Contributions Made easy

We have a new way for our supporters to make a contribution - a USSD string. All you do is type *120*3242# and follow the prompts and voila Irwin Animal Rescue Centre gets a donation. Your support is greatly appreciated. Don't forget that every Sunday the public are encouraged to visit the farm and interact with the animals. This helps to restore some of the trust and faith in the animal that was so badly betrayed before finding Irwins. You are invited to join us between 10am and 4pm on Sundays. Address: Plot 25 7th Road,Walkers Fruit Farms. With the help of our friends and volunteers we hope to continuously improve the circumstances for our animals.

YOUR INVITATION TO WITNESS A MIRACLE

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot said about the Irwin Animal Rescue Centre, none of which has been positive and likewise we have not been afforded any read right of reply. Sadly we can’t change what has happened but with your support we can prevent it happening again. Irwins, under the supervision of Anne Cronje , has for the past 27 years been a safe haven for animals from all walks of life, the partially sighted, the handicapped, the problem and the throwaway ones that no one wants. In order for us to continue we need to put a number of things in place and this work has already started by the formation of a new board, a fund raising team and volunteers, however we cannot do this on our own and we appeal to you for assistance. Banking Details or do we list what we need Your invitation to witness a miracle The Irwin Animal Rescue Centre is home to XXXX animals, mostly dogs, that have been rescued from lives of misery and neglect and are currently living out their natural lives in peace and contentment; never to be hungry, abused or neglected again. Not everyone agrees with the philosophy of Irwins – Saved to Live - and we have recently been the topic of public debate and controversy. I started this Centre and have been running it for 27 years and I can tell you stories to melt your heart. Unfortunately, without putting a number of improvements in place, we cannot continue to offer this vital animal lifeline. Please come to see us – any assistance you can give us will be invaluable, We need many things, but a cash donation will go directly toward keeping the centre open. If you wish to donate, our bank details are as follows: Standard Bank Meyerton. Branch code 01 4537. Account No. 021945756. Irwin Animal Rescue But don’t just write a cheque – we are waiting to show you what we do. With sincere best wishes ANNE CRONJE Manager

Just a few of the animals that have been rescued by Irwins

What do we strive to achieve?

First and foremost awareness and recognition of the problems regarding the excess numbers of domestic animals in our country and what action is at present being taken to solve them. Most of the general public are unfortunately unaware of the problems that domestic pets face. In the long term Irwins would like to see a change in other animal welfare societies as they are today where their excess animals have to be euthanased and also see the Irwins Animal Rescue Centre as a temporary sanctuary for re-homing animals too, instead of needing to provide a permanent sanctuary for unwanted animals who have been permanently damaged by neglect, abuse and eventually being abandoned. Which is the case today.

What does Irwins propose?

Irwin Animal Rescue is out to stop the mass slaughter of our domestic animals in South Africa. The Irwin Animal Rescue Centre proposes that " Animal control, through Licencing, and policed through the Animal Protection Act will bring with it, responsible pet ownership." With licence to keep an un-sterilised queen or bitch being high it will encourage people to get their pets sterilised through vets or welfare organisations or face hefty fines under the Animal Protection Act.

New pet by-laws 2010

City by-laws make it illegal to own a certain number of dogs or cats as specified in the pet by-laws without a permit. According to the new by-laws no one may keep more than:

• Two dogs over the age of 6 months to be kept at a dwelling unit;
• Four dogs, or allow more than 4 dogs over the age of six months to be kept in or at a premises containing one or two houses;
• Six dogs or allow more than 6 dogs over the age of six months to be kept on an Agricultural property; or ........ please visit link to see full by-laws and exceptions.

It does not make sense that the municipality has come up with such bylaws that restricts the number of animals that people can own, Many people have acquired excess animals because they have taken them off the streets or rescued them from wherever or have given a home to animals when people have left the country.

most people don't choose to have too many animals because of costs of keeping them but they have taken them into their homes out of compassion. Many take in animals for companionship or for extra security or both. This means they care both for their animals as well as for their families' safety.

Restricting the number of domestic pets that people own is targeting the caring people who have taken animals in and not targeting the root cause of people acquiring excess animals in the first place! How is it that they can restrict the number of pets that people own but not restrict the people who are breeding them into an already over-populated world where there are not enough homes for them.

Municipality talks about the environmental issues with too many animals, obviously if people are causing health or environmental problems one can act on the relevant bylaws already in place, without restricting the number of animals people can keep. That is an invasion of their constitutional rights. Animals are classified as property, one cannot restrict people of the number of cars they own or children they can have (pets are like children to many people), so how can they possibly restrict the number of pets they have that are of value to the safety of both their children and their cars. Dogs keep the thieves away and cats keep the rats away, so in effect they are complimenting the area and keeping it environmentally safe from bad elements in society and clean from vermin.

"In February 2008 the Spay and Neuter Law was signed in California. The law on pet sterilisation requires most dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered by the time they are 4 months old. The ordinance intends to reduce and eventually eliminate thousands of euthanisations conducted in the city's animal shelters every year. The ordinance exempts some animals, including those that have competed in shows or sporting competitions, guide dogs, animals used by police agencies and those belonging to professional breeders." This was posted on the New York times website.

WHY cant South Africa pass a similar Law?????????????

Why is there a need for a place like Irwins?

There are not enough homes for domestic pets in our country and hundreds of thousands are being destroyed every year due to the excess of animals. everybody is on the breeding scene now as a means of making money. We wont even go into the inbreeding issues and resultant genetic defects. puppy mills and backyard breeders are sprouting up everywhere. Animals are abandoned or abused for various reasons. Reasons such as biting there owners guests, digging up the garden killing chickens, escaping,jumping the fence, chewing up everything and other behavioural problems or their owners simply no longer want them, can no longer afford them or are moving so they simply dump them on the side of the street. these dogs become feral and those which are not sterilised add to the numbers of stray animals. Instead of simply killing off the excess animals; solutions need to be established to resolve the route causes of this enormous problem.