View of Redhill Township near Cape Town, where Scratch Pet Photography supports local animal welfare and community dog training initiatives.

RESCUE | GIVING BACK

Giving Back

South Africa’s animals are in crisis at the moment. Solely reliant on donations from the public, Animal Rescue Organisations battle to feed, sterilise and heal the sick, abused, and abandoned animals of our society. Covid lockdowns, which caused massive job losses have made their job much more difficult. It is every citizen’s duty to assist where possible and there are two ways in which Scratch Pet Photography does its bit.

Redhill Animal Rescue was born out of a desperate need to assist the animals of Redhill during the Lockdown period when many people lost their jobs and were unable to look after the animals that relied on them. The Rescue Organisation was started by Xandra Dunn from Scarborough who, after seeing how our neighbors were struggling, started feeding and caring for the animals at the settlement.

Every Tuesday is feeding day at Redhill and not a day has been missed since the beginning of Lockdown 2 years ago.

Siyabonga who lives in Redhill is a valuable member of the team and just one of the things he does is the sterilisation run of dogs and cats to Tears Animal Rescue next to Masiphumelele Township. Siyabonga is also busy building permanent water bowls below taps at Redhill. So far he has made four and the plan is to build at least sixteen. The hope is that this will save water as well as provide the dogs with clean water on a continuous basis.

For the dogs whose owners refuse to unchain them Adrian, who also assists in the project below helps to build shelters to protect them from the sun and rain and organises a running chain. Not ideal but a much better solution for the pups. Every Sunday Xandra and Andre take a big group of the kids and their dogs up to Kleinplaas dam for a morning of fun and education. It has become so popular they now have two groups as the first group was getting too big. Dogs that were previously on chains are able to run on the mountain, swim in the dam, and get lots of love and cuddles from Andre and the kids.

Pet Photography Western Cape Photography outdoors Dog photo shoot

Redhill Dog Training

Making a Difference in the Community

On Friday afternoons I join the kids of Redhill and their dogs at a nearby soccer field. Redhill Animal Rescue runs a six-week training course, and I am grateful to assist with both my photography and dog training skills. This is a project I am proud to be part of.

Teaching Compassion and Responsibility

The program teaches children love, respect, compassion, and kindness toward their pets. At the same time, it builds important social values such as empathy, patience, responsibility, and self-discipline. These life skills extend far beyond the training field.

Building Confidence and Connection

One of the most rewarding outcomes has been the rise in confidence for both the dogs and their young owners. Many of these children face difficult lives and often feel isolated. Their pets provide love, loyalty, and affection, which gives them a sense of belonging and comfort.

Visible Growth Week by Week

At the start of the six-week course, some children arrive withdrawn and many dogs appear shut down. After just a few sessions, smiles begin to appear and the dogs start to engage happily with their owners. The transformation is powerful.

Passing It On

Some children gain so much self-confidence that they return to help newcomers in later courses. We hope that what they learn, kindness, care, and respect for animals, will ripple through their community, making it a better place for everyone.

Words from Parents

One parent sent this heartfelt message to Xandra:
“Thank you for doing this for our children. I don’t know how to thank you enough. You showed them how important animals are in their lives.”

After watching a training video, the same mother added:
“It’s tears of joy. I’m so happy to see them enjoying what they’re doing with animals.”

Why It Matters

These comments, the joy on the children’s faces when they receive their certificates, and the dogs’ excitement when shown affection make this work truly worthwhile.

If you would like to learn more about Redhill Animal Rescue or see how your contribution will help, please visit their Facebook page Facebook page or contact Xandra on 0826803040