TEARS’ COVID-19 Response
As a direct response to the COVID-19 National Disaster, we are taking measures to protect our staff, volunteers and customers from the risk of infection, as well as supporting vulnerable cats and dogs across the communities we serve.
We are keeping a close eye on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, and would like to reassure you that we will continue to do as much as we can to help animals in need and their owners through this crisis. We will also be educating children and pet owners in our communities on basic hygiene and the current facts on COVID-19.
According to the World Health Organisation and World Small Animal Veterinary Association there is no evidence that companion animals can become infected with COVID-19 or be a source of infection to other animals or to humans. Washing hands after touching pets is advised as general good hygiene.
While South Africans are urged to stay at home over this critical time, TEARS has implemented a Crisis Preparedness Plan that includes stringent social distancing and hygiene protocols across the organisation to limit human-to-human contact. We will keep our doors open (although opening times may be adjusted) and continue to feed and care for approximately 250 TEARS rescue cats, kittens, puppies and dogs, all awaiting their forever homes. For the foreseeable future, the TEARS shelter kennels and cattery will only open for viewings and adoptions by appointment. The public is urged to contact TEARS to make an appointment.
“It’s a perfect time for families to adopt while they are at home over the next 4 weeks, a great time for bonding! Fostering is another awesome way to ease the burden on animal shelters right now. It’s likely that we’ll see a rise in unwanted and abandoned pets during this crisis”, says Marnie Steffny, TEARS’ Adoption Coordinator.
In addition, our Welfare Clinic will continue to provide essential veterinary services and emergency surgeries and treatments in an effort to limit the negative impact on the most vulnerable, while our Mobile Clinic will continue on its normal schedule at fixed locations across our four primary low-income communities, providing primary veterinary care as well as collecting critical non-human patients to be brought to the TEARS veterinary hospital for treatment.
Our TEARS Charity Shops will remain open, with all proceeds going to rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming efforts. Please do support TEARS by either donating goods for resale or taking advantage of some great bargains.
“While we need to restrict the spread of the virus across TEARS and the public at large by limiting social and public interaction, we remain committed to safely reaching those that need our help and support. Our communities are the most vulnerable areas in our society, and if negatively impacted, it’s the animals that suffer greatly too. As individuals, there’s not much we can do about the disease but, as a community, there is a lot we can do about its impact”, concludes Lauren Carlyle TEARS Animal Rescue’s General Manager.
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Please get in touch with us to book an adoption/viewing appointment or if you require assistance from the TEARS Clinic.
- TEARS Clinic – 021 785 4482
- Cattery – 021 785 1319 • cattery@tears.org.za
- Kennels – 021 785 4482 • adoptions@tears.org.za