OVAH’s HM STERI PROJECT NEEDS YOUR HELP
The Hammanskraal-Moretele project (HM steri project) came about in response to a need from the greater community of the Hammanskraal (Tshwane municipality, Gauteng) and (Moretele municipality, North-West) for dog and cat sterilisations.
According to Dr Maxine Elliott-Breytenbach, community engagement lecturer in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, pet sterilisations are unavailable to indigent citizens in the area. The dog and cat population is becoming unmanageable.
The pet population consists of owned and community dogs and cats; stray and feral dogs and cats are few. Unwanted litters and Transmissible Venereal Tumour (TVT) are commonplace.
Female pets are already in sub-optimal condition due to limited resources and are constantly pregnant or lactating implicating negatively on their welfare.
There is also a major concern with large uncontrolled dog populations that rabies outbreaks are imminent. At present rabies is well controlled in these areas with yearly vaccination and awareness campaigns. With an increasing dog population this could become an issue. The area is currently experiencing a distemper outbreak.
‘Multiple requests for dog and cat sterilisations from residents were received. Community citizens cannot afford to rear the constant litters and are seeing the negative effects on their pets,’ Dr Breytenbach says. ‘With the assistance of several clinicians and hospital sisters from the Faculty of Veterinary Science’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) a pet sterilisation project was launched. The response from staff and students volunteering to assist was fantastic,’ she adds.
The project received generous funds from
LET'S SPAY #SA and donations of products from
F10 Products Manufacturer Page. During October 2025, two sterilization days were hosted. A total of 27 animals were sterilized. Students (nursing and final year veterinary students) volunteered their time to assist the veterinarians and nursing sisters with the project.
For many of these students it was their first time in dealing with anaesthetic inductions, recoveries and surgeries. Under the supervision of the OVAH staff, they were able to learn and practice skills in a non-academic environment. It also gave them an opportunity to interact with pet owners and educate about pet care and welfare. The students were also instrumental in setting up the venue and the logistics of the administrative work.
According to Dr Breytenbach, the gratitude from pet owners was overwhelming. The confidence and skills of the students involved grew exponentially over the course of each day and feedback was positive with the students considering the days an extremely valuable learning experience.
This service has been provided to pet owners at no cost. The project is funded entirely by donations. The number of materials and funds available determine the number of sterilisations that can be done. Donations of materials, products and equipment are greatly appreciated and go a long way to assist with the project. Funds are needed for the purchase of drugs, the re-sterilsation of surgical packs and to purchase certain products.
'Contributions of materials or funds to this project will ensure that it can continue and that the monthly number of surgeries can be increased,' Dr Breytenbach concludes.
Any donations can be deposited into:
Account name: University of Pretoria
Bank: ABSA Bank Branch: Hatfield
Account no: 4064380892
Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ
Please use 137639 HM steri project as the reference.
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