As is the case with every other animal welfare organisation in South Africa, Irwin's receives no financial backing from the government. It exists entirely on the charity of animal lovers and with proceeds from the sale of pet food, donated books, clothes and bric-a-brac that are sold from their stalls at De Deur market.
It is a knife-edge battle for survival every month. With around eight hundred animals on the farm, basic running costs, which includes feed, amounts to around an incredible
R60 000 per month. The added expense of medicines and vet bills can push this much higher. A further strain on finances has been the ongoing campaign to improve the aesthetics of the farm.
As mentioned, the success of any operation of this kind depends largely on the generosity of donors. Anne has devised a number of ways in which folk can contribute towards helping the animals. For instance, the sum of R25 per month will make you a Pet's Pal, R40 per month will sponsor a kennel and you can become a Garden Sponsor for R60.
Although the vast majority of animals at the farm are dogs, there are also approximately one hundred cats and varying numbers of ponies, donkeys, pigs and birds. In fact, no animal in distress is turned away.
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If you feel you would like to find out more about the centre, you can. Every Sunday, excluding the last one of the month, is an open day at Irwin's. The public is encouraged, from 10am onwards, to come and visit the animals. This allows them to interact with humans and helps to restore some of the trust and faith that was so badly betrayed. Listening to Anne, it can be of great benefit to both parties.
As is the case with every other animal welfare organisation in South Africa, Irwin's receives no financial backing from the government. It exists entirely on the charity of animal lovers and with proceeds from the sale of pet food, donated books, clothes and bric-a-brac that are sold from their stalls at De Deur market.
It is a knife-edge battle for survival every month. With around eight hundred animals on the farm, basic running costs, which includes feed, amounts to around an incredible
