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EDITOR’S NOTE Holiday options for pets The curious character of cats 10 ways to spoil your pet Places to stay with your fur baby this holiday Presents for pets Happy holidays!
CONTACT US PUBLISHER Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com PETS EDITOR Nelandri Narianan nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za EXECUTIVE EDITOR: LIFESTYLE Nelandri Narianan nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za DESIGN Tanya Fynn tanya.fynn@inl.co.za PRODUCTION Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES Charl Reineke charl.reineke@inl.co.za Kyle Villet kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@anapublishing.com
2020 has been a harrowing year, not just for humans. Our furry friends were just as hard hit, with SPCAs and animal shelters around the country bursting at the seams with unwanted, lost or neglected dogs and cats. The stories of how they ended up in shelters were heartbreaking – some just abandoned on highways, others surrendered as families battled the Covid19 crunch that massacred the job market … and then there were the lost ones. Their eyes told their stories. I recently adopted a miniature Foxie from the Randburg SPCA . Lily, pictured left, the sweetest little darling, patterned like a dairy cow, with golden eyes and a zealousness for hugs and cuddles, was a pregnant stray destined for a sad end. The look in her eyes had me transfixed. This little one, with the burgeoning belly, had a story, and I wanted to change it for the better. Three weeks down the line, my children and I can’t remember life without our Lily. She started off scared and clingy but is now a dynamo who darts around with enviable energy. She adores her big brother, our cocker spaniel Toby, and mimics everything he does. Lily knows she is loved beyond measure … and that she has found her forever home. Unfortunately, not all fur babies are as lucky as Lily. As the festive season approaches, animal shelters are in desperate need of help, not just to spread some festive cheer through their kennels, but to simply meet the basic needs of the animals in their care. We’ve put together the wishlists of some organisations that need assistance, but this is by no means exhaustive. To complement this, we have included a contact list of animal shelters around the country where you can donate time, money or the specific items needed. IOL Pets implores you to please put on your best Santa Paws hat and do it for our fur babies.
Nelandri
