The Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in Walmer recently received much-needed funds in order to keep their doors open during one of their most difficult months of the year.
As a registered NPO, the AWS is an open shelter that offers a safe place for unwanted, lost or abandoned animals, which means that they rely on donations from the public in order to continue caring for animals.
An animal lover and the director of High Risk Protection Services in Nelson Mandela Bay, Silvano Recchia, recently donated R5 000 to the AWS.
Half of the donation came from Recchia in his personal capacity and the other half from the company.
Five bags of dog food were also donated.
According to Recchia, the donation was not made to gain attention, but rather to give something back.
“The AWS is under a lot of strain during the lockdown and November up until January are their worst months. They were very surprised and so excited about the donation,” he said.
“I am an animal lover and purchased my first dog when I was a teenager. That taught me responsibility. I have always been passionate about animals and was actually known as The Snakeman at some point, because I used to breed reptiles and did shows at schools,” Recchia explained.
“I have two dogs now and both were adopted from the AWS. I strongly believe that any animal should be looked after well. I treat my dogs as if they are my own children. It really is only a privilege to own a pet,” he added.
Recchia said that he doesn’t plan to stop giving back to the community and will be making another donation to the EP Children’s Home at the end of the month.
AWS manager, Hannes Stander, said that the donation was a pleasant surprise, especially since they did not expect that amount.
“It came at a good time because during the week we had made an appeal on Facebook for food because our food supply was very low,” he said.
According to Stander, they have had so many animals that had come into the shelter during the December holidays last year, due to COVID-19, and their kennels are all full.
“This donation means a lot for us and the animals because we can now feed them. COVID has affected everybody and even us too because people now have less money for donations, so this really came at a great time,” he added.
Stander also made an appeal to the community to look after their animals and to ensure that they have food, water and shelter. “If the weather is bad, please seek shelter for them. To those who can’t afford animals, rather than dumping them on the side of the road or giving them away to friends, bring the animals to us.
“There is a surrender fee but it you can’t afford it, we won’t charge you. Just rather bring them to us where they will be safe,” he pleaded.
