THE greatness of a nation and its moral progress, said Mahatma Gandhi, can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Joburg has a number of animal rescue organisations which have been working in the field for decades, helping creatures that cannot help themselves. They look after abandoned pets, heal sick animals in town, township and informal settlement, educate the youth, investigate reports of animal cruelty and help animals find new, loving homes. There are also organisations that rescue wildlife, including garden birds, heal and rehabilitate them and return them to the wild.

Animal Anti-Cruelty League
The organisation - the second largest in the country, after the SPCA - has been caring for animals since 1956 and has facilities in major cities throughout the country. Its kennels in Johannesburg look after up to 300 lost, abandoned or stray dogs and cats every month and its adjoining animal hospital treats the animals of indigent owners - unemployed people, pensioners, and others who qualify as welfare beneficiaries. In addition, inspectors investigate cases of cruelty and mount rescue operations. They are on call 24 hours a day.  The AACL also runs educational programmes in schools, teaching more than 40 000 learners every year how to care for animals and the need to protect all species. And they run an annual artwork competition for learners, to raise awareness of animal welfare issues.

59 Alice Street
Regent's Park Extension
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 435 0672
Fax: 011 435 0693
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Website: www.aacl.org.za

Opening Hours: The adoption kennels are open Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30am to 4.30pm, on Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30am to 12pm. The kennels are however closed on Sundays and public holidays. The hospital is open Mondays to Thursdays from 1pm to 3.30pm, although on Wednesdays it stays open much later, closing only at 5pm. It is also open on Saturdays from 8.30am to 11am.

Society for Animals in Distress
The Society for Animals in Distress has been around for 50 years, concentrating entirely on veterinary services to animals belonging to low- and no-income earners in areas where veterinary care is otherwise inaccessible. The society currently works in the nine townships and informal settlements around Johannesburg: Tembisa, Winnie Mandela Park, Ebony Park, Ivory Park, Mooiplaas, Diepsloot, Olievenhoutbosch, Zevenfontein and Cosmo City. The society's headquarters, the Paddocks, comprises a fully-fledged small-animal hospital, as well as stables and paddocks that provide sanctuary for recuperating and resident large animals. In 2003, a school education programme was launched in Winnie Mandela Park, in which almost 10 000 Grade ll children in 50 schools were taught basic animal care. Another project, the Coal-Yard Project, was launched in Tembisa in 2004.

The society is now responsible for the ongoing health and well being of some 320 working equine in 14 coal-yards. Skills development has seen the recent graduation of two coal-yard residents, now self-employed in the disciplines of farriery and harness making. To maintain sound and consistent herds, business opportunities, besides the sale and transportation of coal, are being negotiated with possible funders and coal-yard owners, to compensate for lack of earning potential in the summer months. In 2007 the society administered 82 905 treatments to animals.

The Paddocks
Plot 20, Moerdyk Street
Vorna Valley, Midrand
Tel: 083 640 8825/ 20/30
Fax: 086 626 5441
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Website: www.animalsindistress.org.za

Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays 7am to 4.30pm; Saturdays to Sundays 7.30am to midday and 3pm-4.30pm.

People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
The PDSA does exactly what its name implies: it cares for sick animals. In Johannesburg, about 2 000 a month are cared for, owned by people who cannot afford the services of private vets. Its Johannesburg operation includes a hospital in Mofolo South, Soweto and satellite clinics in Pimville and Diepkloof, as well as mobile clinics that treat injured or sick animals in informal settlements and other areas where private veterinarians do not have premises. All services except vaccinations and sterilisation are carried out on a donation basis - owners are asked to pay what they can afford - but no sick animal is ever turned away. They see mostly cats and dogs but also horses, cows, goats, sheep and pigs - usually brought to the Mofolo hospital, although sometimes the PDSA horsebox is sent to fetch them. The PDSA does not run a shelter, nor does it inspect premises.

It does, however, do school visits - more than 50 a year - educating young people about the proper and humane treatment of animals including what to feed them and how to keep them healthy.

