Marlene Neumann’s Buckaroo Sterilization Project has received some excellent news! Local vets and the East London SPCA will assist with the sterilization project and as a result, 28 dogs are being sterilized every month. This will have a massive knock on effect in the area and improve the health and well-being of the dogs that are sterilized.

There is little knowledge in the Eastern Cape of how dogs need to be treated and as a result many dogs suffer from neglect and abuse. Marlene and her team work closely with township communities, teaching them how to properly look after their animals while delivering donated food, blankets, water bowls and kennels. However, to improve the lives of dogs in the future, sterilization is the key.

Buckaroo has sterilized over 300 dogs to date, and the increased engagement from the veterinary practices around East London will help the project in a big way. The cost of sterilization is high and dogs need to be treated before the operation can take place, which adds to the cost. Dogs are sometimes too malnourished to be treated and need to ‘go to rehab’ before they can be sterilized. Often the dogs have other diseases such as mange or distemper which must be treated before anything else can take place. Buckaroo tries to carry out these treatments on site rather than removing the dogs, as this helps with the education of the community, and reduces the stress for the dogs.

Donations of food, blankets, kennels (or materials to build kennels), water bowls, leads and collars can be donated at Marlene’s Centre 8 Kent Road, Vincent. Contributions to the Buckaroo fund can be made online or by contacting Marlene directly at neumann@worldonline.co.za or at 083 321 3391. To stay up to date with the Buckaroo Project, like Marlene’s Facebook Page.