WATCH: Animal shelter staff bring festive cheer to over 300 pets in Khayelitsha

Mdzananda Animal Clinic and Shelter, based in Khayelitsha in Cape Town, is celebrating a heartwarming festive initiative.

Staff dressed as Christmas elves delivered 332 gift packs of food and treats to pets in the local community, spreading cheer to both animals and their owners.

The shelter – which treats around 1,500 animals monthly – also faces ongoing challenges, including overcrowding due to abandoned pets and the unexpected need to rebuild a damaged operating theatre.

The organisation's services extend beyond the holidays, with veterinary care, sterilisation programmes, mobile clinics, and educational outreach all year round. 

"Our doors are always open, and next year we’re going to extend our opening hours so that we're open early in the morning and late at night, because a lot of people come home after work and then see that their animal is in distress. So, we're going to start working in shifts and opening our clinics longer during the day," says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Executive.

Du Plessis encourages community members to plan early for pet care during festive periods, and highlights opportunities for fostering, volunteering, and adopting animals... ensuring pets receive care and love – even during busy holiday times. 

To listen to Marcelle du Plessis in conversation with CapeTalk's Clarence Ford, click the audio below: