ANIMAL RESCUE FIGHTS TO SAVE NEGLECTED CATS AND DOGS

For the past 25 years, Pretoria East resident Heidi Pollard has devoted her life to rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned animals.

Her non-profit organisation, Pretoria East Animal Rescue, works tirelessly to save cats and dogs from neglect, abuse, and irresponsible breeding.

“What inspired me to start this organisation was simply my love for animals and the urgent need to combat backstreet breeders,” Pollard explained.

“We always end up picking up the pieces when animals are bred for profit and then discarded.”

Pollard described backstreet breeders as unregistered individuals who breed animals solely for money.

“They mix breeds and keep animals in terrible conditions. It’s abuse, plain and simple,” she said.

Despite running the organisation for decades, Pollard admits the situation has not improved.

“We strive to educate the public by visiting schools to teach children how to care for animals and why sterilisation is so important,” she said. “But it’s a very slow battle.”

While her work focuses mainly on cats, the team also responds to emergencies involving dogs, birds, and other domestic animals.

Pollard explained that their primary efforts involve trapping, sterilising, and either releasing cats back onto properties or moving them to safe shelters.

“If an animal is too sick, sadly, euthanasia is necessary to prevent suffering—but it’s always a last resort,” she said.

Animal rescue often overlaps with social work. Pollard and her team are sometimes called in by Child Welfare when children are removed from abusive homes.

Pretoria East Animal Rescue doesn’t have a formal shelter. Instead, they operate through community outreach and place animals where space can be found.

“Currently, many cats are cared for on a farm in Garsfontein, while dogs are placed in other shelters,” Pollard said.

She added that these shelters are also under immense pressure, creating a vicious cycle where everyone struggles for food, funds, and volunteers.

According to Pollard, their biggest challenge right now is funding.

“Donations are critical to cover food, medical bills, and basic supplies, and volunteers are desperately needed.”

Despite the hardships, Pollard finds the greatest reward in knowing they’ve saved an animal from abuse.

“There’s no greater relief than taking an animal out of a bad situation and giving it a better future,” she said.

Pretoria East Animal Rescue is currently appealing for food donations.

“Every single bag of food, every bit of help, makes a difference,” Pollard emphasized.