What does the society do?
TEARS is a non-profit, pro-life animal rescue society. Since the centre started in 1999, it has re-homed over 4500 animals. TEARS works directly with local communities and informal settlements in not only rescuing animals but providing food parcels, veterinary treatment and animal care education for those that could not otherwise afford it.
TEARS is in the business of "hand-on, grass-roots" social improvement. They try to teach children, by example, an ethic of compassion for animals. To do this to people who are struggling to survive themselves, is a tough job. Studies have shown that where traumatised and sometimes brutalised children, teenagers and adults are taught to care for something more helpless than them, the cycle of abuse can be broken, and this is an area where TEARS is trying to have input.
TEARS also is assisted by the work of the international fund for animal welfare (IFAW) by providing a base of operations for the IFAW representative, Nicholas, and his operations to provide regular, front-line primary animal healthcare within the local communities.
TEARS has recently constructed their own in-house veterinary surgery to house TEARS own Veterinarian and a veterinary nurse. The Helping Hand Foundation provided financial assistance to equip the surgery enabling TEARS to both reduce their own expenses and provide a much needed veterinarian service to the local communities.
Why does the project need volunteers?
The suffering of animals in poorer communities in South Africa has reached horrific proportions and societies like TEARS have had to be formed as the SPCA, Animal Welfare, etc, are simply overwhelmed and cannot cope. In an economically stressed society, the first charities to fall by the wayside tend to be animal charities. Animals require daily attention and care and without volunteer rescue centres like TEARS, this could not happen.
Your role as a volunteer
Your work here will take on many roles; from feeding and caring for the many animals to working closely with staff as they go out into the local informal settlements to collect, return and vaccinate animals on site. There is also the opportunity to work along side the resident vet, who requires daily assistance. Be warned, this is not for the faint hearted. On quieter days you can get involved with a programme called 'Open Paw' which is a training programme to help the dogs understand basic commands helping with the adoption process.
You will also help with daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning and exercising the animals. You can show visitors around the centre and may be asked to assist with home visits and are expected to assist with regular cleaning duties and general maintenance around the centre. You will be able to visit the local informal settlements alongside Nicholas in the TEARS/IFAW mobile clinic, providing a chance to assist with basic, primary care treatments such as vaccinations and flea and tick treatments. You will also get the opportunity to observe and assist veterinary operations within TEARS’ new in-house surgery and any volunteers with veterinary experience would be much appreciated.
What you'll be getting up to
The focus of your work at TEARS will be twofold. Firstly, there is the work at the kennels. On a daily basis you will be involved in feeding, bathing, playing with and walking the dogs (the animals at the kennel are those that have been abandoned – TEARS works to try and re-home the animals). The dogs require stimulation, which they receive through a range of specialist activities administered by staff members and volunteers. You will also have an opportunity to assist in the cattery where chores will include feeding, grooming and playing with cats and kittens. TEARS also houses semi-feral cats, who need constant interaction with humans. Once volunteers are familiar with the hands-on work at the kennels, they will be able to assist in the adoption (re-homing) process. TEARS also has an active fundraising programme to support its companion animal care work. You will have the opportunity to assist with a range of fundraising activities. TEARS’ other very important focus is work in the communities. Twice weekly, TEARS works in the impoverished communities and volunteers will have the opportunity to assist with activities such as food distribution, dipping, de-worming, etc. On occasion volunteers might be involved in emergency rescues where animals have been badly abused. The majority of the work you will be doing is hands-on, however, you can also assist with a range of administrative tasks.
Accommodation included
You'll be staying in a shared volunteer house in the nearby suburb of Fish Hoek, which is about 45 minutes from the centre of Cape Town.
Airport pick-up included
You will be met at the airport if arriving on the scheduled arrival date . Please book your flight to arrive into Cape Town (airport code CPT), we advise you arrive before 16.00 to avoid missing your orientation in the afternoon.
Project resources and advice
All the necessary materials will be provided. You may also choose to buy T-shirts at a cost of approximately ZAR70, as well as caps at approximately ZAR40.
Food
You will be responsible for buying and cooking your own food and can use the self-catering facilities on site.
Things you'll need to organize yourself
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visa costs
- Optional cultural add-ons - please contact i-to-i for more details
- Return airport transfer
- Food (allow approximately US$50 per week)
A journey into South Africa’s history is to haul through periods of racial tension, oppression and hope. Its multicultural mix originates from the earliest settlers, the San (also known as Bushmen) and Khoi-Khoi tribes, followed by Bantu-speaking groups, and through to the swarm of European traders. The Dutch were among the first European settlers and arrived in the 17th century, establishing their presence through their own dialect, Afrikaan, and religion in the form of the Dutch Reformed Church. By the end of the 18th century, the British began to push their presence forward into the country’s towns. It was a period of flared tensions with Zulu chief Shaka renouncing war on neighbouring tribes. Meanwhile, the Boers (Dutch Afrikaner farmers) and the British became locked in conflict; the Anglo-Boer War lasted from 1899 to 1902, ending with the British taking control of the Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State (OFS) and consequently ruling the country.
