December in Cape Town brings long days, beach trips and, for our pets, fireworks. Every year after New Year’s Eve, animal shelters take in a rush of lost and frightened animals. Many of them bolted when the bangs started and couldn’t find their way back.
The good news? A little planning now goes a long way. A vet check, a collar with your number on it and a quiet room on the big night can keep your dog or cat safe at home, right where they belong.
You can get your pets ready for the festive season with a few simple steps and meet four local places that care for animals, from family pets to cheetahs and penguins. Some will help you look after your own animals. Others could use a little help from you.
Getting Your Pet Ready for the Festive Season
Start With a Vet Check-Up: Before the holidays get busy, book your pet in for a once-over. Vaccinations, a weight check and a chat about anything that’s been bothering you are much easier to fit in now than in the middle of the silly season. Vetopia Animal Clinic in Sonnendal, near Plattekloof, is run by Dr Sean Smith. The practice focuses on gentle handling and low-stress consultations, which is good news for pets who start shaking the moment they see the car keys. It offers health checks, vaccinations and treatment for common illnesses for household pets.
Make Sure Your Pet Can Find Its Way Home: Animal welfare experts agree on one thing: every pet needs identification. A registered microchip is the first step, and it only works if the contact details on it are up to date. A collar with your details adds a second layer, because anyone who finds your pet can read it without a scanner. Tags can fall off, though. Love Your Dog makes personalised collars with your dog’s name and your phone number on the collar itself, so there’s no tag to lose. The collars and matching leads are made from nylon and webbing, and they can go in the wash after a muddy walk on the beach.
Plan for Fireworks Night: Fireworks sound far louder to animals than they do to us, and the fear can stay with them long after the night is over. If you can, stay home with your pets. Set up a safe spot indoors, away from windows and doors, close the curtains and put the TV or radio on to cover the noise outside. If your pet does go missing, report it to your local animal welfare organisation straight away. The sooner they know, the better the chances of a reunion.
Animals Beyond the Backyard
Not every animal lover has a pet, and not every animal needs a home. Some need protection in the wild, and Cape Town has organisations doing exactly that.
Meet the Cheetahs in Somerset West: Cheetah Outreach in Somerset West works to protect free-ranging cheetahs in Southern Africa. According to the organisation, only about 500 of them live on unprotected farmland in South Africa. Its trust has been a registered non-profit since 2005, and it works with farming communities to reduce conflict between people and wildlife. Visitors can join walk-through tours, adult cheetah encounters and feeding tours, and meet caracals, meerkats and servals along the way. It’s a school holiday outing with a purpose, because visits help fund the conservation work.
Help Seabirds in Table View: SANCCOB has been rescuing seabirds since 1968, with a focus on the African penguin, which is now critically endangered. The team in Table View treats sick, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds, rears chicks and releases the birds back into the wild. You can book a tour of the centre to see the work up close. Have some free time over the holidays? Volunteers help with bird care, food preparation, cleaning, education and fundraising, and donations are always welcome. BOOST Cape Town has a guide to volunteering at SANCCOB if you’d like to find out more.
Support the People Who Care for Animals
Animals can’t say thank you, but the people who look after them notice when you show up. Book that check-up, order the collar, plan your outing or sign up to volunteer. Then tell a friend.
Visit the Animals & Pets category on BOOST Cape Town to find local businesses that care for animals, and explore the Community & Non-Profit category for more ways to give back this festive season.
