A free rural outreach to vaccinate 5000 dogs against rabies and five other deadly canine sicknesses has begun on the Sunshine Coast.
Dozens of grateful villagers from Wesley waited patiently in the hot sun yesterday with their dogs for a team of vets from the Community Services of South Africa (CSSA) non-governmental organisation to give them a jab.
The four-day outreach in remote villages around Wesley came about after the animal welfare NGO secured R300000 from Germany to prevent the spread of rabies and asked the Ndlambe SPCA to help.
CSSA vet Renee van Rheeder van Oudshoorn, who clocked up 60000km in southern Africa last year, said vaccinating dogs in rural areas was key to preventing outbreaks.
The team, which includes an Australian vet and other volunteers, decided to join forces with the Ndlambe SPCA to treat dogs left out when it comes to lifesaving innoculations as there are no services nearby.
“It is win-win for everyone,” Van Rheeder van Oudshoorn explained.
She said treating rural dogs created buffer zones that prevented the spread of rabies, and other outbreaks like distemper.
During the outreach owners are also educated on how to care better for their dogs.
Wesley housewife Eleanor Malman was happy that animal welfare experts had come to the community to treat dogs and educate their owners how to better care for their animals.
“Our dog Cuba is part of the family. She is like a daughter to me and we try our best to look after her.”
Although Malman is able to sometimes take her dog, which recently had five puppies, to Port Alfred SPCA for treatment, she said most people in the area were unable to do the same.
“Many people are poor and unemployed but they still love and care for their animals. It is great when people come here to help like this.”
Ndlambe SPCA inspector Anel Slabbert yesterday said they tried whenever they could to support villagers north of the Fish River in taking care of their dogs, even though the area was outside their jurisdiction.
She said many Wesley residents were away from home all week as they worked in Port Alfred and other towns, and this meant rabies, distemper and other deadly ailments were able to spread, as people often took their dogs with them.
“Outreaches like this help to control distemper and rabies from spreading quickly to other areas.”
Australian vet volunteer Patrick Jones said it was extremely rewarding working in poorer communities.
“I am gaining experience like never before,” he added.
Retired teacher Brian Ndlebe said even though many in the area were struggling to put food on the table, most still shared what little they had with their dogs.
“It is great that people care enough to come to our areas to treat our dogs free of charge.
“It really means a lot to us.”
The outreach ends on Thursday after the group has treated dogs in the Prudhoe area. More information on villages they will visit can be obtained from the Ndlambe SPCA on (046)624-1919.
Vaccination outreach preventing dog disease
Dozens of grateful villagers from Wesley waited patiently in the hot sun yesterday with their dogs for a team of vets from the Community Services of South Africa (CSSA) non-governmental organisation to give them a jab.
The four-day outreach in remote villages around Wesley came about after the animal welfare NGO secured R300000 from Germany to prevent the spread of rabies and asked the Ndlambe SPCA to help.
CSSA vet Renee van Rheeder van Oudshoorn, who clocked up 60000km in southern Africa last year, said vaccinating dogs in rural areas was key to preventing outbreaks.
The team, which includes an Australian vet and other volunteers, decided to join forces with the Ndlambe SPCA to treat dogs left out when it comes to lifesaving innoculations as there are no services nearby.
“It is win-win for everyone,” Van Rheeder van Oudshoorn explained.
She said treating rural dogs created buffer zones that prevented the spread of rabies, and other outbreaks like distemper.
During the outreach owners are also educated on how to care better for their dogs.
Wesley housewife Eleanor Malman was happy that animal welfare experts had come to the community to treat dogs and educate their owners how to better care for their animals.
“Our dog Cuba is part of the family. She is like a daughter to me and we try our best to look after her.”
Although Malman is able to sometimes take her dog, which recently had five puppies, to Port Alfred SPCA for treatment, she said most people in the area were unable to do the same.
“Many people are poor and unemployed but they still love and care for their animals. It is great when people come here to help like this.”
Ndlambe SPCA inspector Anel Slabbert yesterday said they tried whenever they could to support villagers north of the Fish River in taking care of their dogs, even though the area was outside their jurisdiction.
She said many Wesley residents were away from home all week as they worked in Port Alfred and other towns, and this meant rabies, distemper and other deadly ailments were able to spread, as people often took their dogs with them.
“Outreaches like this help to control distemper and rabies from spreading quickly to other areas.”
Australian vet volunteer Patrick Jones said it was extremely rewarding working in poorer communities.
“I am gaining experience like never before,” he added.
Retired teacher Brian Ndlebe said even though many in the area were struggling to put food on the table, most still shared what little they had with their dogs.
“It is great that people care enough to come to our areas to treat our dogs free of charge.
“It really means a lot to us.”
The outreach ends on Thursday after the group has treated dogs in the Prudhoe area. More information on villages they will visit can be obtained from the Ndlambe SPCA on (046)624-1919.
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