With International Animal Rights Day approaching on 10 December, the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) Durban has issued a strong warning about a seasonal spike in animal neglect and abandonment, calling for greater public responsibility as the festive season begins.
The organisation reports that December consistently brings an increase in surrendered pets, animals left without care while families travel, and puppies and kittens bought as gifts and later discarded. AACL Durban says this trend shows that companion animals are still being treated as disposable.
AACL Durban chairperson Dr Lawson Caine says many of the cases the organisation deals with during December could be avoided if people made more deliberate choices.
“I encourage people to think carefully before giving a pet. Make sure you have the means and time to give that animal the love and care it deserves,” he says. Caine adds that responsible guardianship starts with following the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which outline global standards for humane treatment.
The Durban and Pietermaritzburg branch of AACL runs year-round rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming services, often stepping in where animals have been injured, abandoned or neglected. Staff and volunteers say festive season pressures stretch both resources and personnel, with more animals arriving at the shelter just as donation levels drop.
Sibongakonke Khoza, a kennel and dog handler at the branch, says the work becomes more emotionally taxing at this time of year. “We see dogs that were clearly loved at some point, suddenly dropped off when owners go away. It’s heartbreaking and preventable,” he says.
AACL Durban is urging the public to support its work through financial contributions that help fund veterinary care, food, and shelter operations. The organisation says even small donations make a significant difference.
Contact Bronwyn Ablett on 082 856 3923 or gm@aacldurban.co.za
Website: https://www.aacl.co.za/branches-durban-pietermaritzburg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACLDurban
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aacl_dbn/
About AACL Durban: The Animal Anti-Cruelty League Durban is one of South Africa’s oldest animal welfare organisations, providing rescue services, veterinary assistance, outreach programmes and education to promote responsible pet ownership and prevent cruelty.
Captions (Photos by Val Adamson):
1 & 2. Nomathembu Gumede and volunteer Rachel Rabie at the AACL Durban and Pietermaritzburg branch.
3. Sibongakonke Khoza, kennel and dog handler at the branch.
