CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
A group of South African community members in Qatar on Friday donated one-and-a half tonnes of animal food to Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS).
QAWS is an animal shelter that houses abandoned cats and dogs among others and provides them with food, medical attention and regular care as they await permanent homes.
Besides making the donation, the community members also walked the dogs.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, a prominent South African community member in Qatar Keith Rencken said that this was the third time they had organised this kind of an event for QAWS and they do it annually."People always want to have pets and here is a place where animals are taken care of well. They come here in a bad shape and leave healthy. QAWS officials take them to vets," he said.
A QAWS official Lucielle Burger added,"South African expats have really been a huge support to us coming every year with this food offer."
South African Embassy Charge'd Affaires a.i Douw Vermaak said,"The embassy is involved with this initiative as well as another initiative meant for differently abled people in Qatar."
He added that the embassy has brought together South African flagship companies, Sasol and Nando's to vet all Nando's restaurants and see to it that the restaurants are accessible to people with special needs.