Dr Roos at a Sterilisation Drive between FOUR PAWS and the PDSA in Uniondale in South Africa. (@FourPaws)
Having a pet can be costly. For people living in informal areas, the medical bills for common procedures that could save their pets’ lives are often unaffordable, leading them untreated.
The Mail & Guardian visited several veterinary facilities and found out that a typical consultation costs anything from R500 to R1 700, depending on whether a pet requires X-rays, blood tests or medication.
Sterilising a dog, which prevents the reproduction of unwanted puppies and improves animals’ health, costs R1 500 to R4 000.
Because many people cannot afford these services, a number of organisations provide veterinary care practically free of charge, such as global animal welfare group Four Paws and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
Recently, the two organisations visited Uniondale in the Little Karoo, where they sterilised 450 animals in five days.
“The project … has brought much-needed support to the community who rallied behind it,” Four Paws’ South Africa director Fiona Miles said in a statement. The organisation sponsored the initiative
“Sterilising pets is a crucial step towards being a responsible pet owner and saves lives as there are less unwanted litters and fewer animals who end up in the welfare system needing to be rehomed,” she said.
These campaigns take place in generally poor areas with pet owners who love their animals but are unable to afford healthcare such as neutering and vaccination and sometimes even food.
“In some cases it is 120 kilometres from the nearest veterinary clinic, without the transport or funds needed to access these services, coupled with a lack of education on animal welfare, neglect becomes commonplace,” says veterinarian Annalize Ross, who was part of the Uniondale drive.
“Without access to veterinary care, it could lead to death from preventable diseases, including tick-bite fever and parvovirus, coupled with uncontrolled breeding and no access to animal shelter services, this low-income community and their pets are in dire need.”
He said he and his team had provided neutering, vaccinations, tick and flea treatment, pet wellness packages, collars, and food for the animals in Uniondale.
The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals works throughout the country in places such as Mofolo in Soweto, where it carries out about four sterilisation campaigns each year.
Johanna Mmutle, an animal welfare assistant at the clinic, said its work had been affected by load-shedding, although staff members were hard at work in the theatre, X-ray room and pharmacy during the M&G’s visit.
Achille Katumbay, who has worked at the PDSA in Mofolo for about 20 years, touted the medical advantages of sterilisation campaigns for pets, such as preventing mammary tumours and prostate cancer.
“What we find when we go out there are young pet owners who don’t necessarily have the knowledge or means on how to care for their pets and so we ensure that we educate them about the importance of taking care of their dog or cats and provide whatever medical care and packs we can,” Katumbay said.
*Thato Moloi, who lives in Pimville, Soweto, visited the clinic after noticing a change in the demeanour of his dog, a brownish labrador retriever named Rex.
“I remember when Rex was just a puppy, she wouldn’t eat, lost tons of weight in a space of a few days and was vomiting bile and blood. I was terrified, I ran from Pimville to Mofolo and I am sure I was first in line that day,” Moloi said.
The dog was diagnosed with parvovirus, which is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces.
“I had no idea what that was, but I remember the nurses telling me about the virus and how dangerous and unpredictable it is. I was so scared and sad that I would lose Rex; I had never prayed as much as I did that day. The doctor assured me that he would do all he can to save him,” Moloi said.
Rex was put on a drip and given medication, and Moloi had to force feed the dog for some time.
“In just a couple of days my dog was showing signs of life, and here we are today. Although he is not well, I know for a fact that the doctors and nurses at PDSA will help him,” he said.
Katumbay said the PDSA does not shut the door on pet owners who cannot afford to pay.
“We deal with lives every day, and we try our best to save them more often than not. These cats and dogs are our patients and we will do everything we can to make sure that they make it out of here alive with good prospects for a healthy future,” he said.
* Not his real name.
Lesego Chepape is a climate reporting fellow funded by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa.