WAV’s take part in Oudtshoorn’s first ever two-day spay-a-thon!

It’s no secret that Cango Wildlife Ranch and our Wild Animal Volunteers absolutely love animals of all shapes and sizes and what a better way to show it than to take part in a local Spay-a-thon of over 100 animals 23 & 24 May 2017.

Dr. Catherine-Anne Fox, Oudtshoorn's State Veterinarian, made her consultation rooms available for the Spay-a-thon. The Animal Care Team (ACT) and Oudtshoorn Volunteers for Animals have held fundraisers since April 2016 to raise R40 000 for this event. Vanessa Engelbrecht, Chairman of ACT, took on this incredible initiative that will have a long-term positive effect on our community. Vanessa gave credit to the WAV’s saying, “The volunteers of Cango Wildlife Ranch kept watch over all the animals as they woke up from anesthesia, making sure that every single one of them came around whilst comfortable and calm. There was also a team that helped to shave the hair of the animals before surgery."

The dogs and cats came from farms around Oudtshoorn as well as Rose Valley and other parts of town. ACT discussed the plans with the owners of the animals who signed permission to allow the procedures to take place. Many of the dog and cat owners simply cannot afford to pay for any kind of procedure of this nature, and many are not equipped with the knowledge as to why it is necessary. Again, this is the vital role that ACT serves, educating animal-owners. A dedicated team of vets processed the 100 sterilizations over the two days, and needless to say were exhausted but satisfied with the outcome. The selected animals were taken to the municipal impound after their operation and were then returned to their owners on Wednesday and Thursday. There were more dogs than cats because cats were taken to veterinarians almost every week by Lee-Ann van Sittert and Elmarie Leach-Swiegers to be sterilized.

The single most important thing that we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them. Spaying and neutering are routine surgeries that can prevent thousands of animals from being born, only to suffer and struggle to survive on the streets, be abused by cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanized in animal shelters for lack of a loving home.

Spaying and neutering makes a huge difference: Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 370,000 kittens! 

The Spay-a-thon was a great success and our WAV’s had a great time helping these furry fellas out. We definitely hope to assist in future Spay-a-thons and various other community projects that aid in the care and health of animals. A big well done to our WAV’S who participated in the event and a massive congratulations to Vanessa Engelbrecht and the Animal Care Team as well as every Vet and volunteer that made the event possible. It was an honour to be able to assist.