7 days ago
Centurion dog shelter faces dire food shortage
A dog rescue shelter in Centurion is grappling with a severe food shortage for its 60 dogs and dozens of other animals it helps care for.
Pretoria Dog Rescue CEO Celia van Zyl said the non-profit organisation has only a few bags of food left, which is not enough to keep the animals properly fed in the coming days.
She explained that the shelter relies entirely on public support, and the recent drop in donations has left them in a desperate situation.
'We are totally dependent on food donations,' said Van Zyl.
'Normally, we receive enough food throughout the month to build up a bit of a reserve, but over the past few weeks, donations have dropped drastically.'
Van Zyl revealed that the shelter needs around 40kg of food a day for its mostly medium to large dogs, and also regularly uses canned food.
In addition to the animals housed at the shelter, Pretoria Dog Rescue provides food for pets belonging to 11 families unable to afford pet food.
'These families have homes for their animals, but without the shelter's help, they would not be able to keep them,' she said.
The organisation also supports several feral cat colonies, totalling about 70 cats.
Van Zyl said the shortage has placed immense pressure on the shelter's daily operations.
'There is absolutely no way our dogs can go without food, not even for a day. If we run out completely, we will cook what we can and have available.'
She expressed her concern that the shelter is very close to this point and may soon have to start begging for donations.
While some people donate food regularly, Van Zyl explained that most of their support usually comes in throughout the month in smaller amounts, allowing them to accumulate supplies.
'We currently have a few food collection bins in place at some shops, and we sometimes receive food from stores,' said Van Zyl.
She added that schools and community organisations also donate food and blankets, often delivering them as part of volunteering initiatives or team-building visits.
However, Van Zyl noted that in recent times, it seems as if more people are struggling financially and cannot afford to buy an extra bag of food.
'It's understandable, and we are very grateful for any help we receive,' she said.
She also stressed the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to pet food donations.
'Unfortunately, many people try to buy as much food as they can for the amount they can afford, which often means lower-quality food.
'We would really appreciate it if people would rather buy one bag of good food than two bags of something that is not nutritious.'
As a pro-life shelter, Van Zyl stated that their dogs are treated with love and attention every day.
This latest crisis comes after a major setback in October last year, when the shelter was targeted by thieves who broke into their wooden storage room and stole about R15 000 worth of dog food.
At the time, the theft left the shelter reeling, but Van Zyl remembers the community's response with deep gratitude.
'We had an absolutely overwhelming reaction,' she said.
'Two dog food manufacturers donated 600kg each, and the support from the public was truly heartwarming. We ended up recovering far more than we had lost in just a few days.'
Despite the many challenges, Van Zyl remains determined to ensure that no animal in their care ever goes hungry.
'There are dire effects of starvation and malnutrition for the animals, so we will never allow our dogs to go without food,' she said.
Anyone who would like to help is encouraged to contact the shelter on WhatsApp at 083 767 6345, 082 569 2663 or 082 789 9195.
The shelter is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but it is best to contact them before visiting.
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