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| Jane
Levinson - Project Manager |
Where are you from?
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. |
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| Maria
Limani - Animal Care Worker |
Where are you from?
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. |
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| Lazola
Sotyingwa - Animal Care Worker |
Where are you from?
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. |
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| Promise
Tshayisa - Animal Care Worker |
Where are you from?
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.
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| Juta
Mbanyana - Mobile Clinics and Gardener |
Where
are you from?
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. |
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| Dr
Edson Man’Ombe – veterinarian |
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Where are you from?
I was born and studied in Zimbabwe but I’m a registered veterinarian
with the South African Veterinary Council How
long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I started working for Mdzananda
in March 2009
Tell us what
you do?
Mdzananda's main focus is on sterilization. On average,
I sterilise between 10 and 15 dogs and cats a day. I’m also
involved in other surgical procedures, hospital patient
management and ongoing education of the veterinary support
staff.
What do you
love most about your job?
I really care a lot about animals and it is very meaningful
to me to be able to help people and animals. I particularly
enjoy educating the clients about good pet care.
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| Dr
Daryl Hunt - veterinarian |
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Where are you from?
I’m originally from Johannesburg but currently live in Rondebosch,
Cape Town
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I had an on going working relationship with this project
since 2004
Tell us what you do?
do a variety of veterinary procedures on the patients that
walk through the doors of the hospital. The treatments and
operations range from sterilizations, amputations, eye removals,
stitch ups, making splints, removal of grass seeds from
infected ears and blood transfusions for patients in need.
What do you love most about your job?
In spite of our limited resources at this facility, I often
manage to work successfully with what we have. Most times
we manage to get good results. I really feel that I am making
a difference to the lives of many animals in the township.
Also it give me great satisfaction that the clients really
value the work that we do.
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| Honest
Dheya – Theatre Assistant |
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Where are you from?
Zimbabwe
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I have been working at the clinic since Nov 2009
Tell us what you do?
I assist the vets in theatre by preparing and monitoring
the animals that have operations. My job is also to ensure
that the instruments for theatre are clean and sterile.
On Sundays, I take responsibility for ensuring that the
hospital is cleaned and taken care of. In cases of after
hour emergencies, I phone the vets to attend to the patients
that come in to clinic.
What do you love most about your job?
I’ve learnt to really love animals, so it is a pleasure
for me to be working with them. Also I’m happy to say that
I have learnt new skills which definitely enrichs my working
career.
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| Eunice
Zwelinye – Cleaner |
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Where are you from?
Site B, Khayelitsha
Tell us what you do?
I do all the laundry for the pets. There are always lots
of blankets and towels to wash. I also clean the clinic.
When I clean the cages in the morning, I make sure that
the animals have clean bedding, cat’s sand, water and food.
When I get a break from these chores I like to exercise
the hospitalized dogs in the run.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I’ve been at the project since June 2007
What do you love most about your job?
Seeing animals that are badly injured get better so quickly
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Stera Lalaphi
- Handyman, Shop Manager
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Where are you from?
From just down the road from the clinic in Mandela Park,
Khayelitsha
Tell us what you do?
My job is to repair, build and maintain everything at clinic.
I also run the shop at clinic where I sell leads, collars,
pet food, clothing, bric ‘n brac and refreshments.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I have been working at the project for the last 15 months
What do you love most about your job?
I love raising funds for the clinic and helping to ensure
that the clinic to grows everyday
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| Monde
Gumada – driver |
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Where are you from?
I live in Mandela Park, down the road from the clinic in Khayelitsha.
How long have you worked for Mdzananda?
I have been working for the project since October 2009
Tell us what you do?
I go to mobile clinics, collect animals for sterilizations
and also fetch all the emergency cases from our client’s
homes. In between my driving duties, I like to see that
the clinic garden is watered and cared for.
What do you love most about your job?
It gives me great satisfaction to know that I play a large
role helping to improve the lives of many of our patients
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