#BeMyValentine – Homeless pets offering love.

It’s the month of love and the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha is encouraging members of the public to show some love to homeless pets in need. Their #BeMyValentine campaign features dogs and cats up for adoption looking for sponsorship to make their Valentine’s day a happy one.

“Valentine’s Day has become an extremely commercialised event with people spending large amounts of money on gifts, chocolates and flowers. This year we are encouraging people to allow a homeless pet to be their Valentine by sponsoring them and showing them some love,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Manager.

If you’re feeling out of love this Valentine’s month, head over to Mdzananda’s website or Facebook page to meet their tail wagging bachelors and sassy bachelorettes which you can sponsor.

There are a variety of sponsoring options including:

R50 - Get rid of those nasty fleas and ticks – we want cuddles instead R100 – Have your Valentine vaccinated to keep them healthy and strong R200 – Spoil your Love with delicious food for two weeks R450 – Give your valentine great meals for a whole month R500 – Spay or neuter your Valentine – love is enough, no babies needed

Donations made to your chosen Valentine dog or cat will help the clinic to look after them until they are able to find permanent homes.

“The dogs and cats up for adoption have been at our clinic’s shelter facility for weeks or months. Some have gone through a lot in their lives and need extra love,” says du Plessis. “Ballito, for example, is an old dog, abandoned for being too old. He is gentle, loving and peaceful and needs a retirement home to enjoy his final years. Then there is Mamsie, a cat of just 7 months old and her 6 kittens, each just a few days old. Her owners didn’t know how to look after them and brought them to Mdzananda to find good homes.”

Pictures: Ballito and Mamsie

If you would like to sponsor a pet for Valentine's Day visit www.mdzananda.co.za to see all the pets needing sponsorship, contact marcelle@mdzananda.co.za or make a donation to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account number: 075595710, Branch: Rondebosch, Branch Code: 025009, Reference: Pet'sName +YourName. All pets are also up for adoption.

About Mdzananda Animal Clinic (www.mdzananda.co.za)

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is a permanent, veterinary council registered, NPO animal clinic in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, home to 400 000 people (2011 census) and their pets. The clinic serves an average of 700 animals per month through consultations, hospitalization, general and orthopaedic surgeries, continuous sterilizations, mobile clinics and an animal ambulance. Mdzananda has a strong focus on community empowerment and education to ensure responsible pet ownership into the future.

Follow them online - and do your part to help, remember big or small, every little bit counts!

Instagram: @mdzananda_animal_clinic

Facebook: @MdzanandaAnimalClinic