Putting animal welfare first: Low-cost sterilisation clinic launches in Jozi

The Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL), a non-profit organisation based in Regents Park, has launched a dedicated low-cost sterilisation clinic to better serve disadvantaged communities across Johannesburg.

The clinic officially opened on Monday, 4 May. According to marketing manager Carren Nickloes, the initiative marks a shift towards a more proactive approach to animal wellness and aligns with their focus on preventive care. 

"Our veterinary hospital is a welfare hospital, and we deal with low-income and unemployed, you know, so people who cannot afford to go to private vets. So basically, our primary goal is to sterilise, vaccinate animals, making them obviously safe, etc. So we look at sterilisation, primary healthcare, and vaccination," Carren told Time Out Johannesburg.  

As an independent organisation, the AACL does not receive government funding and relies heavily on donations and fundraising efforts.

“Every subsiding of sterilisation or treatment, we have to find that money to cover those costs. We pay the same amounts for drugs, etc., so although we are subsidising, we have to raise funds to help us. It's not as if we have millions of Rands; whatever we subsidise, we have to source the funds,” she added.

While the organisation has long offered subsidised sterilisation services, the new facility formalises and expands that offering.

“ Now, we put it into an actual clinic. So the cost of the sterilisation is far less than what you would do at a private vet because we deal with those people, your SASSA pensioners, normal pensioners, people who are unemployed, people with limited resources, etc., or just cannot get or afford a private vet,"  said Nickloes.

Animals brought to the clinic will undergo a health assessment before receiving initial vaccinations, including rabies, prior to surgery.

For nearly 70 years, the AACL has worked to support animals, including those without homes. Animals that cannot be reunited with their owners are placed in adoption programmes.

Nickloes highlighted overpopulation as a major challenge in Gauteng and across the country. She says many animals are breeding because they are not sterilised. At the same time, not enough people are adopting, which puts pressure on welfare organisations. 

She added that unsterilised animals are also at greater risk of health issues, including cancers and tumours.

Nickloes stressed that community education is key to improving animal welfare. She warned against neglectful practices such as leaving dogs chained for long periods without stimulation or proper care, which can lead to stress and behavioural issues.

"Primarily, it comes down to education. If we can educate the community on how to best look after their animals and their wellness, which obviously includes their nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental state. To have a dog in the back garden that is chained up all day long, and there's no one coming home to play with the dog, and you're feeding it just pup or whatever the case may be, you're not going to have a healthy dog ultimately, and it's going to be a frustrated dog. So we've got to look at educating our community members on treating their animals correctly, so that they get the best out of their animals, and obviously the animal is healthy and safe," she said. 

According to Nickloes, animal care should be guided by key wellness principles, including proper nutrition, a safe environment, regular exercise, healthcare and positive behavioural support.

“Animals have feelings and need to be treated correctly. Even simple things like playtime can reduce stress and improve their well-being,” she said.

She encouraged pet owners to seek veterinary care, whether through welfare or private services. 

The clinic is located at 59 Alice Street in Regents Park.

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