KAPS
was founded by Colette Teale, a long-time animal welfare worker,
when she moved to the Little Karoo in the 1990s.
Poverty is endemic in this vast rural area of South Africa's Western
Cape, where the majority of people are jobless. With no animal
welfare organisation active in the area, Colette was shocked to
see the enormous numbers of animals in need of care.
At the start she was a lone crusader, touring the poor communities
giving help and advice. But through her energy and drive a network
of volunteers began to be built up in key towns dotted around
the area. |
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Everyone
comes when the dip's in town |
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Eventually KAPS came into being in January 2001, initially concentrating
on the most basic of services:
- Free
weekly dipping in each locality against mange and other parasites;
- House
to house inspections for neglect, starvation and cruelty -
which, sadly, is rife;
- And
rescuing and rehoming sick and unwanted animals when there
is a chance of saving them.
Soon
it was not just dogs and cats that came under the wing of KAPS,
but other livestock including the horses and donkeys that suffer
cruelly from overwork and lack of care. See
Animals.
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Kaps
mobile clinic out and about |
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Education
is also a vitally important part of our work, both for schoolchildren
and for adults.
In 2002 Colette was qualified as an Inspector under the Animals
Protection Act, and KAPS was registered as a Non-Profit Organisation.
With funds flowing in, it became possible to start mass sterilisations
to control the ever-growing numbers of companion animals. See Sterilisation.
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Because KAPS works exclusively in the deprived areas and townships,
these services are carried out free of charge to people who have
no money and mostly live off welfare grants. KAPS pays veterinarians
to travel here, stay overnight, and perform dozens of operations
per day at special rates.
In 2003 KAPS received major grants from local and international
donors which enabled around 600 sterilisations to be carried out
in that calendar year. Generous grants from the Marchig Trust and SPANA have bought us a van and a horse-box. In 2005 we also received funding from the SA State Lottery.
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KAPS relies entirely on donations to survive.
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It owns no premises, offices, pounds or kennels.
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All its workers are unpaid volunteers, except ad hoc casual
helpers from the local communities.
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When
animals are rescued, they are fostered as family pets in members'
homes, ensuring they are nursed, rehabilitated, house-trained
and socialised ready for adoption to carefully scrutinised,
loving new homes.
Colette Teale was nominated for South African Woman of the Year
in 2004.
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Petfood
helps animals in poor communities |
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The
Little Karoo is situated in South Africa's Western Cape Province,
in the area locally known as the Southern Cape. It lies mainly
west of the ostrich centre of Oudtshoorn, south of the rugged
Swartberg mountains. Mossel Bay on the warm Indian Ocean is
a couple of hours drive away, while along the coast to the west
is the Cape of Good Hope. To the east is the Garden Route and
popular coastal resorts such as Plettenberg Bay.
More
fertile than the Great Karoo, its arid big brother to the north,
the Little Karoo depends on farming (ostriches, olives, soft
fruit, grapes, etc). But vast tracts consist of rocky scrub-lands
and the few towns are 50 to 100 km apart. Outside the towns,
the communities live in shacks and ramshackle welfare housing.
There is no public transport.
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Pigs
raised in sad conditions |
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Veterinary
practices exist in Oudtshoorn, Riversdale, Swellendam and Heidelberg,
but the rural poor cannot afford vets. SPCAs serve Oudtshoorn
and Swellendam. Between them, covering some 5,000 sq km, is
the catchment area of KAPS.
We extend into 3 different municipalities: Kannaland, Langeberg
and Swellendam.
KAPS is run by a Management Committee and a network of volunteers.
Volunteers are based in Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Van Wyksdorp,
Barrydale and Albertinia. But our work is not done in towns.
KAPS goes on the road on a daily basis taking services into
the rural communities, farms and deprived townships such as
Amalienstein, Zoar, Nissenville, Suurbraak, Olivedale, Slangrivier
and Buffelsjagsrivier, of which many can't be found on a map.
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Huge
distances are involved and our vehicles travel some 2,500 km per
month, so fuel and maintenance are a major expense. It is difficult
to say how many people receive our services, but they certainly
run into tens of thousands. It would be fair to estimate at least
one pet per household, often two.
Also, because farming is the local way of life, we get involved
in care of livestock as well as companion animals. See
Animals. Small and emerging farmers often have insufficient
knowledge of animal husbandry, and there is little care given
to traction animals such as horses, or the donkeys that pull the
famous Little Karoo donkey-carts.
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Landscape of Hills |
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Piggy
heaven |
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