{"id":45506,"date":"2022-06-02T06:02:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-02T04:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/clinic-needs-sterisuppawters-20220601\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T00:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T22:25:08","slug":"clinic-needs-sterisuppawters-20220601","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/clinic-needs-sterisuppawters-20220601\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinic needs #SteriSuppawters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha has embarked on a mass sterilisation initiative to curb the growing pet population in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the clinic\u2019s estimation, approximately 300 000 companion animals live in the township, many of which are unsterilised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the year, Mdzananda in partnership with Blue Downs Animal Hospital, launched a satellite sterilisation clinic to fight against the population growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe community\u2019s pet population is skyrocketing. Backyard breeding is rife as puppy and kitten sales are income generators,\u201d said Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Executive for Mdzananda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said there is also a massive increase in the township\u2019s size and population as people migrate to Cape Town from other provinces, bringing their animals along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are many superstitions around female dogs needing to produce at least one litter and that males will lose their \u2018manliness\u2019 and stop protecting homes if sterilised. The increasing population means insufficient homes or overcrowded homes which can lead to intentional and unintentional neglect,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clinic has extensive education programmes teaching about the importance of sterilisation. Annually, it sterilises around 1 500 pets. \u201cThis is not enough,\u201d said Heidi May, General Manager at Mdzananda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May said due to their capacity at the facility, providing medical treatment to over 1 000 animals per month, they are not able to do more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have limited space in our operating theatre and limited veterinarians who also need to care for all patients in our hospital and shelter,\u201d said May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clinic had to find a creative solution to make a larger impact in the community and have done so by creating a Satellite Sterilisation Partnership Clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe in partnerships and that, through standing together, we can do even more good,\u201d said May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have partnered with Dr Rightwell Munyuki, the owner and veterinarian of Blue Downs Animal Clinic whose practice is serving as a satellite sterilisation clinic for this newly launched programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn just five months we have already sterilised 353 extra animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch of this programme was made possible by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in the United Kingdom (UK). They sponsored a year\u2019s running costs and sterilisation costs for 720 animals this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme has, however, been so well received that they are already reaching more. \u201cWe have limited funding for this programme and we don\u2019t want to stop sterilising because of funding restraints. We ask the public to become #SteriSuppawters to reach more animals,\u201d urged du Plessis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would like to reach more animals than the targeted 720 for this year. We can do it, but we need to source more funding to make that a reality,\u201d added May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to encourage the public to sign up as #SteriSuppawters and sponsor a sterilisation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To become a #SteriSuppawter sign up for a monthly debit order of R100 to sterilise two pets per year or R50 to sterilise one pet per year at www.mdzanandasecure.co.za. Or donate a once off amount of R650 to sterilise one animal. Bank details: Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account number: 075595710, Branch: Rondebosch, Code: 025009, Savings account, Reference: Steri +Your Name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n