KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws) has not received its annual grant from Knysna Municipality since June 2020 and, while the municipality has said they are aware of the situation, they say there are still steps to be followed before money is handed over.

On 2 May, Knysna-Plett Herald reported on the dire situation with Kaws manager Belinda Speed explaining how the 24-hour open access pound facility was battling with a huge number of surrendered animals and spiralling costs.

Kaws has been in Knysna for 73 years and has had no funds from the municipality for four years.

From Sedgefield to Harkerville, animals in distress that need emergency medical care, sterilisations or primary healthcare (vaccinations and de-worming) are helped by Kaws. In addition to the Kaws clinic and hospital they also act as a safe haven for abandoned, surrendered and stray animals.

At any given time, the facility has about 30 dogs and 30 cats up for adoption.

These animals need daily feeding, their housing area needs to be cleaned and all this requires work and staff.

Speed said the sheer number of animals coming through the doors is overwhelming.

In the first quarter of 2024, they has 266 hospital admissions and 311 clinic consultations. Kaws vet sterilised 238 dogs (of which only 11% were paid by the owners) and 102 cats (with less than 7% paid for by owners).

"Kaws' core function is to provide primary healthcare to animals in need and for owners who are not able to afford private veterinary care," says Speed.

Another burden on Kaws is the number of surrendered animals which is increasing. "People are downscaling from houses to apartments, and in most cases, their new residences do not allow pets. These beloved pets are then brought to Kaws where they have to adapt from home life to kennel life."

She said the number of unclaimed stray animals is also at an all-time high.

In the last four years the organisation has survived on the generosity of supporters and donors' fund-raising events. "Without these kind and generous people we would not be able to function - with costs of running the adoption centre, the clinic and charity shop amounting to about R380 000 a month.

Dogs at Kaws up for adoption and happy homes.

Municipal comment

After being approached on more than one occasion for comment, Knysna Municipality issued the following response:

"Following an intervention by the Municipal Manager, steps have been taken to allocate funding to Kaws. Once all internal due diligence processes have been completed, a disbursement will be made in line with the Grant-in-Aid Policy and the current funding agreement.

"However, it is imperative that Kaws management engage with the acting Manager of Public Safety, Mr Richard Meyer, as soon as possible to ensure that budgetary provisions are made in the new financial year and that a service level agreement (SLA) is concluded well in advance. It must be noted that the budget process will soon be finalised."

The municipality said it appreciates the invaluable service provided by Kaws to Knysna's communities; however, we must ensure that agreements are in place to guarantee the continuity of this service."

Direct questions such as how much money the municipality owes Kaws and when the money might be handed over, were not answered.

Speed said Kaws would be having a meeting and would comment afterwards.

Please take me home...one of 30 or more cats at Kaws needing a home.

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