We were extremely blessed. Our community realised we were doing vital work helping impoverished communities with their animals.
shelter spotlight numbers of unwanted litters.
“ In March 1999, we started a Sunday clinic in Masiphumelele,” Marilyn recalls.“ We offered basic services such as vaccinating, deworming, dipping, treating animals for fleas, ticks and lice, and we handed out food parcels. Animals requiring veterinary attention or sterilisation were taken to our vet in Bergvliet.”
We were extremely blessed. Our community realised we were doing vital work helping impoverished communities with their animals.
The animals were housed at a cofounder’ s home in Muizenberg, which became the TEARS HQ.
“ Volunteers were coming and going, children were doing community service, people were dropping off donations, and stray animals were being delivered,” she says.“ We were extremely blessed. Our community realised we were doing vital work helping impoverished communities with their animals and supported us wholeheartedly.”
In 2001, TEARS secured premises in Lekkerwater Road, Sunnydale, consolidating operations in one place. And in April 2002, they moved onto the property with their animals.
“ From there, we never looked back,” Marilyn says.“ TEARS Animal Rescue enjoyed exponential growth.”
Changing communities, one animal at a time
The impact in communities such as Masiphumelele and Ocean View has been profound.
“ At first,” says Tinka Shapiro, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at TEARS,“ sterilisation was unheard of in those areas. Vaccinations were rare, and veterinary care felt unattainable. Now people stop staff in the street to ask about appointments, microchips and follow-ups. Compassion has roots there now.”
TEARS’ veterinary clinic and mobile units have, in her words, been“ life-changing”.
“ For many families, the mobile clinic is the only form of veterinary care they will ever have access to, and that access saves lives.”
TEARS identifies as a pro-life organisation.“ What that means is we do everything in our power to give every animal a chance,” Shapiro explains.
“ Being pro-life is not about keeping animals alive at all costs; it’ s about respecting them and ensuring their welfare and dignity. Euthanasia is never a convenience; it is only considered in cases of untreatable suffering.”
While rescue stories often focus on heartwarming adoptions and dramatic recoveries, Shapiro says the less visible realities are just as critical.
“ There are a lot of costs involved in rescuing, treating, rehabilitating and rehoming animals that are not‘ sexy’,” says Shapiro.“ There’ s rent, rates, wages, petrol, uniforms, security systems, infrastructure maintenance … the list goes on.”
Funding remains a huge challenge.“ There is so much to do, and never enough funds to get it all done. We are limited by our financial resources.”
Safety is another serious concern, particularly for mobile clinic teams operating in high-crime areas.“ Not even parking near a police station protects our team,” she says frankly.
Looking ahead
A new education programme is in development, focusing on primary schools, high schools and young adults to promote humane and compassionate treatment of animals, encourage responsible animal husbandry and help people engage emotionally with their pets.
TEARS is also collaborating with other welfare groups to promote best-practice veterinary and shelter care and improve community engagement.
So how would TEARS like to be remembered?“ As a caring prolife organisation always going the extra mile to provide the best services for needy animals, leading the way for other organisations,” says Marilyn. www. petpals. co. za 63