The body of a puppy, killed by the cold. A homeless man surrendering his only companion so the dog could live. Two mother dogs and their litter huddled inside a leaking kennel with nowhere left to go, and two little pigs trying to escape the cold. This is what Cape Town’s relentless winter storm is doing to animals, and the Cape of Good Hope SPCA says it’s only going to get worse.
Storm-related animal admissions are expected to exceed 100 animals as relentless rain, flooding, and cold conditions continue to batter Cape Town and surrounding communities.
No shelter, no warmth, no escape
After nearly 40 animals, including dogs and two pigs, were admitted to the SPCA yesterday, emergency teams remain inundated with distress calls from across the metropole. Many more animals have been assisted in the field as inspectors work around the clock in dangerous conditions, according to spokesperson Belinda Abraham.
She says rescue teams have been deployed to some of the hardest hit areas including Parkwood, Lotus River, Ottery, Schaapkraal, Wynberg, Masiphumelele, Bonnytoun, Lwandle, Macassar, Bloekombos, Athlone, Philippi, Delft, Phumlani and Manenberg, where flooded roads, gale-force winds, and rising water levels are leaving animals exposed, trapped, displaced, or without shelter.
“Our admissions are climbing at an alarming rate and based on the current trend, we expect to reach 100 storm related admissions,” said Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham. “What we are witnessing across many communities is immense animal suffering caused by prolonged exposure to cold, flooding, hunger, and inadequate shelter.”
In one heartbreaking incident in Manenberg, inspectors discovered two mother dogs and their puppies huddled inside a rickety kennel leaking rainwater from multiple points. One puppy had already succumbed to exposure by the time help arrived. The two mothers and the remaining eight puppies were brought to the SPCA for urgent care and warmth.
“This storm is unforgiving for animals living outdoors,” Abraham said. “For many of them, there is nowhere dry to escape to. No warmth. No protection from the wind or rain.”
Several dogs have been rescued after being found chained outside in flooded yards or roaming through waterlogged streets in search of shelter. Horses have also been secured and returned safely to their stalls as conditions worsened yesterday.
“Among the admissions were two small pigs rescued from the severe weather conditions. After arriving cold and soaked, staff watched them burrow happily into a fresh pile of warm wood shavings, providing one of the few light hearted moments during an otherwise emotionally exhausting rescue operation,” she says.
The moments that keep teams going
An unexpected moment briefly brought rescue operations to a standstill when an SPCA emergency vehicle was forced to stop, not for a rescue or obstruction, but to allow a group of ducks calmly swimming across a flooded roadway to pass safely.
“Even in the middle of disaster, animals remind us of their remarkable spirit,” Abraham added. “Those small moments matter because they keep exhausted teams going.”
In another heartbreaking emotional encounter, a homeless man made the painful decision to surrender his beloved dog into the SPCA’s care rather than watch him continue to shiver in the inclement conditions.
“That is what real love looks like,” Abraham said. “He chose heartbreak for himself so that his dog could have warmth, safety, and a chance at a better future.”
Working in lockstep with the City of Cape Town’s Joint Operations Centre, the SPCA has been able to cut through the chaos, getting to the right places faster and deploying resources where they are needed most.
“Our liaison within the Joint Operations Centre has been invaluable,” Abraham said. “It allows us to respond faster, prioritise the most severely affected areas first, and coordinate our resources efficiently.”
The organisation also acknowledged the Law Enforcement Animal Control Auxiliary Unit, whose boots-on-the-ground support has proven critical as rescue demands continue to intensify. So stretched are the SPCA’s resources that its mobile clinic services have been pulled entirely, with vehicles and personnel redirected away from routine operations and thrown fully into the emergency response.
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Abraham confimred that the SPCA’s mobile clinic services remain temporarily suspended, with vehicles and personnel reassigned to emergency disaster response operations, urging residents to act immediately to protect animals from the elements.
“No animal should be left outside without proper shelter,” said Abraham. “Bring animals indoors wherever possible. Raise kennels off flooded ground. Replace wet bedding immediately. Ensure animals have protection from wind and rain. These are not small comforts during a storm like this. They are lifesaving interventions.”
Residents can report animals in distress or request evacuation assistance 24 hours a day at 021 700 4158 / 021 700 4159 or WhatsApp at 021 700 4140.