1188 Moroka Mancefield Road
Mofolo Park
Tel: 011 726 6100/1
Fax: 011 726 8513
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Website: www.pdsa.org.za

Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 9am to 4.45pm, Saturdays 9am to midday, and Sundays 10am to midday.
Mobile clinics travel in areas including Lenasia Ext 9, Vredepark, Dobsonville, Protea Glen, Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, Bosmont, Jan Hofmeyer, Lenasia South, Orange Farm, Zacharia Park, Noordgesig, Riverlea, Lindhaven and Mayfair. For school visits phone 011 984 4340.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
There are five SPCA societies in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg SPCA
The Johannesburg SPCA believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection. Its mission is to act as an advocate on behalf of animals and to obtain rights for them and to protect and enforce these rights; to provide for the well-being of the animals in their area who are abandoned, injured, subjected to unfair or cruel treatment or otherwise in need; to cultivate in the people of their community, an awareness of the animals whose world we share and to instil respect for and appreciation of all living things; and to assist indigent, elderly and underprivileged people of the community by providing subsidised health services and support for their pets.

5 Benray Road (cnr Westturfontein)
Reuven
Tel: 011 681 3600/ 083 604 1172
Fax: 011 681 3660
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Website: www.nspca.co.za

Opening Hours: Pound and adoption hours are Mondays to Fridays 9am to 4pm, Saturdays 9am to 1pm; Sundays and public holidays 10am to midday. Hospital hours are Mondays to Fridays 9am to 12pm and 4pm to 5.30pm, Saturdays 9am to midday; Sundays and public holidays are open for emergencies only from 9am to 10.30am.
 
Midrand SPCA
This SPCA facility has kennels only, where lost, abandoned and stray animals are offered for claiming and for adoption.

6 Dale Road, Glen Austin
Midrand
Tel: 011 265 9935
Fax: 011 265 9937
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Opening hours: Kennels are open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 4.30pm, Fridays 8am to 4pm and Saturdays 9am to midday.

Randburg SPCA
This SPCA concentrates on investigating cases of cruelty, with qualified inspectors monitoring and responding to reports of animals being mistreated. It also serves as a pound for Randburg. Stray animals - pets or livestock - are housed there and can be claimed within 96 hours; they are also available for adoption. If an injured stray is brought in it is treated by local vets, but there is no hospital on the premises and people may not bring their animals to this SPCA for treatment.


229 Northumberland Avenue
North Riding
Tel: 011 462 1610
Fax: 011 462 2659
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Opening Hours: Kennel hours for claiming and adopting are from Mondays to Fridays 8.30am - 4pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. The shelter is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Roodepoort SPCA
This SPCA runs an extensive educational programme and hospital where sterilisation is performed in the morning on cats and dogs belonging to members of the public who cannot afford standard veterinary fees, and ill or injured animals are treated here in the afternoon, where vaccination and de-worming are also performed. Stray, lost or abandoned animals are housed in the Roodepoort SPCA shelter. Inspectors regularly visit homes, factories, businesses, abandoned lots, abattoirs, circuses and zoos, and any other venue where reports have been received of maltreatment of animals.

Nadine Street
Maraisburg
Tel: 011 672 0448
Fax: 011 672 2918
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Opening Hours: Kennel hours for claiming and adoption are from Mondays to Fridays 8am to 4.30pm, Saturdays 9am to 2pm, while it is closed on Sundays. Kennel hours for sterilisation are from Mondays to Friday 7.30am to 8pm. For other medical problems hospital hours are Mondays to Fridays 8am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm, and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
 
Sandton SPCA
This SPCA facility serves as a municipal pound, housing all stray animals found between Jules Street in Malvern to the south and Clevehill Park/Lonehill in the north, Linbro Park to the east and Parkhurst in the west. This includes the Joburg CBD, Braamfontein, Hillbrow and Alexandra. A veterinary clinic treats animals kept at the SPCA and adopted from its kennels as well as animals from Alexandra and other disadvantaged areas; a dipping facility to control ticks and fleas is also available. The inspectorate department investigates reports of animal cruelty and also checks on pet shops.

9th Street (next to the Department of Labour and the Traffic Department)
Marlboro Gardens
Tel: 011 444 7730
Fax: 011 444 8056
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Opening hours: Kennels are open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 3.45pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12.30pm.

Community-Led Animal Welfare (CLAW)
CLAW provides primary healthcare for pets in informal settlements around Soweto and Johannesburg. CLAW has mobile clinics that provide services ranging from internal and external parasite control, vaccination, sterilisation and 24-hour emergency services. CLAW provides a weekly service in the following areas: Sol Plaatje informal settlement, Bram Fischerville, Durban Deep, Matholiesville, Tshepisong, Ebumnandini, Doornkop, Swanieville, Kliptown, Dlamini, Joe Slovo, Rietvallei, Tudor Shaft, Soul City, Munsieville, Meshenguville, Kagiso 11 and 12, Slovoville, Lawley 1 & 2, Hopefield and Kapok. It works closely with community-based organisations, schools, the Department of Agriculture and veterinary services around the city.


