DOGS AND CATS GET THEIR OWN TAXI IN CAPE TOWN

A group of dogs from Vrygrond in Cape Town recently had the chance to try out a new bicycle taxi for pets launched by AfriPaw. This initiative aims to improve access to veterinary care for pets in under-resourced communities like Vrygrond.

Anél Wesson, Director and Co-Founder of AfriPaw, explained, “We noticed that many people couldn’t reach the clinic because their pets were reluctant to walk long distances.” Once a month, AfriPaw sets up a mobile clinic at Capricorn Primary School, providing vaccinations, sterilizations, and other health services.

Wesson added that some pet owners in the area were too elderly to walk to the mobile clinic. Observing people bringing their pets in trolleys sparked the idea for a dedicated pet taxi service.

Wesson explains that the “taxi” needed to be straightforward and affordable for community members to operate easily. As they are still in the testing phase, they are evaluating which type of bicycle can best handle the weight of the animals. The cart, designed and built pro bono by 4Evr Plastic Products, is part of this ongoing trial.

AfriPaw is currently seeking sponsorship for the project. The initial setup cost for one unit is R25,000, with an annual expense of about R7,000 thereafter. This covers the bicycle, cart, cage, and the rider’s wages. “Our goal is to introduce between five and ten taxis in the first year,” says Wesson.

Founded in 2017, AfriPaw offers various programs, including the free monthly clinic, mass sterilizations, and educational workshops in Vrygrond. These clinics, conducted in collaboration with animal welfare organizations like TEARS Animal Rescue, Animal Lifeline, and Aid4Animals in Distress, provide services to around 650 pets—both cats and dogs—each month. The programs are supported by volunteers and local ‘ambassadors’ who receive a stipend for their efforts.

Vrygrond resident and volunteer Domaine Martin shared with GroundUp that pet owners in the community frequently struggle to provide food for their animals. “Most people don’t have work, but they’re doing their best to care for their dogs.”

Capricorn resident Alessandro Jeftha, who brought his cat and three dogs to the clinic, expressed his gratitude, saying, “They provide a wonderful service for our animals.”

Wesson emphasized that AfriPaw’s primary goal is to build relationships with pet owners in informal settlements and under-resourced areas. “Our ambassadors from the community educate and motivate pet owners to attend our monthly clinics,” she explained. “It’s a community-integrated effort, and we hope to expand this model to other areas in the future.”