“To me animals are more like my friends. Growing up in the township one is always surrounded by animals, especially dogs, and I believe my love originates there.”
So says Aviwe Matina from Makhaza, who is a member of the Bonga Cycling Academy.
The 21-year-old, alongside Ayabonga Kobese, recently took part in the Wines2Whales mountain-bike race (Shiraz category) in support of animals. They cycled under the banner of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 November.
In addition to their race preparations, the two animal lovers have been hard at work helping the SPCA’s inspectors and outreach teams in Khayelitsha educate the community about caring for their pets.
Through the pair’s four outreach visits over six weeks, Matina and Kobese helped the SPCA team to dip and deworm almost 290 animals, sterilise 31 pets and take in six unwanted animals.
Kobese said: “It is always a great feeling when one returns home to a pet a dog that comes running. I myself have an energetic dog, so helping and educating my community takes care of animals comes with a certain amount of ease.”
Inspector Mark Syce expressed his appreciation for the two volunteers’ efforts.
“They took to this work like ducks to water and quickly learned the skills of dipping and deworming,” he related.
“We also educated countless adults and children about anti-dogfighting and provided practical, immediate help for animals.”
The pair were touted as “a huge asset” in helping to spread the word about animal clinics in Khayelitsha (many residents didn’t know that help was available for their pets) and also encouraged the community to report animal abuse to the SPCA.
“The community was happy to see the SPCA.”
Syced pointed out: “One lady used her jeans as a leash to bring her dog to be dipped and dewormed. A guy wheeled his puppies to us in a black bin, so we could give them a health check. What an awesome experience! We got to meet so many wonderful people and we are so happy that these fine young men are riding under the SPCA banner. I know they’ll do us proud, just as they have been doing over the past six weeks during our outreach visits.”
