Numerous pets, farm animals and wild animals were left to their mercy this past weekend when residents of the Western Cape had to flee due to heavy rain and flooding.
However, inspectors from the Cape of Good Hope Animal Protection Association (SPBA) intervened and saved numerous animals from an almost certain death by water.
The SPCA says it is common for families to unfortunately leave their animals behind when they flee their homes. The animals that are left behind usually do not have much of a chance of survival and with the freezing temperatures in the past few days, many animals would probably not have survived.
“Our brave inspectors spent days wading through the icy waters looking for stranded pets and all kinds of other animals,” says the SPCA.
Inspectors rescued numerous dogs, cats, horses, cattle, a bunch of chickens – and one chameleon – in the province.
Law enforcement and emergency rescue services from the Cape Town Metro also helped and led several horses to higher ground.
In a video shared by the SPCA, a cat can be heard screaming for help, while a horse shivers in the ice-cold water and a dog looks almost embarrassed at its rescuers.
“We are out there again today and ready to save more animal lives. We need animals now more than ever,” says the SPCA.
While the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was helping 46 residents of Stanford near Hermanus to safety after the Klein River flooded its banks on Monday, they also rescued a parrot and several other pets from houses and buildings.
Another 71 people, including the elderly, children and two pregnant women, were also brought to safety from Strandfontein – along with their pets – on Monday afternoon. Many of these people and animals are now housed at community centers.
