is space in shelters for animals that really need it.”
In Ocean View, near Kommetjie, TEARS Animal Rescue is helping the local hero, Ingrid de Storie, care for animals in her community. Every morning, she walks through the community checking on and handing out food to up to 30 dogs per day, that’s 210 pets being fed every week.
Ingrid says,
“I used to work in a soup kitchen but decided that working with animals felt more rewarding. The love you receive in return – nothing compares. I check up on animals, take photos and take them to TEARS for vaccinations and sterilisations. I cook vegetables, rice and pellets with my own pay cheque to feed the animals in Ocean View. TEARS supports me by donating bags and cans of food for the community to assist in the feeding.”
“The Feed Hungry Pets Programme supports supplemental feeding, which prevents families from having to surrender their animals and helps them stay with their loved ones. This programme provides at least a meal a day to animals that would otherwise have to scavenge or starve, so that they do not go hungry. It also educates the community about animals, the conversation around caring for animals has completely changed, especially culturally,”
says Ingrid.
“Having this programme makes people feel supported, they know they have a place to go to when they cannot afford to feed their animals. It helps the community feel understood and supported knowing their beloved animals won't go hungry.”
Ingrid explained that the issues the community animals faced included poisoning, dog fights and a lack of sterilisation.
“Poisoning is a very common issue for dogs. People are putting rat poison in fruit and dog food, throwing it over walls to distract animals so they can get into the houses,”
she says.
Despite the hardships, Ingrid absolutely loves her job.
“I have 12 dogs and am just about to rescue my 13th dog. My dogs all sleep in my bed with me and my husband. I don't mind if people call me at 1am or 2am about a dog - I will jump up and go, anything to help the animals. I can't even begin to explain how much I love and appreciate the work I do. It's hard work but it's what makes my heart unbelievably happy,”
she says.
With your support, the Feed Hungry Pets Programme makes this possible. Let’s keep this initiative going — and keep loved pets in loving homes, right where they belong.
Donate: https://www.givengain.com/campaign/mandela-day-6n7-project
Image supplied by the publicist
TEARS website: www.tears.org.za
TEARS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TEARSAnimalRescue/
TEARS Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/tearsanimalrescue/?hl=en.
ABOUT TEARS ANIMAL RESCUE
TEARS is a pro-life, non-profit organisation established in 1999 (registered in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act) whose core aim is to rescue, treat, rehabilitate, reunite, and rehome lost, abandoned, abused, and neglected companion animals and to educate pet owners and the youth living in the four under-resourced communities within which we operate.
We strive to meet the needs of the under-resourced communities in the Southern Peninsula by providing:
● free sterilisations and subsidised medical support that includes vaccinations, deworming, and parasite control
● access to two TEARS mobile clinics that offer primary healthcare and pet care support.
● Access to the TEARS Veterinary Clinic, offering veterinary care for vulnerable pets for almost any condition, illness, or injury at a welfare rate.
TEARS remains the only facility in the Cape Peninsula’s far South available seven days per week, including an after-hours mobile clinic service from 4.30pm to 7pm with limited veterinary care. TEARS treat the hundreds of animals who need treatment each month for various conditions, illnesses, and injuries.
Our experience enables us to manage the population control of companion animals in these areas, based on available funding, and to reduce the spread of zoonoses as a means of supporting community health and complying to the WHO’s One Health approach to the animal-human interface.
We are partnered with community-based NGOs and community leaders to support vulnerable pets and pet owners living in the four core communities we are mandated to serve. Our Programmes aim to bring about systemic change through strategic interventions based on community involvement and support. Implementing effective animal welfare solutions in high-density and low-income communities has been proven to positively impact human welfare by delivering health, environmental, economic, educational, and social benefits.
