The Grahamstown SPCA staff and management have a tough job. With scant funding, four staff members and just one vehicle, they see to the welfare of animals across the town.
The Grahamstown SPCA staff and management have a tough job. With scant funding, four staff members and just one vehicle, they see to the welfare of animals across the town.
From kittens to cows – if there’s an animal in need, they’re the ones who respond. Fortunately, their work earns them a lot of respect and good will, and many Grahamstown residents grateful for what they do regularly donate their time or money or both to support the organisation.
Two of those residents are Candace Owen and Sashay Bates, who started the Eastern Cape division of the Santa Cause for Paws foundation – currently based in Grahamstown.
The organisation collects and distributes pet food, toys, blankets and other much-needed items to shelter animals around South Africa On Saturday 12 December, Owen and Bates arrived at the Grahamstown SPCA with boxes of treats and toys, as well as a good pile of basics – pet food and deworming medicine – for the animals at the facility.
But they hadn’t forgotten about the hard-working staff and committee, bringing them cupcakes and small gifts as well.
This was the result of their Christmas Drive box campaign.The Santa Cause for Paws foundation started in October 2013, with the main focus on a Christmas Drive box campaign.
“The concept is very similar to the ‘SantaShoebox’ initiative, which provides for underprivileged children, but our focus is on dogs, cats and other animals in need,” Bates explained.
“We are committed to collecting and distributing Christmas packs made by the public to various animal shelters. Our aim is to make Christmas a little more special for the animals in those shelters by providing them with treats that they would otherwise go without.”
Originally based in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal, the organisation has spread to the Eastern Cape, which was the only province to hold an Easter collection in 2015 for F.A.C.E. (Farm Animal Care and Education) in Grahamstown.
Bates and Owen explain how it works:
• Members of the public choose animals from the categories on our website.
• Donors make up a care package for their selected animal following a list or, alternatively, they make a financial donation which goes towards more boxes, vet’s bills or to the charity for other items needed.
• Drop off points in Grahamstown were selected – Pam Golding and Hoof and Hound. Pledges closed on 4 December 2015.
• Santa Cause for Paws then delivered the items the Grahamstown SPCA.
“Our target was 70 shoeboxes and we reached 109,” Owen said. “The Grahamstown public were great, and we also got big donations from Royal Canin through Hoof and Hound, and DSG Prep, as well as Pam Golding.” The pair started their Shoebox campaign on 1 September this year.
“We would like to thank the Grahamstown community for opening their hearts to the fur kids at the Grahamstown SPCA,” Owen said.
http://www.santapaws.co.za