Tel: 011 763 1638
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Website: www.claw-sa.org

Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 8am to 4.30pm and Saturdays 8am to midday.

Kitty & Puppy Haven
Kitty Haven was started in September 2000, and Puppy Haven was launched in January 2004. The haven is a registered non-profit organisation, with the main objective being the rehabilitation, socialisation, care and sheltering of injured, abused and abandoned cats, kittens, puppies and dogs.

The haven works mainly with animals from squatter camps, townships and other low-income areas, but it also gives veterinary clinics and other animal welfare organisations an outlet for unwanted animals without the need for euthanasia. Kitty & Puppy Haven aims to find new homes for pets once they have fully recovered. All animals leaving the shelter are fully vaccinated, parasitic control is implemented and they are either already sterilised or homed with a voucher for sterilisation when they reach the required age. The haven finds homes for around 60 puppies and 40 kittens monthly. They have about 100 animals under their care at any one time.  To help raise funds to run the sanctuary a dog and a cat shop has been established at the haven.
 
34 Rahle Street
Bramley North (moving in March 2009 to: 271 Corlett Drive)
Tel: 011 440 2404/0833871012
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Website: www.kittyhaven.co.za and www.puppyhaven.co.za

Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays (excluding Thursdays) 9.30am to 3pm, Thursdays and Saturdays: 9:30am to 12.30pm, closed on Sundays. Phone to see if open on public holidays.

Kitty and Puppy Shelter
Kitty and Puppy Shelter is a non-profit, welfare organisation that receives no government funding. Merien Smidt recognised an on-going need for an animal welfare organisation that focused on the health of the animals. The shelter's primary aim was and still is to provide a healthy, safe and stress-free environment to aid the rehabilitation of the animals, as well as a beautiful and happy space, for animals and human visitors alike. The shelter has up to 40 volunteers working there, with 30 kittens at any one time. The shelter's number one aim is to sterilise, rehabilitate and re-home animals in a responsible way. The shelter has rescued and re-homed around 2 000 kittens, cats and puppies over the past five years.

45 Newport Road
Parkwood
Tel: 011 447 5275
Fax: 011 447 0931
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Website: www.kittyshelter.co.za

Opening Hours: Mondays to Friday 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm, Saturdays 10am to midday and Sundays 9am to 11am.

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation

FreeMe
FreeMe is a rehabilitation centre for indigenous wildlife based north of Johannesburg. The centre was founded in 1997 when it became apparent that there was not enough organised care for suburban indigenous wildlife.  Each year thousands of birds, mammals and reptiles living in gardens or suburbs become orphaned, sick or suffer injuries. Most veterinarians do not have facilities to cater for wildlife, leaving would-be rescuers unable to determine what to do with them. FreeMe filled this gap. Its motto is Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release and that is what it does for birds and animals ranging from chameleons to eland, snakes to meercats. FreeMe is a self-funded registered non-profit organisation, relying solely on the generosity of the public through donations, bequests, membership, sponsorship and voluntary assistance in all aspects.

138 Holkam Road
Paulshof
Tel:  011 807 6993
Fax: 011 807 6814
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Website: www.freemewildlife.org.za
 
Opening hours: Mondays to Sundays 8am to 5pm or, in case of emergencies, 24 hours a day at 083 558 5658.


Samaritans of the city's wildlife
A nature reserve in the suburbs

SA National Bird of Prey Centre
The centre takes in injured birds of prey such as eagles, owls and sparrow hawks, and nurses them back to health. Those that can be returned to the wild are rehabilitated and set free, but some of the raptors handed in by the public or sent from other rehabilitation centres are too badly injured to survive in the wild. Their wings might be too badly broken or a leg may not have healed properly - and raptors kill with their feet. In such cases these birds of prey are kept at the centre. At the moment there are owls, kestrels, falcons, black sparrow hawks and eagles. The public can visit them there and attend demonstrations of their prowess, but booking is a good idea. The birds are also taken on school visits, where learners are told that these are indicator species - if there are no raptors in the area, it's an indication that there's something wrong in the environment.

The centre runs several other permanent establishments and has mobile teams, which move around the country, doing school visits, and demonstrations. The centre also does private functions and corporate team building, where synergies are drawn between eagles and corporations.


Forest Road
Inanda
Tel: 083 585 9540
Fax:  058 913 1816
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Website: www.birdsofprey.org.za

Opening hours: Sundays to Fridays 9am to 4pm