Whatshot

The recent pandemic and the global economic crisis were seriously detrimental for the organisations and people who look after abandoned and feral animals in our communities.

Last week The Bugle spoke to Sandile Bele, who is heading ARF Animal Rescue Centre in Chatsworth. ARF's main passion has always been to rescue, feed and support animals and people who take care, feed, help and protect the most vulnerable animals.

Due to Covid and last year's devastating riots, ARF's warehouse was looted, the animal feed was stolen and their equipment trashed and destroyed. The warehouse contained several months supply of animal food, which gets distributed to local animal centres and individuals who feed abandoned and vulnerable animals in our community.

To date they have +/- 250 Rescue Organisations and animal foster homes. They offer free delivery 5 days a week. They deliver to the Midlands, up the North and South Coast of KZN and to Durban central and surrounding areas.

ARF keep their prices economical to help rescue workers feed as many animals as they possibly can - providing the best quality and the quantities that they need for the vast number of animals throughout KZN that need their care. They really love what they do and love the people and organisations they get to work with every day.

"As ARF we used to receive returned stock from our main supplier, which we then repackaged it to resell very cheaply to rescue workers." Said Sandile, "However that was put on pause and affected us and our customers. The return stock really helped ARF, it created employment and helped many rescue workers, " continued Sandile, "On Monday the 12 of July 2021 our lives changed. We didn't get to do what we love. We had lost it all... If it could not be looted or burnt it was destroyed and smashed. Rubble, destruction, stench, and sadness enrobed us. We were changed. We gathered what we could and left, there were no words just deep sadness and silence."

For the moment ARF is trading out of Claire's double garage until they can repay the debt they incurred during the riots as they still owe over R50 000 to Martin & Martin, which they are paying off slowly.

ÊÊ Sandile together with animal feeders, Umhlanga resident Tracey Hartley and Umdloti's very own feral cat feeder Janice Anetts, have come out with an appeal to the public to help them save the ARF by helping them rebuild the warehouse so they can continue supplying the people who keep the stray animals fed every day.

Speaking to Tracey, one can't help noticing the strain on her face, she has given up her job and is doing the feeding programme full time, she does not regret a minute of it but feels like she needs to quit, "A lot of what we do is down to the dedicated volunteers. Their hearts are not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment they have to make a difference in the lives of the colonies and other people around them" she said.

For many years Sandile has been distributing dog and cat food to the local animal feeders at greatly reduced rates, this however is becoming more and more difficult as the truck which was used to deliver the feed has broken down and has been unable to do the deliveries and Sandile now resorts to using his own car to deliver the food.

"We would like to appeal to the local community," Janice tells The Bugle, "We need your assistance in helping Sandile keep ARF going, so that we can continue this selfless job of feeding the abandoned animals and prevent them from dying of hunger"

ARF can now offer the retail and wholesale customers the same service. Contact them for more details call Sandile on 081 751-9689.

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