ARK ANIMAL SHELTER OUTREACH WITH FNB!
On 19 May a group of 20 FNB Volunteers representatives from CFT, Infrastructure & Operations,
DMT and ISS ventured out to the Ark Animal Shelter based in Fourways, Gauteng. Ark Animal CentreΒ specialise in the rehabilitation and re-homing of puppies, pregnant moms and small breed dogs fromΒ all types of backgrounds.Β Their aim is to change the consciousness in attitude of people towardΒ animals through education.
On our arrival at the shelter, we were met by Tracy Otto, who is the owner of the shelter, andΒ welcomed by a pack of excited resident dogs. She gave a brief introduction of what they do at theΒ shelter and how they re-home puppies and other dogs. The shelter also collects dogs from theΒ nearest informal settlement on a weekly basis to spay them and treat any wounds. Tracy said thatΒ they have seen a radical change in the behaviour of the dog owners in the informal settlement afterΒ agreeing to help them. Less and less dogs need to be spayed and owners are looking after theirΒ animals.
Their biggest expense at the moment is food and vet bills.Β As a non-profit organisation, theirΒ survivability is dependent on the support of the public as well as the donations they receive.
Tracy put our team to work and we were tasked to paint an outbuilding and outdoor kennels. WeΒ had to apply various creative painting techniques to fill all the cavities in the walls, however we gotΒ the job done and the building looked fantastic.
The lunch team hastily assembled a mountain of boerewors rolls to feed the Ark employees as wellΒ as our volunteer team. After a quick lunch break, it was time to exercise the dogs and give (andΒ receive) some puppy love. The team had so much fun walking the dogs through a park located onΒ the property.
Not only did we Volunteer our time, the CFT team also generously donated a βwalk-onβ scale whichΒ will be used in the clinic to weigh the animals for medical purposes. CFT got a Medical Rep on boardΒ from Virbac to help with the much needed medical equipment. Virbac donated a box ofΒ βBackhomeβ microchips with 2 βBackhomeβ microchip readers. The very first puppy was actuallyΒ βchippedβ on the day. They also donated a box of Prazifen dewormers.
We will be supporting the shelter with various initiatives and we are all looking forward to theΒ relationship with them.
Written by Teresa Wessels
FNB Outreach MayΒ 2017 ARK ANIMAL SHELTER OUTREACH WITH FNB! On 19 May a group of 20 FNB Volunteers representatives from CFT, Infrastructure & Operations,