As buying toys is costly for the organisation, it wants to try something different by implementing other forms of care for the animals, starting with the empty toilet roll toys for the cats.

“Our animal enrichment assistant Marie Marais fills the toilet rolls with treats or catnip; folding the ends in to make it into a little puzzle for the cats or kittens to play with,” said Kimberley SPCA Managing Committee Chairperson, Alet Steyn. Treats fall out every now and then as the ends start to unfold. The dogs get ice lollies with treats frozen inside.”

The SPCA strongly believes in recycling and recycles all its old office paper, shreds the paper on-site and then takes it to the local recycling company where it gets R1/kg of paper.

The toys are another form of recycling as they don’t cost the SPCA anything. They needn’t buy anything to make them and when they’re worn out, they can be recycled, just like cardboard.

“This toy or treat project is, however, not purposefully a call to recycle,” said Steyn. “We’re merely trying to find creative and cost-effective methods of keeping the animals in our care happily occupied until … they … find their forever homes.”

‘This initiative wants to make them feel cared for’

The SPCA has yet to receive empty toilet rolls from the community. Those willing to donate may take them directly to the SPCA in Cassandra.

It has 59 cats in its care and 76 dogs, and this initiative wants to make them feel cared for and provide them with a fun activity.

Steyn said anyone able to help their local SPCA this year must please come forward as SPCA staff all over the country will be continuing with their work. Many won’t see their families for Christmas or New Year's because animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment do not stop just because it is the holiday season; in fact, it intensifies.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg