TEARS Animal Rescue in Cape Town is putting big plans in place to secure a network of heroes (temporary foster volunteers) in case of ‘uh oh’ emergency moments.
Cape Town, South Africa (14 August, 2023) — TEARS Animal Rescue is calling on Capetonians to sign-up as temporary emergency foster volunteers to prepare for the possibility of those ‘uh oh’ moments no pet or person wants to find themselves scrambling in.
The precautionary call-to-action is encouraging Capetonians (who can) to consider taking on the role of being a foster pet parent in case of emergencies like natural disasters or social unrest.
Following the recent taxi strikes in Cape Town, the need to be prepared for anything, at any time, became all-important for TEARS Animal Rescue, whose Kennel and Cattery in Cape Town is a haven for 99 dogs and puppies and 83 cats and kittens (excluding the 32 dogs and puppies and 48 cats and kittens registered as part of its formal Foster Care Programme).
Located in Sunnydale, TEARS facilities share a wall with the informal settlement Masiphumelele. Last week, the strike action made it impossible for TEARS staff who stay in the area to come to work safely and also posed the risk of a fire hazard as the entrance was barricaded, as Operations Manager Mandy Store explains. This spotlighted the need for Plan Bs and Cs!
“We have invited Capetonians to complete an Emergency Foster Questionnaire should they be willing to consider temporary fostering in times of need. Fostering requires some due diligence on our side, so we’d like to have a shortlist of vetted foster families ready should it ever be necessary for us to initiate an emergency evacuation of the TEARS Kennel and Cattery.”
This isn’t the first time TEARS had to turn its attention to big escape plans for the animals in their care.
In April 2020, within 48 hours of the State of Emergency Lockdown announcement, TEARS successfully evacuated 110 dogs and 130 cats to emergency foster homes. The call-to-action and evacuation initiative, which was referred to as “The Great Escape,” and turned a potential disaster into a success story as rescue pets were able to spend the lockdown in safe, comfortable, and loving homes thanks to the hundreds of Capetonians who made it possible!
If you’re based in Cape Town and have considered being a foster pet parent, this is your sign to become an animal’s safety net! You can fill out the foster volunteers’ questionnaire here and find out more from TEARS via the following:
- Call 021 7854482
- Or email tears@tears.org.za.