A mass dog sterilisation clinic aimed specifically at pit bulls in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village has made a significant dent in the breeding population.
Colleen Pienaar, an animal-welfare veteran in the area, sourced more than 60 pit bulls for sterilisation – a rare achievement, as many pit bull owners breed their dogs for fighting. Illegal pit-bull fighting is rife, she said, and law enforcement did little to stop it.
“There is no law enforcement in Sir Lowry’s Pass; we’re a forgotten village. And if they do come when there’s a fight, it’s usually too late. The dog owners disappear quickly and get rid of the evidence.”
Pienaar approached the EberVet Petcare Group, which has veterinary clinics and Vetshops in the Helderberg and Overberg, to host a mass sterilisation programme in the local community hall. EberVet’s Community Veterinary Care (CVC) division and Cottage Vet in Gordon’s Bay offered seven veterinarians working shifts, vet nurses and more than a dozen volunteer staff members to run the clinic on Thursday (30 March).
A total of 67 dogs were sterilised at no cost to their owners.
“Unfortunately, not all of the pit bulls we signed up turned up, but we are nonetheless thrilled with the result,” Pienaar said.
One small pit bull female, whose owner Erin Bagus agreed to have her spayed, recently gave birth to 16 puppies. A second litter would have killed her, the vets said. According to Bagus the deaths of several of the puppies had prompted him to have Nalla sterilised.
Michael Nondo, a local priest, brought his male and female pit bulls for sterilisation. “I believe sterilisation will keep them healthy and they will live with me for longer.” He described pit bull fighting as “ungodly”.
EberVet CEO Dr Hilldidge Beer said sterilisation helps protect dogs against testicular, ovarian and mammary cancer. It also protects them against injury, as unsterilised dogs tend to wander the streets in search of bitches on heat and are often hurt in fights or run over.
When she ran out of pit bulls, Pienaar gathered as many dogs as she could from the informal settlement and from neighbouring communities and had them sterilised too.
In addition to the sterilisations, every dog was vaccinated against rabies, protected against parasites, had its nails trimmed and went home with bags of food, tick and flea control, dewormers, treats, water bowls, collars and leads, thanks to significant donations from, among others Montego, Hill’s, Ultra Dog, Petsbrands and Bravecto.
