Sterilisation clinic in Nieu-Bethesda

NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS – Last Wednesday the Camdeboo Sterilisation Initiative (CSI) held a Spayathon in Nieu-Bethesda’s community hall.

No less than 48 animals were sterilized by the fantastic team at Camdeboo Veterinary Clinic.

Organizers had planned the day with great care – informing residents of the opportunity, ensuring there were volunteers to assist on the day and providing heaters and blankets for the animals as they recovered.

As it happened, last Wednesday was freezing cold – snow even fell later in the day – so extra care was taken to keep the dogs and cats warm after the vets had performed the sterilizations. Volunteers Grace Nel, Chris Lloyd, Leigh-Anne Rautenbach, Busisiwe Saba, Caelon Swartz, Leslie Pietersen, Nico Zaverdinos, Briony Lloyd and Regardt Rautenbach of Nieu-Bethesda and Pienaarsig were ‘fearless in the face of adversity, braving the terrible weather and some bitey pooches’, according to organizer Victoria Nance.

Bags of dog food, blankets and collars were kindly donated by Leadapet, Iain McGibney, Nicolette Riley, Kim Tucker, Russel Tucker, Christopher Nance, Elizabeth Saunders, Claire Bezuidenhout, Amanda Hazell Scheffer, Kym McGibney and Desiree Gibbons of Scottish Terrier Rescue South Africa. Without the generous sponsorship of Mr and Mrs David and Barbara Lancaster from Johannesburg who sponsored all 48 animals, the spayathon would not have happened and the village is extremely grateful to these people who gave so generously to such an amazing cause.

In theory, a female dog can have up to three litters in a year. With an average litter size of seven puppies, one female and her babies can (theoretically) create 67 000 puppies in 6 years! Erma Voigt of the CSI, Victoria Nance and all those who helped and sponsored this incredible initiative, have done Nieu-Bethesda a massive favour in terms of the animal population in the future.

It is evident that animal owners take care of their pets in a loving and responsible manner in Nieu-Bethesda and understand that fewer strays and unplanned pets make for a healthy, happy dog and cat population in the village.