FAQs
Q: How is KAPS organised?
A: KAPS is a non-profit organisation with a constitution and a management
committee which meets monthly. It has no paid staff and no premises. All
KAPS workers are volunteers, whether full-time or part-time (ad hoc casual
helpers are recruited from within the communities and receive a token
payment).
Q:
How does KAPS carry out its work?
A: Our volunteers are based in different centres in the Little
Karoo. They organise regular dipping and other assistance in their
own area, and some travel to farther locations. KAPS Chairperson,
Colette Teale, regularly tours the entire catchment area to carry
out inspections and identify where sterilisation clinics are needed.
People seek help from KAPS when they see our vehicles, or get
word to us through neighbours in an emergency. |
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Worsie
- was starved, now living in luxury |
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Typical
injuries suffered from faulty harness |
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Q:
Does KAPS earn any income, e.g. from charging the public?
A: No, we rely entirely on donations. And because we serve the
deprived communities, our policy is to give our services free.
Sometimes we get donations for adopted animals, or a contribution
towards medical costs, but such sums never cover the actual outlay.
We receive membership fees - to join, visit Contact
Us - and some supporters contribute monthly sums by stop order
- visit Donations . We hold sales
of clothing and bric-a-brac, and we take our stall to as many
local festivals as possible. |
Q:
What is KAPS's greatest expense?
A: Our greatest expense is veterinary bills, which run at over
R10,000 p.m., and mass sterilisation clinics, which can cost up
to R9,000 each (6 or 8 times a year). Vehicle fuel and maintenance
are high at around R6,000 p.m., because all our services are taken
into the rural communities (including the remotest farms). Vehicle
maintenance is costly because we mostly travel on un-made-up roads
and tracks. |
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KAPS
mobile clinic on one of the better roads |
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Q:
What help does KAPS need?
A: We are always grateful for local volunteers willing to assist
in our catchment area, but what we really need are donations to
enable us to keep up our work. Regular monthly bank payments are
particularly valuable, as they enable us to budget in advance. If
you know of a possible source of funding, please tell us by e-mail
(see Contact Us) and we will be happy
to follow up your ideas. Overseas visitors to our website please
remember that because of South Africa's weak currency, an amount
that seems small to you is an enormous amount to us. Donations
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Q:
What animals does KAPS cover?
A: Any and all animals that need our help. Dogs take up most of
our resources as the population is so huge and problematical,
but cats and kittens are equally important to KAPS. There is much
work to be done with horses and donkeys, and we are in the process
of setting up regular equine clinics in partnership with the Western
Cape Horse Care Unit of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. We also assist
and advise small/emerging farmers with livestock problems.
Q: What happens to rescued/confiscated animals?
A: When animals are rescued they are fostered in the homes of
our members and live as part of the family. They receive all the
medical attention they need and are nursed back to health. They
are sterilised, vaccinated, socialised and house-trained. We then
advertise for a home, which is often found in Cape Town - very
rarely is a suitable home found in our catchment area. Potential
adopters and their homes are scrutinisd very carefully, and we
take the animal back if the adoption is unsuccessful. The majority
are fostered at the farm belonging to our Chairperson, which is
where they remain if they cannot be rehomed. |
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Judy
- rescued after being brought in for euthanasia |
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Q:
What is KAPS's policy on euthanasia?
A: Because of the extreme poverty in our area, large numbers of
dogs handled by KAPS are very sick or badly injured. Distemper,
biliary and TVT are widespread, and often tumours are discovered
in animals brought to be sterilised. For these the only hope is
to spare them further suffering. KAPS does not employ any veterinary
staff, so all we can do is provide transport to the nearest vet
and have the owner's wishes carried out. In the case of abandoned
or stray animals, we do not favour euthanasia if suitable placement
can be found. However, some problem dogs simply cannot be fostered
or rehomed, and we believe long-term housing in cages or kennels,
without proper social activities, is not an acceptable alternative.
In all cases the well-being of the animal is our first concern,
and sometimes putting to sleep is the last and only resort. |
Q: What is KAPS's view on dog licensing?
A: We strongly favour dog licensing as a means of ensuring responsible
ownership. Combined with an ID system it can reunite lost dogs with their
homes, and make owners accountable for letting their dogs create nuisance.
We favour the lowest possible licence fee for neutered dogs, and a high
loading for unspayed females. Licensing provides employment and is self-financing
when operated on a commission basis. At the same time it ensures that
someone is regularly aware of the health of the dog population in any
given area.
Q:
What is KAPS's view on breeding?
A: With South Africa's exploding population of dogs and cats,
and its euthanasia rate of many thousands every day, KAPS feels
that breeding must be strongly discouraged. Since it cannot be
prevented, breeding should be carried out only by registered breeders,
whose credentials and premises should be subject to stringent
scrutiny. In particular, unauthorised backyard breeding should
be outlawed and offenders given heavy financial penalties. |
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A
backyard breeder keeps dogs locked in a cage |
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