Originally from Pretoria, but I moved to Cape Town nearly 25 years ago and I live in Mowbray with my husband and four dogs and three cats.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I've been volunteering for Mdzananda since March 1997, almost from the start of the project.
Tell us what you do?
As project manager my job is overall coordination of Mdzananda, and I'm also responsible for fund raising and public relations.
What do you love most about your job?
I've been privileged to see Mdzananda grow from a tiny animal welfare project that had no water or electricity, to providing Khayalitsha with a full time professional animal welfare service that has helped over 50,000 pets since 1996.
I grew up in a small town in the Eastern Cape, and moved to Cape Town in 1998.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I started volunteering at Mdzananda on Saturdays in 1998, and have been a full-time supervisor at the clinic since 2004.
Tells us about what you do?
I have trained as an animal welfare assistant and the main part of my job is as an animal nurse taking overall responsibility for the sick dogs and cats in our care. We try to offer our clients a professional service, so part of my job also involves detailed record keeping.
What do you love most about your job?
It's a very stressful job, but I do it because I love animals.
I was born and bred in Khayalitsha, and have always loved animals and nature.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I started volunteering for Mdzananda on day one of operations in 1996. I was 16 at the time. I came on staff full-time in 2003 and have trained as an animal welfare assistant.
Tell us about what you do?
I'm usually found in the consulting room, dealing hands on with the sick dogs and cats that are brought to us for care. I also assist in the theatre and do mobile clinics.
What do you love most about your job?
I've been lucky enough to learn from the fantastic veterinarians employed by Mdzananda over the years, as well as from the volunteer vets who regularly help out here.
Egoli (Johannesburg) where I worked for Mdzananda's sister project Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW). I moved to Cape Town in 2006.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
My training at CLAW meant I was able to start working for Mdzananda immediately after my arrival from Johannesburg.
Tell us about what you do?
I trained as an animal welfare assistant so I work in the consulting room, assist in theatre and also do mobile clinics and education work. I'm responsible for record keeping of treatments and operations.
What do you love most about your job?
I'm a passionate animal lover and want to improve the lives of our township animal, so I couldn't be in a better job.
I come from a remote part of the Eastern Cape, in an area formerly known as the Transkei.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I joined Mdzananda as a part-time driver in 2003, and came on staff full time in.
Tell us about what you do?
Sterilisation of dogs and cats is important. In my job running mobile clinics I'm able to educate people on the need for "family planning" for their pets, so my job includes sourcing, collecting and returning pets home afterwards. I also manage our organic garden, which provides vegetables for the staff.
What do you love most about your job?
I'm an outdoors person, and I enjoy running the mobile clinics that help keep pets healthy.
I live in Khayalitsha.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I work part time for Mdzananda, about two days a week.
Tell us what you do?
I help out when they need extra hands to manage the cleaning or if someone is away. The work includes monitoring patients if necessary.
What do you love most about your job?
I studied agriculture at school and have a great love for animals and plants. That's why I enjoy being around our patients.
I live in a small town called Kuilsriver, which is about 30 minutes drive from Khayalitsha.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I have been Mdzananda's part time, three day a week veterinarian since July 2008.
Tell us what you do?
Mdzananda's main focus is on sterilisation so, on average, I sterilise between 10 and 15 dogs and cats a day. I also do other operations - if a dog has been run over, or hurt in some other way. I do ward rounds and also help the staff with consultations if they cannot identify what is the matter with a patient.
What do you love most about your job?
I became a vet because I love animals and at Mdzananda I feel I am able to use my abilities to really make a difference in the lives of the animals which live in Khayalitsha.
