Left to right: Linda, Liza and Tania
Article and photos submitted by Lucky Paws Rescue
Thank you for the opportunity to introduce you to our Animal Charity Organisation, Lucky Paws Rescue, a non-profit company, situated in Polokwane and started in 2020.
The Directors of our NPC are Tania Le Roux, Liza van Jaarsveldt and Linda Pieterse.
Pets feeding scheme
During the COVID-19 pandemic hard lockdown in 2020, a food parcel scheme for people was started by Heart Drive, which is still assisting people with food, clothing and school supplies for children.
It was soon realised that people receiving food parcels used their own food to feed their pets, as this was the only way they could sustain their health. This created a problem as their food parcels couldn’t provide for their needs as well as those of their pets. We decided to start Lucky Paws Rescue NPC to feed these pets in need.
A lot of people suddenly experienced a huge decline in salaries or found themselves unemployed due to the closedown of companies owing to the pandemic.
We started gathering food donations for dogs, cats, hamsters, pet birds, rabbits and even a pig. Linda Pieterse, one of our directors, started visiting each family to compile an inventory of pets and the amount of food that they’d need. We then began distributing food to affected households once a month.
Pet owners to whom we provided pet food during the COVID-19 period are now once again able to sustain themselves.
Due to our pets feeding scheme there was no need to surrender perfectly healthy pets to shelters and their owners could keep their beloved pets.
Currently, we focus on SASSA pensioners, a drug rehabilitation centre in Ivydale, a few car watchers, and a few families in Polokwane as well as in Solomondale.
We have an open-door policy for people in need and they’re free to contact us for help at any time. A short survey must be completed by them to determine if they qualify, and we then provide them with food for their pets for at least three months, after which we’ll evaluate the situation and continue to help, if needed. We do, however, encourage pet owners to become self-sustainable as soon as possible.
Lost and found pets
We have a WhatsApp group named Lucky Paws Lost & Found Polokwane, with 396 members, as well as a Facebook group named Lucky Paws Rescue NPC – Lost & Found Polokwane, with around 2.8K members.
Because a lot of pets go missing on a daily basis, we created this service on the 24th of November 2019 with the purpose of reuniting lost pets and their owners as soon as possible, for which we have a very high success rate – sometimes within 30 minutes, or even less, after they’ve reported a pet missing or found on the groups.
Amazing volunteers help to search for missing pets and they, along with the Polokwane community, assist by posting photos of pets they see wondering all alone in the streets of Polokwane and surrounding areas.
Pet-sitting services
We also assist pet owners to look after their beloved pets when they’re out of town, whether for a day or two, a weekend or long holiday. Pets are cared for in the comfort of their own homes with their own beds and food; we see to it that they receive necessary medication (if needed) and give those pets lots of love.
Public warnings
Another service we provide from time to time to our members/the community is to update them with weather changes (whether it’s cold or rainy or a heat wave). Events featuring fireworks and air shows are also shared as a warning to pet owners on the groups to keep their pets safe.
Adoptions and rehoming
Assisting with adoptions and rehoming of pets also forms part of our rescue as, unfortunately, there are scenarios where owners cannot keep their pets for whatever reason.
We prefer to handle this on behalf of the owners as the potential adopters must complete an application form for screening, whilst a home check is done at our own costs, and if the application is successful, an Adoption Contract must be signed.
Spay and neuter (sterilisation)
This is a very important matter to us as we never want to be part of the overpopulation problem of pets in our community or country, which is a serious worldwide issue. In order to do our part in this, our adoption process and fee includes that these pets should be sterilised.
We have a mutual arrangement with one of the vet practices in Polokwane to assist us with the sterilisation at a lower rate. The following pets qualify for this:
- Adopted/rehomed pets;
- Pensioners (SASSA) pets;
- Pets of low income owners;
- Lost and found pets;
- Dumped and stray pets found wandering the streets and not claimed by their owners and rehomed.
Fundraiser events
In order for us to continue with our important pet feeding scheme, lost and found services, adoptions and sterilisations, we organise fundraiser events on a regular basis to raise much-needed funds.
There aren’t sufficient events or places where pet owners can safely take their pets for a walk or show them off, so our events mostly consist of dog walks and mini-dog shows, which the community always supports, and we love to do something for the animals and their owners.
Vision, mission, conclusion
Animals are our passion and it’s important to us to be able to continue our work to help the animals, educate pet owners, and assist wherever it’s possible to keep on making a difference. As our motto says:
Saving the life of one animal won’t change the world, but the world will certainly change for that one animal.
We hope that this information will help you to understand what our primary objectives are regarding our animal rescue organisation. We’d appreciate assistance in the form of donations, sponsorships and public awareness-making that can assist us in helping our beloved pets in need.
Our Banking Details:
Lucky Paws Rescue NPC
First National Bank
Gold Business Account
Account number: 62912557420
Branch Code: 250 655
Reference: Name and Cellphone Number
For dog or cat food donations:
Delivery address:
Lucky Paws Rescue NPC
8 Welgelee
125 Genl De La Rey Street
Welgelegen
Polokwane
0699
For more information, contact Tania on 082 401 2020, or Liza on 081 547 1731, or Linda on 071 893 5759; email luckypawsrescuesa@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.
