Gang violence, arson attacks and a constant search for food – this is the reality for dogs and cats in Vrygrond, a desperately poor community near Cape Town, South Africa.
With pet owners barely able to feed themselves, they simply cannot afford to give their pets the care they deserve.
Some can’t even get to the free pet clinic run by our partners.
Credit: NFA/Byron Seale
In a South African first, we worked with AfriPaw to develop a solution – a two-wheeled trailer powered by pedaling, fitted with a spacious cage for the animals, pulled by a bicycle. This unique ‘pet taxi’ has expanded our reach, enabling our team to provide crucial veterinary services to even more animals.
Our partners, AfriPaw and TEARS Animal Rescue, provide vital veterinary services to the area’s animals through a free clinic that helps hundreds of dogs and cats every month.
Locals are incentivized to bring their pets to the clinic through free food, collars and kennels, ensuring that many of the area’s dogs and cats receive regular deworming, tick and flea treatment, wound and disease care, vaccinations and sterilisations.
However, many residents and their pets face challenges in getting to the clinic – some roads are too narrow or are so riddled with potholes that cars can’t navigate them; some pets are too old, aggressive or anxious to make the journey; some owners have mobility issues of their own; and some people are too scared to cross gang lines in this often-violent area.
Credit: NFA/Dejan Radic
The only way to ensure these hapless pets are cared for is to bring them from their homes to the clinic.
Our pet taxi is designed to do just that.
Credit: NFA/Dejan Radic
One pet taxi is already on the road and saving lives – just last weekend, our team used it to save dogs from a fire that exploded at a nearby liquor store, rushing a helpless puppy to safety.
In this lawless area, gangs rule the streets and businesses that don’t pay protection face the consequences – like having an improvised molotov cocktail thrown into their store, engulfing the building in a raging inferno.
Luckily, the Network for Animals team was just a few blocks away with the pet taxi when disaster struck, and we raced into action as soon as we saw the smoke.
When we arrived, we could hear dogs howling in terror as the fire raged out of control, and we raced into the smoke to save six adult dogs and a puppy. The adult dogs were moved to safety while the terrified puppy was secured in the pet taxi, far from the flames.
Credit: NFA/Dejan Radic
All the dogs were rescued before they could be hurt – but there are many more animals waiting to be saved.
Every moment counts in the fight to save the lives of pets in Vrygrond, where danger lurks in every corner. Our pet taxi is a lifeline for these desperate animals. Your generous donation today ensures we can deploy more pet taxis, rescue more animals from life-threatening situations, and provide the critical care they desperately need.
We cannot abandon the dogs and cats that are still unable to get to the clinic for life-saving care.
Credit: NFA/Dejan Radic
With your support, we can raise $16,500 (around £13,350) to fund five additional pet taxis and cover their running costs for an entire year. Imagine the difference we can make – rescuing and providing essential care to thousands of animals in desperate need.
Every amount counts, and every donation brings us closer to a world where no pet in Vrygrond suffers from neglect, violence or disease.
Let’s make this vision a reality. Please donate today!
