Our mission at the Captive Animal Enrichment Project is to address and improve the state of animal welfare – for the animals who live there and for the people who work there.
I am sure most of us have at least been to a local rescue looking to adopt a doggo and have felt that strong sense of ‘GET ME OUT OF HERE!’ The truth is that shelter environments are necessary for temporary housing but can often be loud, unpredictable, and really stressful for dogs. Without proper mental stimulation, dogs can develop anxiety, frustration, and even depression. This doesn’t only affect their happiness but can also make it harder for them to find homes.
Imagine intelligent animals having no choice and no control over being stuck in those really difficult conditions, and imagine being an (animal loving) person who works there and gets so used to that, that they don’t notice (or FEEL) it anymore.
It needs to change.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
I am saying let’s talk about our dirty little secrets, because that’s what animal welfare is today. Let’s properly challenge an inhumane system and raise the frequency in there, even just a smidge will help! At CAEP we provide enrichment strategies for animals in captivity – think cognitive puzzles for frustrated tail biters, self-medication gardens full of plants to forage and heal from, places to hide for those who can’t cope with constant exposure – we are talking simple, subtle change that gives animals freedom of choice – a critical wellness need. We take care of their state of mind, and treat them like beings who have rights. We create gentler spaces for animals, that impact the people close to them.
This past rainy weekend on 28 June we had a fundraiser – basically my incredible community of friends and neighbours donating good things that they don’t want or use (because everybody has that kind of stuff lying around), and we created a little thrifting situation where we could sell these things on. Our heroes at Miss Molly helped us lure people in by sponsoring delicious bubbles (we believe ALL bottles of bubbles should have dog faces on them, like ‘Miss Molly Petit Rose‘!) and we brought some cakes and (child-friendly) brownies, and opened the Kalk Bay Community Center doors to animal loving thrifters in soggy Cape Town… and we made R13 000 out of literally almost NOTHING!
Although it’s only ten percent of what we need to create enrichment gardens for the entire adoptions area for the dogs at the Grassy Park SPCA, it is an inspiring start and EXACTLY what they need!
GOOD PEOPLE DO GOOD THINGS
My favourite take-away though is that I had a bunch of friends bring their hands to work for nothing, I had generous donations made by old neighbours and people I haven’t even met and I had the support of so many people, pretty much everyone who heard about the event supported or attended.
PEOPLE WANT TO DO GOOD THINGS is what I’ve seen, again and again, even if they don’t have much. And THAT is what I love about being a human in a world full of bad press about humans.
PS if you’re interested, we have a donations page on our site where you can contribute and make a tax deductible donation!
CAEP thanks all friends of animals x
