Great Brak Sterithon a huge success

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Eighty-three animals from the communities in and around Great Brak area were sterilised at Croft Animal Hospital on Saturday, 22 August. This annual undertaking was again a huge success, with veterinarians, assistants, volunteers and SPCA cadets in training working together to make the day run smoothly.

The George and Mossel Bay branches of the Garden Route SPCA collected unsterilised dogs and cats from the area one or two days before the event, and took them to the two SPCA branches where they were dipped, de-wormed and treated where necessary.

On the day of the Sterithon, they were loaded into our caged vehicles and, at intervals throughout the morning, were taken to Croft Animal Hospital.

Here willing volunteers offloaded them, comforted the frightened ones, and gave them TLC until it was time for them to be given the pre-medication. Thereafter they were taken inside to be prepared for the operation, and then sterilised by one of the vets on duty.

From there they moved to the recovery area, where more volunteers were waiting with blankets and more tender loving care to watch over them whilst they woke up. Sometimes this took a while, but when they were fully recovered, they were then delivered back to their homes by the SPCA inspectors, with a packet of food.

It may have been a tough day for some of the animals, but it resulted in no more unwanted puppies and kittens.

A group of young SPCA cadets from Great Brak were invited to assist, and these youngsters had the opportunity to experience first-hand what happens when an animal is sterilised. They were also educated on how to handle an animal, and the need for a gentle and quiet demeanour. These valuable young people are being trained in animal care, and will be the SPCA's ambassadors in the various communities in years to come.
The veterinarians, staff and everyone involved did their part on a voluntary basis, and wonderful donations of food, for the dogs and the human workers, and items needed for the sterilisations were gratefully received.

It was a lot of organisation by Croft Animal Hospital but, an altogether great day.