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AACL EPPING extending help to animals and the community at Bellville Sacks Circle

We would like to appeal to the community and businesses to assist us in obtaining funds for this worthwhile community project. We also need blankets, operating tables, drugs, fax machine, surgery implements, FOOD, CAT LITTER and we need volunteers.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The Animal Anti-Cruelty League is based in Epping, but serves the whole of the Western Cape area. As from the 1st November 2006 AACL will be taking over the premises at Sacks Circle.

ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY CLOSING DOWN

Unfortunately the Bellville branch of the Animal Welfare Society, another worthy welfare organisation caring for animals, has closed the animal hospital. The clients who would have been served by this organisation now visit the Animal Anti-Cruelty League and puts tremendous pressure on the already busy and very dedicated staff. We have decided to re-open the facilities in Bellville as a satellite branch of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League to better serve our community and to be able to accommodate more animals.

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

To assist with the additional pressure faced by the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, we had to appoint an additional inspector.  Unfortunately, the inspector would need his own vehicle in order to be fully productive.

Currently, we rely completely on the generous donations of individuals to maintain our premises and services. We do charge a nominal fee for the veterinary services we provide, but treat all animals regardless of the owners' ability to pay for help.

BACKGROUND

The AACL was established in 1956 as an independent self-sufficient welfare organisation that exists to prevent and eliminate cruelty to all animals whether arising from ignorance, neglect or deliberate cruelty and to service the less advantaged communities though education to care for their pets.  We house unwanted, stray, rescued and abandoned animals at our facilities with the aim to rehabilitate them for adoption.

Through our own fundraising efforts, we offer a subsidized animal primary health service, support and education to the less fortunate communities as many of these animal owners cannot afford the services of Veterinarians in Private Practice all across South Africa.

CLINIC:  We offer a consultation primary health care service as well as treatment for animals subjected to cruelty, motor vehicle accidents, abuse and neglect.  The clinic is equipped with a reception, 3 consulting rooms, operating theatre, x-ray room, 73 hospital 'cages', 12 isolation 'cages', 30 adoption kennels, 10 portable cages for emergencies or 'over spill' and a 'public' dip tank.  The Clinic and Hospital attends to approximately 30 000 animals per annum.

ADOPTIONS:  Rescued or unwanted animals are rehabilitated and placed in the kennels/cattery for adoption.  It is permanently 'bursting at the seams' with an average of 70 animals being cared for on a daily basis.  A fostering facility using volunteers, hand
rears animals, which are pre-maturely taken from the mother.  Adoptions re-habilitates and homes approximately 15 000 animals per annum.

INSPECTORATE:  Due to the incredible demand, the league has recently appointed a fifth fully trained and qualified inspector. They carry out the sometimes, horrific task of Complaint Investigations as well as giving lectures and one-on-one education.  Two inspectors are always on site to handle situations of abuse, adoption screening and education while three inspectors respond to calls and inspect animal related services and shops.  The inspectors are authorised under the Animal's Protection Act No 71 of 1962 to inspect the premises of all complaints lodged at the League and after counselling, should the owners still be unable to care for their animal/s, the inspectors have the authority to confiscate the animal/s.  The Inspectors attend to approximately 800 Complaints per annum, per inspector.

MOBILE CLINIC: The Mobile Clinic visits disadvantaged areas 7 times a week to assist the community with primary health care, sterilisation, vaccinations and education in the care of animals.  The mobile clinic attends to approximately 36 000 animals per annum.

THEATRE: The hospital and theatre is run by a head Veterinarian, together with two part time vets and when required, a locum.  The theatre is used to its full capacity and operates without respite from 8.30am until 4.00pm.

EDUCATION: We operate campaigns into the disadvantaged communities and schools to uplift them through animal care.  We recently completed a pilot STERILISTION CAMPAIGN with the Dept of Agriculture into Langa, which was a great success.  As a result, future campaigns are presently being organised.

On behalf of the communities that we serve and their pets, we anticipate a mutually rewarding relationship with you, now and in the future.