Featured Project - Animal Welfare: Cats and Dogs

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Project Details

The Cats and Dogs Project works through a non-profit organisation committed to the welfare of local animals and relies completely on public support for funding and donations for staff salaries and all other costs involved in running the centre, hence the desperate need for volunteer aid. The centre, which is the only animal welfare centre in the Helderberg, Gordon’s Bay and Strand area, has been operational for over four decades.

With the recent economic decline, many people have had to give up their homes as well as their family pets. This in turn means that the Animal Welfare Centre is running at full capacity and in desperate need of extra helping hands and people to give these animals the human attention that they crave.

The project also visits local schools to educate children on how to take care of their animals and pets.

A Travelling Clinic goes out five times per week to the impoverished townships in the area, dispensing injections, dipping animals and imparting general primary veterinary advice. Depending on the circumstances, volunteers might be allowed to accompany staff on such days.

Accommodation

Volunteers are accommodated in the fully-furnished WTSA volunteer house or town apartments in Somerset West, complete with all modern conveniences.  The accommodation is located in an upmarket, safe area with complete security and within walking distance of the CBD, shops, pubs and restaurants.

What will you do?

The daily duties of volunteers include food preparation; cleaning dishes, enclosures, vehicles and other equipment; playing with animals; and exercising animals by taking them for walks.  This will sometimes involve hard manual labour like fencing, carpentry, building gates, digging and all things needed for the general maintenance of the animal enclosures.

Please note that one of the main responsibilities of volunteers will be to work hands-on with the animals. This role will suit a genuine animal lover and someone that is not afraid of dogs or cats.

The centre is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  However, working hours for WTSA volunteers are  generally 4 days a week from 09h00 - 16h30.  Every morning the volunteers will report to the office where they will be informed of any ill animals or special needs cases as well as a roster of daily tasks. The animals will be taken from the kennels into their exercise camps where volunteers will groom and exercise them, as well as monitor their behavior, as they may run loose within these camps.  At times volunteers will also help to dip the dogs (weather permitting) as well as assist the vet or welfare assistant with any medication or treatment certain animals may require. 

Volunteers are needed to provide physical touch and care for these animals which are often starved of any human interaction, as well as being stressed due to previous abuse, neglect or loss of owners.  This may include sitting with the cats, playing with the animals and generally giving them love and attention.  Volunteers must always be observant and keep a close eye on the dogs and cats to monitor their social behaviour, or identify early signs and symptoms of any sick animals and report these to the office.

Volunteers must bear in mind that some of these animals are stressed due to previous abuse or the loss of owners.  Most of the animals at the centre crave human touch and attention which will be the main criteria for a volunteer placement.

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Volunteer Comments

Sascha Schmid (Germany)

"I want to mention, it is great how WTSA cares for the interns and volunteers. As an intern I feel safe and respected."
Stephanie Lotz (Germany)

"The children are so beautiful, it was so great to give them love back."
Manuela Theuermann (Austria)

"My stay in South Africa was a unique and unforgettable experience - it was one of my best decisions to come here. One of my favourite experiences was to see how the kids deal with strangers like me. It's really easy to get accepted due to their straightforward behaviour and the kindergarten teachers were very friendly."
Elizabeth Eilenstein (Germany)

"Of course the Cheetahs! They are wonderful animals! I'm glad that I was able to help a little and be part of this organisation. In my opinion there are no negatives and I was in good hands!"
Katrin Helbig (Switzerland)

"The people at the Township Community project and the rangers at ADDO Park are great characters and very knowledgeable about the country. It was such a pleasure to work with them! The children in the Creches are amazing. I will never forget them!"
Muriel Holdener (Switzerland)

"Lecture material is very informative and a good addition to have theory with the dives. I enjoyed the diving, the people and the 'braaing'!"
Magdalena Kasper (Germany)

"It was very interesting to see the differences between rich and poor people. I could teach the the children new things. The people in Kayamandi and at the project are very nice."
Amanda Keil (United Kingdom)

"We had a tremendous amount of sightings because the volunteer coordinator always went out of his way to ensure that we did. We got ample time out in the field and learnt an incredible amount about wildlife."