Rescuers on standby to help injured animals

Dr Jennifer Stock, a full-time vet at Tears, working on a grysbokkie found at the Kleinplaas Dam. Picture: Cape Argus

Dr Jennifer Stock, a full-time vet at Tears, working on a grysbokkie found at the Kleinplaas Dam. Picture: Cape Argus

Published Jan 16, 2017

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Cape Town – Volunteer animal rescuers remain on 24-hour standby should more fires threaten wildlife and domestic animals after the fires that raged along the south peninsula last week were contained.

Organisations like The Emma Animal Rescue Society (Tears) work around the clock rescuing animals ranging from domestic cats, dogs and other pets, to wildlife like tortoises, small antelope and snakes.

Some 80 animals were rescued from fires last week alone.

“We are on 24-hour standby should the fires flare up or additional injured or displaced animals are located,” Tears spokesperson Tracy Gilpin said. “We have offered assistance to the public with animals during evacuation and appealed to members of the public to look out for injured and displaced animals in fire-affected areas.”

Gilpin said that they were also able to guide a baboon troop to a safer area after they were disorientated by the fires.

Dr John McMullen, senior veterinarian and chief executive of the Animal Welfare Society in Philippi, said that they are constantly on hand to assist.

“As soon as we know that there is a fire in the southern peninsula, we send out our team of inspectors and nurses to see what they can do to aid animals or wildlife in distress.”

McMullen said that pet owners who quickly evacuated dangerous fires may have left pets behind that were vulnerable to serious injury.

“We bring these animals back to our centre in Philippi, where they are treated appropriately for any injuries such as burns or smoke inhalation.”

He added that the significance of animal rescue organisations were vital to the survival of these animals, while firefighters continue to battle blazes.

“We have found them to be incredibly supportive of our work, and allow us free access, even to smoke-filled and dangerous areas, to see if we can assist any animals in distress.”

Meanwhile the cause of the fire that broke out on Signal Hill on Friday was still undetermined on Sunday. Fire and Rescue spokesperson Theo Layne said only vegetation was destroyed.

Cape Argus

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