It is with deep regret that PUPP has to announce the closure of PUPP South at the beginning of May 2006.

2 years ago, PUPP applied to the NLDTF (Lotto) for sufficient funds to set up a spay clinic in Sunnydale. To our delight, we were granted the necessary funds and we were able to realise our dream and have our very own spay clinic. Dr. Yvonne Robson was the veterinarian/ manager of the newly born and autonomous “ PUPP South”. The following year we again applied for funding from Lotto, to be able to sustain the new venture, but sadly, the Lotto granted an amount sufficient only for about 3 months running expenses. We sent them an urgent letter in June last year, expressing our concern and explaining very clearly that the new venture simply could not exist on such scant funding. We explained that, besides PUPP sterilizing animals at the rate of about 300 per month, including the new venture, PUPP South was providing employment for 3 people from underprivileged areas and PUPP Central was providing employment for 2 more. We informed Lotto that, if additional funding was not forthcoming, we would probably be obliged to close or freeze certain parts of PUPP South. However, no extra funds were forthcoming, and the loss made by PUPP South was growing monthly.

Dr. Robson, who resigned as an employee from PUPP at the end of March 2006, has indicated her wish to continue sterilizing underprivileged cats and dogs and intends applying for her own NPO number. After much deliberation, and seeing that sterilization of underprivileged animals has always been one of PUPP's main focuses, the Board of PUPP has agreed to allow Dr. Robson to use the buildings and the infrastructure as well as the equipment at Sunnydale, for the time being, provided Dr. Robson uses such buildings and equipment for welfare work exclusively. Dr. Robson will be working on her own and with her own volunteers.

The PUPP Board has agreed that the most important thing is for the sterilizations to take place and, to this end, PUPP wishes Dr. Yvonne Robson all the best in her sterilizing endeavour. The Board also wishes to thank Dr. Robson for what she has done for PUPP. Her experience and her hard work were invaluable in getting PUPP South up and running. Grateful thanks are extended to all the many volunteers who, through their hard and dedicated work, helped build up PUPP South.

Although the PUPP Board is deeply saddened by the closure of PUPP South, it was unavoidable due to the continuous financial losses incurred by PUPP South, however the good thing is that the sterilizing of animals in the Fish Hoek/ Kommetjie area will continue at the same rate as before, thanks to TEARS. TEARS and Dr Robson, once she has been able to start on her own, have offered to help sterilize animals for PUPP, if PUPP is in need of their services.

PUPP, as such, will continue doing what they have done so effectively for the past 10 years - animals are collected from disadvantaged areas and taken to either the SPCA or ARO where they are sterilized. Sick and injured animals are taken to the AWS. The animals from Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay are also looked after by PUPP with the help of volunteer, Hilary Barclay. The SPCA has offered to triple their intake of animals brought in by PUPP. We are ever grateful to those welfare societies who continue to help PUPP. At the same time, the animal owners are educated in the humane treatment, not only of their pets, but of all domesticated animals. To extend this education, PUPP is now employing, together with AWS and the ARO a well-versed teacher in pet animals, who visits schools with her dog in the poor and very low-income areas.

Ben Daum

Chairman PUPP

(Chairman)