dotsure.co.za isn’t just committed to providing the best medical insurance for the pets of South Africa. They are also devoted to making a difference in the lives of animals and the human beings who care about their welfare. In February, dotsure.co.za saved the day by awarding a life-changing R25,000 to Amberly Oosthuizen, a full-time student living in Cape Town, in their Quote & Win competition. They enlisted Amberly to join them on their quest to make a difference in the communities they serve and asked her to nominate an animal shelter that is close to her heart. She chose the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and dotsure.co.za donated another R25,000 to the animal do-gooders at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, to help improve the lives of the animals they care for daily.
Meet Amberly
Amberly got her lucky break after completing a pet insurance quote from dotsure.co.za for her adorable kitty, Lilly. She had always wanted a cat, and when she saw Lilly for the first time, she knew it was meant to be. “I will never forget the ride home with her – on the back of my dad's scooter, safely tucked into my hoodie,” stated Amberly. “Lilly is a very relaxed kitty, and I'm very much an introvert, so it's a match made in heaven. She loves to curl up with me while I'm studying or knitting and crocheting (and she loves to chew the wool).” She continued, “Winning R25,000 is life-changing. As a full-time student, receiving such a large sum of money is fantastic. I plan to use it to spoil Lilly and pay off some of my tuition.” She went on to say, “The work that the Cape of Good Hope SPCA does is much needed. Their initiatives ensure that all animals – domestic and wild, alike – have access to healthcare and a safe environment. I can't stand it to see animals abused, mistreated, neglected, or hurt, and I strongly believe in the work that they do to prevent this.”
Cape of Good Hope SPCA
As a leading animal welfare organisation, The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is the largest high-volume animal facility in the country and sees 45 000 cases per year on average. More than 60% present are moderate to severe cases. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, governed by the Society for the Protection of Animals Act (Act 169 of 1993)1, enforces the protection of animals under the Animals Protection Act (Act 71 of 1962) 2. They have been in existence for one hundred and fifty years and their end-to-end operations include an inspectorate, a multidisciplinary hospital, pound, farmyard, wildlife facility, horse care, educational units, and a fully-fledged rehoming service that oversees animal adoptions, as well as four mobile clinics. They provide a critical service to more than 600 animals on their premises daily. They maintain a high clinical standard of care aligned with international best practices. The animal hospital has a capacity of several hundred cages overseen by four veterinarians, who each manage 80 to 100 cases per day, consisting of 15 to 20 surgeries. They continue to perform pioneering animal orthopaedic surgery and ongoing clinical interventions to mitigate and treat life-threatening diseases such as canine parvovirus. Their clinic provides primary veterinary care to those most in need. Services include de-worming, vaccination, sterilisation, and emergency care for seriously ill or injured animals.
The SPCA’s Senior Digital Strategist, Shane Everts, said, “The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is not government funded, and our work on the front lines in the fight against animal cruelty would not be possible without the support of our donors. Winning R25,000 directly attributes to an increase in the number of lives we can save, as well as pursuing justice for victims of cruelty and abuse. The funds will go towards the inspectorate operations, care, and treatment of rescued animals.”
Their resident veterinarian, Dr Stephany Chatry also explained that, “Surgeries can range from bones stuck in the abdomen, which is quite an invasive procedure to cut those bones out. Another example is a blocked bladder caused by stones that formed in the bladder, also an invasive procedure.” She lists her top five surgeries performed daily as 1) bite wounds, 2) sterilisations, 3) lump removals, 4) lacerations, and 5) the removal of foreign bodies from the digestive tract. She adds that every pet owner should consider having their pets insured, because pet insurance can make a massive difference in the clinical care options available to pet owners. This includes advanced clinical care or treatment that may be beyond the scope of practice at the primary level of care.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA encourages public members to support their local SPCA’s awareness campaigns and to report cruelty to animals in Cape Town by e-mail to inspectorate@spca-ct.co.za or by calling 021 700 4158/9 during office hours. Cruelty reports after hours can be made on 083 326 1604 or via their website at https://capespca.co.za/report-cruelty/.
