MIDDELBURG NEWS - Marietjie van Rooyen, Middelburg's animal welfare champion, currently has 32 cats and 75 dogs in her care.

She started the Middelburg Animal Shelter in June 2017, with the original plan to treat animals in need, and return them to their homes after educating the owners on caring for their pets.

"Sadly, as soon as people heard about the shelter, it became a dumping site for people who didn't want to be responsible for their dogs and cats anymore," said Van Rooyen. She also cares for animals confiscated from abusive owners.

When she took over the premises, abandoned by the SPCA more than 15 years ago, there were 21 brick kennels, but almost everything inside had been stolen, with only the walls left standing. She has since built 20 camps in the yard using odds and ends but is running out of space. 

The recent donation of a wooden Wendy house, made possible by Erma Voigt of CSI, has helped enormously.

When an animal arrives at the shelter, it is given deworming medicine, washed and dipped for ticks and fleas and taken to the vet for a check-up who provides y treatment and medication. Back at the shelter, the animal has a warm place to sleep, a bed, blankets and toys.

Marietjie van Rooyen with some of the cats at the shelter, and their toys.

Van Rooyen employs Lawens Prins from her own pocket as a shelter assistant. He helps to walk the dogs and performs general duties.

All animals are sterilised once they are healthy enough, and all are available for adoption.

Van Rooyen has opened a second-hand charity shop, selling clothing and various donated goods, and also holds fundraisers. "However, our demand is much greater than we could have ever imagined, and we are always short of funds," she said.

To help, contact Van Rooyen on 082 455 1297.

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