- What are the most common reasons people surrender their pets — and could some of these be prevented with support?
- For someone who’s overwhelmed and feels they’ve reached the end of the road, what’s the very first step they should take before surrendering their pet?
- What kind of help do shelters or community organisations offer that pet owners often don’t know about?
- Are there affordable or free resources for food, vet care or behavioural issues?
- What do you want pet owners to know about asking for help — especially if they feel ashamed or afraid of being judged?
- If surrender becomes the only option, what’s the best way to do it responsibly?
- Tell us more about TEARS’ Feed Hungry Pets initiative.
- A Call for Help: TEARS Needs Fleece Blankets After Flooding
Many South African pet owners face heartbreaking decisions due to financial hardship or personal crises. But before surrendering a beloved pet, there may be more options than you realise. We spoke to Tinka Shapiro from TEARS Animal Rescue to better understand how pet parents can access help — and why asking for support is never something to be ashamed of.
What are the most common reasons people surrender their pets — and could some of these be prevented with support?
Right now, the most common reason is financial hardship. Many people can’t afford pet food, especially when they’re struggling to feed themselves. If you’re at the point where you’re surrendering a pet rather than abandoning it, that already shows responsibility.
In many cases, yes — these situations can be prevented with the right support. TEARS, for example, offers subsidised food and veterinary care, including free sterilisations and vaccinations in some cases. We want to help, but it also depends on people reaching out before the situation becomes too dire.
For someone who’s overwhelmed and feels they’ve reached the end of the road, what’s the very first step they should take before surrendering their pet?
The first step is simple: ask for help. Reach out to an organisation like TEARS or one in your area. Explain your situation. It doesn’t have to start with surrendering your pet — it can start with asking if there’s food support, vet care, or advice we can offer.
We all have limitations, but if you’re in our catchment area, we’ll do our best to help. Surrender should never be the first step if other forms of support might keep a family and their pet together.
What kind of help do shelters or community organisations offer that pet owners often don’t know about?
A lot of people don’t know that we offer subsidised food, reduced-cost vet care, and even free sterilisations. Our Feed Hungry Pets initiative is one way we try to prevent surrenders. If food is the only issue, we’d rather help with that than take in a pet unnecessarily.
What we don’t have is temporary housing or short-term fostering through our shelter — we just don’t have the capacity. But sometimes we can reach out to other organisations or foster families in our network, depending on the situation.
Are there affordable or free resources for food, vet care or behavioural issues?
Yes. We’ve covered food and vet care, but we also try to help with behavioural concerns. If someone is struggling with a pet’s behaviour, they can reach out and ask for advice or support. If they’re nearby, we might even be able to assess the situation in person and offer some guidance.
It’s about keeping people and pets together where possible — we’re happy to help if we can.
What do you want pet owners to know about asking for help — especially if they feel ashamed or afraid of being judged?
There is no shame in asking for help. That’s what communities are for — to support each other.
And if someone has to surrender their pet, we don’t judge that either. It’s often the most responsible option available. The people who deserve judgment are those who abandon animals in terrible conditions or simply dump them somewhere.
If you surrender your animal responsibly to a shelter, you’ve done the best you can in a hard situation. That should be enough.
If surrender becomes the only option, what’s the best way to do it responsibly?
Don’t wait until your pet is severely underweight or sick. If there really are no other options, reach out as soon as you can. That gives the animal the best chance of finding a new home in good health.
Speak to your nearest animal welfare organisation and be honest about your situation. Surrendering before neglect sets in is key.
Tell us more about TEARS’ Feed Hungry Pets initiative.
The idea behind Feed Hungry Pets is to prevent surrenders caused purely by a lack of food. But we need public support to keep it going.
Donate to the Feed Hungry Pets initiative here.
We don’t just hand out food — we partner with pet owners. If they can contribute what they can, we match that support. The pet must be sterilised to qualify, which also helps reduce overpopulation.
We want to keep shelter space open for animals in true crisis — not just those that need a bag of food.
If you or someone you know is facing a difficult decision about a pet, don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out, ask for help, and know that support is available.
A Call for Help: TEARS Needs Fleece Blankets After Flooding
TEARS Animal Rescue was badly affected by last week’s floods, leaving their kennels damaged and their animals in urgent need of warmth.
They are asking for donations of fleece blankets or fleece fabric to help keep the animals warm this winter.
Please drop off donations at:
TEARS Animal Rescue, 4 Lekkerwater Road, Sunnydale 7975
Or donate online to help them buy blankets:
Click here to donate
Every blanket makes a difference.
